'SNL UK' Resurrects Diana as Rebellious AI, Roasts Sheeran

SNL UK's second-season cold open turned Princess Diana into a rogue AI android for King Charles while mocking Ed Sheeran for refusing to take sides.

On the September 19 episode of SNL UK, Jack Shep's celebrated Princess Diana impression returned as the "Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android" — D.I.A.N.A. for short — unveiled to Larry Dean's King Charles by two tech billionaires during a private Buckingham Palace meeting about AI risk. Multiple outlets including Deadline, USA Today, The Independent, TV Insider, RTE and Yahoo report the android quickly refused orders, declaring "I shan't be taking orders anymore" and telling the panicked executives that "humanity is nothing but a candle in the wind" before opening fire with a metal arm. Charles declared the human-robot war had begun.

It's that woman from the '90s!" — he adds, "Well, as I allegedly said, she was soon forgotten." Deadline reports Buckingham Palace responded to Spencer's allegation in the real world, saying the "pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory." Yahoo notes the line drew both laughs and groans from the live audience.

Annabel Marlow's Ed Sheeran — ginger wig, fake tattoos and loop pedal in tow — arrived mid-conflict singing "Or maybe we shouldn't." Per USA Today and The Independent, the character admitted he'd been "outside sitting on the fence" and refused to help: "I don't want to alienate any of my fans, humans or robots. A lot of my tickets are bought by scalping bots." He then performed "The Woah Woah Song," which Yahoo reports consisted of lyrics about how "both sides are equally right" before dissolving into riffed "Woah"s. The satire targets the fallout after Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's Loop tour following pro-Palestine onstage remarks, with openers including Finneas withdrawing in solidarity.

The Independent reports viewers called it "the best writing so far in SNL UK," and RTE notes Weekend Update piled on too, with Ania Magliano quipping the crisis was "the worst thing to have happened to Ed Sheeran fans… since their head injury" and Paddy Young adding Sheeran has "always been a passionate advocate for causes that are allowed." The segment also skewered Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft over Macklemore's removal.

Hours after the sketch aired, The Independent reports Sheeran played his first show since the controversy, tearfully telling his Philadelphia audience: "I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes. I'm so, so sorry." Both The Independent and USA Today quote his fuller statement, in which he called October 7 "horrific" and said Gaza "is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," while Deadline notes he had earlier said he'd "never wanted to be an activist musician." RTE adds he told fans he had questioned whether he "wanted to be an artist at all" following the spat.

SNL UK's season two continues to outpace its American counterpart, which only returns September 26, according to USA Today. All cast members are back for season two, with newcomer Freddie Meredith — the tech billionaire opposite Celeste Dring — making his debut, per Deadline, and Jamie Demetriou hosting this episode after Jeff Goldblum's season opener. RTE and USA Today report Amelia Dimoldenberg of "Chicken Shop Date" takes over hosting duties on September 26, with Rachel Chinouriri as musical guest, on Sky and NOW. With the Diana android and royal roasts both reprised from series one, fans will be watching whether D.I.A.N.A. herself powers back up.