Saturday Night Live UK premiered last night, March 21, on Sky and NOW TV, launching with a mix of anticipation and critical response. The six-episode series aims to bring the long-running US variety show format to a British audience.
A Star-Studded Debut
US actor and comedian Tina Fey hosted the inaugural episode, accompanied by musical guest Wet Leg. The opening monologue featured cameos from Graham Norton, Nicola Coughlan, and Michael Cera, where Fey received an introduction to British humour.
The episode also introduced the show’s ensemble cast, including Hammed Animashaun, Celeste Dring, Ania Magliano, George Fouracres, Jack Shep, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
Political Satire and Current Events
The show opened with a political “cold open” featuring George Fouracres as Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussing the war in Iran with a skeptical Donald Trump. The Weekend Update segment addressed recent events, including commentary on Prince Andrew, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and the Beckham family scandal.
Wet Leg performed ‘Mangetout’ and ‘Catch These Fists’ from their album ‘Moisturizer’ as the musical guests.
Mixed Reactions
Initial reactions to the premiere have been divided. Some viewers on X/Twitter described the show as “disastrously unfunny” and “utter slop,” whereas others found it “really quite solid” and “brilliant.”
Critically, the show received three-star reviews from The Guardian, The Independent, and The Times. The Guardian noted the show “did work,” while The Independent acknowledged the potential for “fresh” ingredients. The Times suggested the show wasn’t “funny yet,” but the Financial Times indicated it “showed promise.”
What’s Next?
Next week’s episode, airing March 28, will be hosted by Jamie Dornan with a musical performance by Wolf Alice. The following episode, on April 4, will feature Riz Ahmed as host and Kasabian as the musical guest. Each 75-minute episode will air live from London at 10pm every Saturday night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saturday Night Live UK?
It is a new UK version of the long-running US variety show, Saturday Night Live, which premiered on March 21 on Sky and NOW TV.
Who hosted the first episode?
US actor and comedian Tina Fey hosted the premiere episode, with Wet Leg as the musical guest.
What did critics think of the first episode?
Critics gave the show three stars, noting it “did work” and “showed promise,” but also acknowledging it wasn’t “funny yet.”
Will SNL UK be able to capture the same magic as its American counterpart? Only time will tell.
