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Danny Dyer has been roundly praised after he made his debut as the host of Saturday Night Live UK, with some fans branding him a “national treasure” and the show’s “best host” so far.
In his opening monologue, the Rivals star, 49, poked fun at his sweary reputation and joked that “people don’t usually trust me with live TV” following his tirade at former prime minister David Cameron in 2018.
“I’m here, I’m doing it, I’m hosting it,” Dyer told the audience. “They’ve asked me. I don’t know why… people don’t usually trust me on live TV.”
“I think it’s because of classism and also that time I called David Cameron a t*** on live TV.”
He then joked that he and the producers “had a chat” about his colourful language and laid down the rule that he would not be allowed to say “a certain swear word”.
“You know the one, it’s the best one,” he said. “It’s OK, I can do it. You know what I mean? I can go 75 minutes cold turkey.”
Dyer also referred to his royal ancestral links, which were uncovered on a past episode of genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, telling the audience: “No, I was gutted. Who wants to be related to that little mob? You know what I mean?”
He went on to take a starring role in various sketches, including a skit in which he appeared as part of an ageing boyband, and one in which he played a bizarre character with a penchant for drinking paint.
Viewers were certainly won over by Dyer’s charm, with fans on Twitter/X praising him as “easily the best host #SNLUK has had so far”, presiding over what “may have been #SNLUK’s best episode”.
“Ah man, I need Danny Dyer to host #SNLUKagain,” one comedy lover wrote. “I said it’d be carnage and it was but in the best way. What a guy.”
“Danny Dyer in every sketch was not something I expected but would never want it any other way now,” another said, while a third noted: “Danny Dyer might just be our biggest national treasure at this point.”
Another agreed, writing: “Danny Dyer is so funny 😅 Honestly should be a national treasure 😝”
One viewer even argued that Dyer should take a permanent role on the show, stating: “Petition for Danny Dyer to join the main cast. Absolutely sublime!”
Next week’s episode will be hosted by actor James Norton, with a musical performance from The Streets, while Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will take the helm on 24 October.