Saturday Night Live UK

adaminho · 13-11-2025 08:40PM #1

I missed the announcement back in April but Lorne Michaels is to produce a UK version for Sky. Today saw the release of the creative team but no cast announcement yet.

https://news.sky.com/story/saturday-night-live-announces-creative-team-ahead-of-uk-launch-13469618

adaminho · 04-02-2026 07:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058428347/saturday-night-live-uk

Cast announced today ahead of a 21st of March launch.

https://news.sky.com/story/saturday-night-live-uk-comedians-revealed-ahead-of-series-launch-13503170

gmisk · 16-03-2026 09:12PM

Hosts and musical guests for first three shows.

corkie · 22-03-2026 12:51AM

Anyone tune in, had the show on in background while streaming something on YT.

This show didn't grab my attention. Except 'Wet Leg ~ Rhian Teasdale' singer crawling all over the place!?

sbs2010 · 22-03-2026 01:30AM

I thought it was good.

Some of the sketches were a little corny but overall it was 7.5/10

I switched off when Wet Leg came on for the second time. Didn't rate them at all.

LambshankRedemption · 22-03-2026 04:58AM

Saw a trailer last night and it didn't grab me. I'll watch it during the week but i suspect it will be similar or perhaps the opposite of Have I got News for you going to the US, in that its a format you are familiar with but a different mood.

Penn · 22-03-2026 10:14AM

Saw the second half (from where Captain Birdseye was on Weekend Update).

It seemed fine. Hamnet sketch was good in theory but too disjointed with all the "Some months later" cuts.

The biggest issue the show faces imo is that British live studio audiences aren't really the hoot n' hollering crowd like the US. So some jokes were decent, but the crowd reaction just no-sold it.

Welsh Megaman · 22-03-2026 11:08AM

Thought it was a good first episode.

I did cringe however, as they appeared to go through the ‘British Pop Culture’ checklist for each sketch.

A sketch on Shakespeare. Check.

A sketch about Paddington. Check.

A sketch with David Attenborough. Check.

No doubt there will be a Harry Potter sketch next week, but then again it’s probably inevitable if SNL UK is going to be shown in overseas territories. Imagine the stereotypes if they ever made SNL Ireland! 😮

As Penn pointed out, the UK studio audience aren’t going to ‘whoop’ as much as the US - I can’t applaud and hold my creme de menthe at the same time. 😁

ShagNastii · 22-03-2026 01:11PM

I tuned in last night and to be honest it was a terrible as I expected. It had glimpses of something good.

I despise the comedy form of SNL. It is the holy grail of that forced American comedy that’s almost too self aware and nearly always over written and the acting is more often than not as hammy as a piggery.

CastorTroy · 22-03-2026 02:10PM

I enjoyed it more than I expected to.

Seems it was originally planned for 6 episodes but was exteded to 8 during the week. I assume if it's a success the next season will start before next March.

corkie · 22-03-2026 05:31PM

If anyone missed it last night or want to rewatch?

It is repeated tonight on 'Sky Comedy' at 22:30.

Or Youtube has some clips from it.

gmisk · 22-03-2026 07:18PM

Uneven (like most SNL episodes I have seen tbh) but not the disaster lots of people seem to predict, I would give it 7/10 the guy doing princess Diana was hilariously spot on (he popped up a good bit and was very funny - Jack Shep) Couple of other funny sketches, the underage one was a giggle and Tina Fey opening was good, top notch cameos. Solid weekend update. What kind of Irish is your grandad?

Fair play to Sky for taking a bit of a risk on something like this, plus giving an opportunity to a lot of not exactly many household names, I only really knew four of the cast beforehand.

StevenToast · 22-03-2026 07:23PM

Its as good as the U.S version is…

Thats not a compliment...

expectationlost · 22-03-2026 07:35PM

The bra sketch was woeful.

gmisk · 22-03-2026 07:55PM

Oh and what kind of Irish is your grandad was a wonderful little section too.

gmisk · 22-03-2026 07:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332987#Comment_124332987

That was by far the weakest, but genuine laughs I thought in some others.

Penn · 22-03-2026 08:19PM

The US SNL, and let's face it most other sketch shows, are often very hit and miss. If anything, they're more miss and relying on one or two big hits to justify it.

facehugger99 · 22-03-2026 08:28PM

I flicked it on last night expecting it to be terrible. It wasn’t brilliant but it was way better than terrible.

It’ll take it a few episodes to find its feet I’d imagine.

I thought Graham Norton single-handedly saved the opening monologue. If the producers have any sense they’ll be signing him up to host an episode.

Welsh Megaman · 22-03-2026 08:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124333130#Comment_124333130

I imagine that’s why Tina Fey (who did a great job) was given the job to host last night, to ‘ease UK viewers’ in by having a big name synonymous with SNL.

As Penn mentioned, even the US version can be hit and miss. Not every sketch can land - it’s more on the cast to deliver a funny performance (Kenan Thompson’s on ‘Weekend Update’ in the most recent US episode was really good).

https://youtu.be/ml4vGKK_VEk?si=Q3BBNKqRp-iQlA6x

adaminho · 22-03-2026 11:23PM

So overall, not as bad as I expected. Thought they handled the profanity well, just enough to to emphasise a point without going overboard for the sake of it. The one complaint I have about it (and the US version) is that the sketches are just a fraction too long. It seems they come up with one good Idea and try stretch it out.

PogoRach · 22-03-2026 11:34PM

Went in with low expectations and while some of the sketches fell a bit flat, there were a few standout sketches that really hit the mark for me...

Keir Starmer Voice Note

Undérage

The Internet One

Captain Birdseye

What Kind of Irish Is Your Granddad?

Really only knew Ania Magliano and Emma Sidi beforehand, but definitely some great performers in the mix - George Fouracres and Jack Shep really impressed me.

Will definitely check it out again next week anyway.

lertsnim · 23-03-2026 03:47PM

I really don't like the US version but thought the UK one was ok.

sprucemoose · 26-03-2026 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332987#Comment_124332987

i did enjoy the 'what a sad little life jane' bit at the start, much as it was a nod to meme culture which usually is a bit cringe

Welsh Megaman · 28-03-2026 10:58PM

Episode 2 about to start.

Jamie Dornan is host, with music by Wolf Alice.

geographica · 28-03-2026 11:06PM

can I watch this on nowtv for free?

Welsh Megaman · 28-03-2026 11:11PM

And there was me thinking SNL UK was being made purely for US audiences.

An Irish actor riffing with another Irish actor about potatoes.

siblers · 28-03-2026 11:15PM

What I've seen so far of episode 2 is truely awful shite

Welsh Megaman · 28-03-2026 11:17PM

Oliver Callan may mention this sketch on Monday.

nomdeboardie · 29-03-2026 12:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348118#Comment_124348118

2 from the island in quick succession last week too...whether that's a good or bad thing for anyone concerned…🤪

expectationlost · 30-03-2026 12:34PM

Thought the changing the clocks sketch was funny, Dornan's intro bit was painful.

gormdubhgorm · 30-03-2026 12:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124331983#Comment_124331983

I just clicked on this thread because I never liked SNL could never articulate why. But your post above sums it up. “Forced comedy” it doesn’t feel/sound natural at all. Always an amateur sense to it, while trying hard to be funny. I saw an SNL UK sketch with the Kier Starmer (character) trying to call Trump. Think it was posted on the Iran or Trump thread. It again immediately gave that “forced” vibe. And it went on a bit too long.

Saturday Night Live UK

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