SNL UK Used Elmo To Set up an Ed Sheeran 'Red-Headed Puppet' Joke and the Room Lost It

Amelia Dimoldenberg used Elmo to set up a joke about Ed Sheeran during her Saturday Night Live UK opening monologue on 26 September.

The Chicken Shop Date creator described a former guest as a 'world-famous, red-headed puppet with a hand up his arse telling him what to say.'

An image of Dimoldenberg with Elmo appeared before she said, 'No, the other one.' The screen then switched to a photograph of Dimoldenberg with Sheeran, drawing laughter and cheers from the studio audience.

SNL UK had satirised Sheeran one week earlier in a sketch about a fictional conflict between humans and artificial intelligence. Both jokes aired while Sheeran was facing scrutiny over Macklemore's removal from remaining US dates on his Loop Tour.

However, Dimoldenberg did not say her 'puppet' joke referred to the tour dispute. Her remark also did not identify who, if anyone, she believed was influencing Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran Joke Revived Their Chicken Shop Date History

The photograph used during Dimoldenberg's monologue came from Sheeran's appearance on Chicken Shop Date. The episode aired on 3 November 2021 and was filmed at Sam's Chicken in Queen's Park, London.

The interview followed the web series' deliberately awkward faux-date format. Dimoldenberg questioned Sheeran about romance and suggested that they could make music together.

When she proposed playing piano while he sang, Sheeran said he would prefer to perform by himself. The episode remains widely viewed on Dimoldenberg's YouTube channel. It had more than 8.7 million views as of 29 September 2026, according to the video's public view count.

That history gave the SNL UK gag a clear reference point without requiring viewers to know anything about Sheeran's more recent controversies. The punch line turned an old interview between the pair into a short visual joke.

Dimoldenberg's hosting appearance came during the second series of the British adaptation of Saturday Night Live. Sky announced her as host for the 26 September episode, with Rachel Chinouriri appearing as musical guest.

SNL UK Had Satirised Ed Sheeran One Week Earlier

On 19 September, cast member Annabel Marlow impersonated Sheeran during a cold open about an imagined conflict between humans and artificial intelligence. Her version of the singer wore a ginger wig, fake tattoos and carried a loop pedal.

The fictional Sheeran avoided choosing a side. The character joked about concert tickets being bought by scalping bots and suggested that saying nothing could sometimes be the bravest response.

The sketch aired as Sheeran faced criticism over Macklemore's removal from upcoming U.S. Loop Tour dates. Macklemore had performed at MetLife Stadium on 4 and 5 September. During the first show, he voiced support for Palestinians and said, 'Free Palestine.'

Messina Touring Group, promoter of the US leg, later said venues had told it they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the bill. The promoter said he would therefore not appear on the remaining support dates.

Sheeran subsequently said Macklemore's removal was 'the promoter's decision, not mine.' Scheduled support acts Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe later withdrew from the tour.

Beoga, Sheeran's touring band, also left. At his 19 September concert in Philadelphia, Sheeran apologised for how he handled the controversy. He called the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel 'horrific.'

Sheeran described Israel's subsequent war in Gaza as 'catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate'. He also criticised what he called 'systemic injustice' in the West Bank.

Reuters reported that pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near the Philadelphia venue. Fans interviewed outside the concert expressed different views about politics at live shows. One attendee said, 'It doesn't need to be political,' while saying she supported both artists.

The wider dispute formed part of the context in which Dimoldenberg's SNL UK joke aired. It does not, however, establish what she meant by describing Sheeran as a 'puppet,' and she did not identify who, if anyone, she believed was pulling the strings.