Ryan Gosling hosts 'Saturday Night Live' with Harry Styles' cameo and musical guest Gorillaz

Gosling hosted the programme for the fourth time, briefly joking that he believed he had reached the Five Timers Club

Ryan Gosling returned to Studio 8H to host Saturday Night Live on March 7, appearing alongside musical guest Gorillaz as he prepares for the theatrical release of his new film Project Hail Mary on March  20.

The Oscar-nominated actor hosted the programme for the fourth time, briefly joking that he believed he had reached the Five Timers Club.

The episode opened with a political cold open centred on the United States bombing Iran. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, played by Colin Jost, addressed reporters after performing a kegstand. “We're giving Iran a third-degree purple nurple,” Hegseth said, while suggesting the situation was not an outright war but “more of a situationship”.

Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, portrayed by Ashley Padilla, also appeared in the sketch following a storyline about her dismissal. “I didn't get fired,” Noem claimed. “I self-deported.” She added, “As I told my plastic surgeon: the work is never done.”

Gosling’s opening monologue took an unexpected turn when Harry Styles appeared in the audience. Styles, scheduled to host the following week, repeatedly drew the camera’s attention, disrupting Gosling’s attempt to promote his film. Gosling joked, “I'm here to promote my new movie, 'Project Harry Styles.'”

The episode also featured a wedding sketch in which Gosling’s character repeatedly clinked a glass to force the bride and groom to kiss, and a fantasy-themed segment about cyclopses attempting to solve a riddle to obtain a key to hidden treasure.

Gosling became the 14th host of Saturday Night Live’s 51st season, which has featured a range of guest hosts and musical performers.