Ed Sheeran was the target of a pretty scathing joke during last night’s “SNL UK” opening monologue … which compared him to an obedient puppet.

“Chicken Shop Date” host Amelia Dimoldenberg told the crowd … “I’ve been incredibly privileged to have done so many interviews with people like Idris Elba, Cher, and even a world-famous, red-headed puppet with a hand up his arse telling him what to say.”

After a pic of her interviewing “Sesame Street” icon Elmo appeared, Amelia said … “No, the other one.”

Then a graphic of Amelia with Ed appeared on screen … which led to laughs and then cheers from the crowd.

Amelia was taking a big hit at the fallout from Ed’s tour axing opener Macklemore after his pro-Palestine remarks — and the “SNL UK” audience sounded like they were totally behind the ‘Chicken Shop Date’ star’s POV.

We reported earlier … Ed said that removing Macklemore from the tour for making pro-Palestine remarks was “the promoter’s decision, not mine.”

He later apologized to fans for the rapper’s controversial firing at his Philadelphia concert last week.