Princess Diana fans are furious about ‘Saturday Night Live UK’
The uproar centers on a skit titled The Last Supper by David Attenboroughaired last week as part of the show’s first episode.
In the segment, actor George Fouracres plays 99-year-old David Attenborough, who uses fiction Jurassic Park technology to bring a selection of historical British figures back to life for a dinner discussion about what makes Britain great.
Among those brought back to life is Diana, who died in 1997 at the age of 36, played by Jack Shepherd, alongside figures such as Winston Churchill, Isaac Newton and Freddie Mercury.
‘Attenborough’ opens the sketch by saying: “I’m David Attenborough and it can’t be much longer”, a nod to the broadcaster’s upcoming 100th birthday.
He continues: “Using DNA samples and those of my own brother Jurassic Park technology, I’ve resuscitated some of history’s greatest Britons for just one night so I can ask them what really makes Britain great. This is David Attenborough’s last supper.”
Diana, who was sitting among the guests, said: “Thank you very much for hosting this dinner, Sir David,” before the sketch veers into a comedy discussion about food rather than tackling the central question.
However, the tone of the sketch has drawn sharp criticism from some viewers. An insider said: “Many Diana fans are furious as they feel this came at a particularly insensitive time. With the 30th anniversary of her death approaching next year, respect is expected, and this felt like the opposite.”
The source added: “Royal fans describe the sketch as chronically unfunny and, frankly, quite bizarre, especially considering the subject matter.”
Another insider pointed out the backlash that was playing out online.
“Fans have taken to the forums in droves to express their frustration,” they noted. “There is a sense of genuine disgust among some viewers, who feel Diana’s legacy has been trivialized for the sake of a joke that didn’t land. The language is strong. People are calling it tone-deaf and wondering why it was included in the first place.”
In the sketch, Diana reassures Mercury when a menu item has an asterisk next to its name, “then it comes with free rice,” while the resurrected figures bicker over appetizers. Attenborough tries to bring the conversation back to the original question by telling them: ‘The BBC has spared no expense in bringing you back to life. I’m sure they’d love to cover dinner at The Ivy.”
The scene ultimately ends with him leaving the experiment, saying, “This experiment has been a complete waste of time and money.” The answer I was looking for to what really makes Britain great was the NHS and Centerparcs. There. You screwed up. Now we need to move on to the making out part of the evening. Anyone who wants to leave now, this is your chance.”
Although the show was intended to combine satire with historical commentary, critics argue that the execution missed its mark. An insider said: “There’s a fine line with this kind of humor, especially when it involves real figures who are still deeply mourned. For many viewers, that line was crossed here.”
The controversy has added to the scrutiny already surrounding the launch of the UK adaptation of the long-running US format, with questions now being raised about how far it should go in tackling sensitive topics through comedy.
