Saturday Night Live UK is back for a second season, and the cast is gearing up to tackle a fresh wave of British politicians, royals, and celebrities. In a recent chat, George Fouracres, Larry Dean, and Weekend Update anchor Ania Magliano opened up about the new impersonations viewers can expect, the strange real-world stories that might become sketches, and the creative chaos behind the show. Count Binface, naturally, came up.
The Art of the Political Impression
Fouracres, who became a standout in Season 1 with his take on Sir David Attenborough and former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, explains that the best impressions often start with a single odd detail. "You alight on certain parts of their soul, and then you extract them, and then you create a sort of genetic clone," he says. For Starmer, that moment came when the PM made an unexpected "meep meep" sound during Prime Minister's Questions. Fouracres latched onto it immediately, turning it into a signature bit.
Dean, who tackled King Charles III, took a different route. "I had to start watching The Crown," he admits, "and then I'd watch YouTube videos on him." The royal family's long public history gave him plenty of material, from Charles's hand-in-pocket habit to his bumbling noises. Dean describes the process as gradual: "I'll usually find something similar I can already do and then gradually try and push my way towards it." He jokes about his Glaswegian accent being far from the King's refined RP, but that contrast makes his performance all the more impressive.
Season 2: New Targets and Weird News
With Starmer's resignation looming, Fouracres may be moving on to new targets. One possibility is Count Binface, the comedic political candidate who ran against Nigel Farage in Clacton-on-Sea. Fouracres teases, "There's so much I could say about bins." The real-life election, which featured a record 34 candidates on a 90-centimeter ballot, is ripe for satire. Fouracres takes his role seriously, saying, "I look forward to whoever, like all politicians, being of service to the public, and whoever they find for me next, I hope I will equip myself."
The cast also hinted at the possibility of bringing SNL's Joke Swap format to Weekend Update, which could add a new layer of unpredictability to the show. Magliano, who anchors the segment, is excited about the chaos that might ensue.
For more behind-the-scenes insights, check out our interview with Jonno Johnson on the heist-like chaos behind each episode. And if you're a fan of political satire, you might also enjoy our piece on The Far Side's wildest dinosaur comics.
As Season 2 unfolds, fans can expect more sharp political commentary, absurd news stories, and the kind of unhinged humor that made the show a hit. Whether it's a new PM or a bin-headed candidate, the cast is ready to turn reality into comedy gold.
