UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Nearly Joins Oasis, But There’s Something A Bit Off About The Gallagher Brothers In ‘SNL UK’ Cold Open

There was something a bit off about Oasis’ sometimes feuding-yet-touring brothers in the Saturday Night Live UK cold open this week.

SNL UK kicked off its Season 2 Episode 3 with new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, played by George Fouracres, returning to his beloved home of Manchester following a speech to the UN where he socked it to Russia, according to his good pal Angela Rayner (Celeste Dring). “I’m sick of Russia trying to divide the British people. We can divide ourselves thank you very much,” jokes Burnham.

Before long, Oasis’ brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, played by Jack Shep and new cast member Freddie Meredith, arrive to offer Burnham the opportunity of a lifetime. Their guitarist has pulled out and Burnham, a guitar player himself, can step in. “Ange, cancel the budget I’m going on tour,” he tells Rayner.

But alas, Burnham is asked to input numerous personal details – a gentle poke at critiques of Oasis’ expensive and dynamically priced tickets – and once done Liam and Noel emerge as two Russian spies.

“Oasis has always been Russian pop. All songs were made in a lab by Kremlin scientists. ‘Wonderwall’ is really ‘Wonderful Wall’ about the Berlin Wall,” says Russian spy Liam.

In the end, following an extended joke about his flip-flopping on calling a general election – “I for example could hold a general election and easily smash it, but as I announced yesterday, I want to, but I could” – Burnham orders the “Russian Mancs” to “leave Britain and go back to being Oasis.”

The cold open came in the third ep of the second season of Sky‘s SNL UK. Amelia Dimoldenberg, creator of Chicken Shop Date, which launches its final season next week, follows in the footsteps of Jeff Goldblum and Jamie Demetriou to host this week.

All of SNL UK’s cast members have returned for Season 2, including Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Dring, Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young, with Meredith making his debut.

SNL UK is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video. Lorne Michaels serves as executive producer. James Longman is lead producer.