The debut episode of Saturday Night Live U.K. is already drawing attention for one of its most provocative moments: a surreal sketch that reimagines Princess Diana as part of a resurrected lineup of historic British figures, brought “back to life” for a chaotic dinner party inspired by Jurassic Park.
According to Variety, the segment, titled “David Attenborough’s Last Supper,” features comedian George Fouracres portraying a fictionalized version of David Attenborough. In the sketch, Attenborough claims to have used DNA sampling and his brother’s cinematic cloning technology to revive notable figures from British history for a one-night experiment to answer what makes Britain great.
Among those seated at the table is Princess Diana—played by Jack Shep—alongside Winston Churchill, Isaac Newton, Freddie Mercury, and others.
Rather than delivering profound insights, the revived icons descend into trivial disagreements over menu items. Diana’s portrayal leans into exaggerated politeness, at one point reassuring Mercury about a menu detail, while the broader scene spirals into absurdity.
The sketch culminates with Attenborough abandoning the experiment entirely, declaring it a failure before abruptly shifting the evening’s tone.
Executive-produced by Lorne Michaels and featuring talent such as Tina Fey and Graham Norton, the British version of the series leans into darker, more surreal humor than its American counterpart.
Reviewers highlighted the portrayal of Princess Diana as a standout element of the premiere. Critics from multiple outlets described the impression as sharply executed, even as the episode itself delivered a mix of successes and misfires. The show’s tone—marked by deadpan delivery and riskier comedic swings—has been cited as both a strength and a point of inconsistency.
Beyond the sketch itself, the premiere posted solid early numbers for Sky, drawing 226,000 viewers and outperforming competing programming in its time slot. The performance significantly exceeded recent viewership for the U.S. version airing on the same platform.
