Keir Starmer had an awkward call with Donald Trump just hours after he posted a sketch mocking the PM as a 'coward'.

Sir Keir discussed the Iran war and how to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz with the US president in a 20-minute call last night.

No10 tried to play down tensions between the pair over the mounting crisis in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes, insisting the chat was 'constructive'. 

But it is not clear if Mr Trump's slew of public insults at his Transatlantic partner were mentioned.

Shortly before the conversation, the president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform.

SNL skit depicts Starmer ‘out of his depth’

The scene from the show - which aired for the first time on Sky this weekend - depicts the PM in No 10 too terrified to pick up the phone to talk to Mr Trump about Iran. 

'What if Donald shouts at me?' the comedian playing Sir Keir says to his deputy, David Lammy. When 'Mr Trump' answers he immediately hangs up in a panic.

'I just hate conflict so much,' Sir Keir says, admitting he is 'out of my depth'. 

In the SNL skit, Sir Keir - who has a framed photo of Mr Trump behind him - says: 'I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don't understand him like I do. I can change him.'

The faux premier later adds: 'I'll say anything, I'll do anything, except take a stand.'

Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'. 

He has also called Nato countries - including the UK - 'cowards' for not sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz. 

Polls have suggested the British public is extremely wary about taking part in the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have caused carnage in oil and gas supplies and raised fears of a global recession. 

An Opinium survey released over the weekend found that Sir Keir's personal ratings have improved by 11 points since the start of the strikes, albeit remaining at a dire low. 

UK backs US defensive operations but draws red lines

The UK has given US forces the green light to run 'defensive' operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.

On Friday evening, Sir Keir extended that to action aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz - amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.

However, another clash could be looming, with Government sources making clear the UK has not agreed to facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Mr Trump has set a deadline of just before midnight for Iran to reopen the Strait 'fully', or face 'obliteration' of its power plants.

The version of the SNL sketch posted by Mr Trump cuts off before a section where Sir Keir is shown insisting he cannot join America in starting 'World War 3'.

That part includes the PM leaving Mr Trump a voice note saying: 'Hi Donald. I'm afraid I can't go to war with you.

'But that doesn't mean we can't still be chums.'

Sir Keir gives a list of things the UK and US have done together in the past, including D-Day, but says he wants to 'take a break' like Rachel and Ross out of sitcom Friends. 

The Sky Original show follows NBC's late-night comedy show with 75-minute long episodes which feature a number of segments, including an opening monologue, topical sketches and a UK version of The Weekend Update.

The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments 

UK allows US access to bases for strikes targeting Strait of Hormuz  

Keir Starmer will allow Donald Trump to use America's UK-based bombers to blast Iranian missile sites preventing oil and gas shipments using the Straits of Hormuz, No10 said tonight. 

Downing Street gave the US the green light to use B-52s and other aircraft flying out of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia to unlock the strategically important waterway amid spiralling fears of a major energy crisis.

In a statement the Government said that strikes were covered by its agreement with Trump to allow UK-based assets to be deployed in the 'collective self-defence of the region'. 

It came as fears grew over the impact of the 'Trumpflation' spike in oil and gas prices triggered by the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. 

Brits were today urged to work from home and use air fryers instead of ovens to reduce demand for energy.

At a meeting today the Cabinet 'condemned Iran's expansion of its targets to include international shipping', a No10 spokeswoman said. 

'They agreed that Iran's reckless strikes, including on Red Ensign vessels and those of our close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world. 

'They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.' 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) today suggested governments should consider advising people to work from home more to reduce demand for oil amid the fallout from the Iran war. 

Read the full story here