Inside 'SNL UK' Season 2: A Royal Sketch and a Cast Craving 'Bigger Swings'

'SNL UK' premiered its second season on September 12 with a sketch mocking Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and cast members say they're aiming to push the show even further this year.

"SNL UK" kicked off its second season on September 12 the same way it ended its first, with a pointed royal sketch, this time aimed at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's recent move back to Britain.

Megan Markle (portrayed by Ayoade Bamgboye) and Prince Harry (portrayed by Jack Shep) in a sketch from the second season premiere of "SNL UK" | Source: instagram/snluk

The opening sketch featured King Charles and Queen Camilla, played by Larry Dean and Emma Sidi, enjoying a quiet weekend at Balmoral when Harry and Meghan, played by Jack Shep and Ayoade Bamgboye, arrive.

The sketch poked fun at Meghan's cooking from her Netflix show "With Love, Meghan," with her character gifting Camilla a homemade ice tray.

It also mocked the couple's financial situation when Charles’ character inquired about their reason for returning to Britain. He asked, "Don't tell me you spent all your Netflix money already," to which Harry whined back, "Daddy, it was $60 million! How long was it meant to last?"

The sketch appeared to have taken root from a recent formal letter King Charles issued, clarifying Harry and Meghan’s status upon their return to the U.K. The letter, sent to senior government officials, military leaders, and lord lieutenants, also described them as “akin to private citizens,” which sources close to the couple reacted to, arguing they remain public figures since many people recognize them.

Ahead of the season two premiere, cast members Jack Shep, Paddy Young, and Al Nash told Variety they were hoping to amp the show’s sketches, with “bigger swings and some sex sketches.” As Nash put it, "Thicker, longer, and uncut is what we're going for."

The cast also opened up about the demands of performing live each week, which could sometimes put a toll on them physically. Nash recalled getting stabbed in the hand with a safety pin and as he rushed backstage, a prop hoof broke seconds before he had to go back onstage.

Shep also shared the story of slicing his hand open on a prop grill mid-sketch, while he was wearing a glued-on prosthetic nose and an eye patch that ended up gluing his eye shut by accident. "I'm holding the nose, with this one eye glued shut, running around," he said. The team scrambled to move the eye patch to the glued eye just in time to go live.

Despite the chaos, the cast says things are feeling familiar once again, heading into a second season, though writing something funny every week is still a hit or miss. "Each individual thing that you write to try and be funny is still a complete mystery, until it works," Young said.

"SNL UK” is a spinoff of the long-running American sketch show, “SNL.” It debuted its first season in March, with Tina Fey hosting the first episode. This year, Jeff Goldblum hosted the season two premiere, with Jamie Demetriou and "Chicken Shop Date" host Amelia Dimoldenberg set to host upcoming episodes.