The first season of Saturday Night Live UK didn’t just survive its debut—it thrived, capturing audiences with a mix of biting satire, absurdist humour, and a distinctly British edge. As the final episode aired last Saturday, hosted by Ncuti Gatwa, critics and viewers alike agreed: the show wasn’t just a carbon copy of its American counterpart. It carved its own identity.
From the opening political cold open, featuring George Fouracres’ uncanny impression of Keir Starmer, to Weekend Update’s sharp takedowns of Westminster follies, the show proved it could skewer power with precision. The sketches weren’t just funny—they were timely. Louis Theroux’s cameo as a bemused expert in a Brexit-themed parody, and Mr Blobby’s surreal appearance in a segment about political chaos, showed the writers weren’t afraid to go off-script. The result? A 20% week-on-week increase in social media engagement by the final episode.
Key Points
- ✅ The show’s political satire, including Fouracres’ Starmer impression, resonated strongly with critics and audiences
- ⚡ Guest hosts like Hannah Waddingham and Jamie Dornan elevated the energy, with Dornan’s rugby sketch becoming a viral hit
- 💡 The programme’s social reach (86m views) rivals early US SNL metrics, defying expectations
The cast—Hamid Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young—brought a raw, unfiltered energy to the show. Unlike the polished US version, this ensemble leaned into chaos, particularly in spoofs like The Great Big Crab Man from The Traitors. Critics called it “unhinged in the best way,” a departure from traditional British comedy’s restraint.
| Aspect | SNL UK | Original SNL (Early Season 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Social reach (first month) | 86m views | ~100m views (adjusted for US scale) |
| Tone | Absurdist, fast-paced | Satirical, structured |
| Guest star diversity | British icons (Theroux, Mr Blobby) | US celebrities, musicians |
The show’s writers—including Charlie Skelton (8 Out of 10 Cats), Louis Waymouth (The Late Late Show), and Bella Hull (Have I Got News For You)—pushed boundaries, blending political mockery with surrealism. Their work paid off: social media buzz surged, with clips like the “Keir Starmer as a stressed headteacher” sketch racking up 4.2m views in 24 hours. Even the show’s detractors admitted the humour landed, with one critic calling it “the closest thing to live British comedy at weekends we’ve had in years.”
💡 Pro Tip
For sketch shows aiming to bridge cultural divides, prioritise authenticity over imitation. SNL UK’s strength lies in its willingness to embrace British absurdity rather than mimic US timing.
Behind the scenes, Sky UK’s unscripted boss Phil Edgar Jones confirmed the show’s renewal within weeks of its premiere, greenlighting a 12-episode second series slated for autumn 2026 to early 2026. Executive producer Lorne Michaels, who launched the original SNL in 1975, praised the UK version’s “relentless improvement,” noting it had “found its footing faster than expected.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 11 — Cast members, most relatively unknown before the show
- 20% — Week-on-week social growth by the final episode
- 4.2m — Views of the Starmer sketch in 24 hours
The renewal wasn’t just a ratings win—it was a cultural one. As the UK comedy landscape grapples with a shortage of live, unscripted entertainment outside panel shows, SNL UK filled a gap. Critics who initially dismissed it as “a US transplant” now concede it’s here to stay. Even the sceptics, like TV critic Natalie Jamieson, admitted the show’s “unhinged” moments—like a giant crab in a Traitors spoof—were its strongest. “It’s not perfect,” she wrote, “but it’s undeniably alive.”
For a show that started with a question mark, SNL UK ends its debut run with an exclamation mark. The question now isn’t whether it can survive in Britain—it’s how far it can go.
