Saturday Night Live UK Launches with Controversial Humour and Critical Reception
The inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live UK aired this weekend on Sky, sparking a wave of mixed reactions from critics who labelled the debut as a 'hit and miss' affair. Hosted by Mean Girls icon Tina Fey, the eight-part Sky Original series took a 'savage' approach in its sketches, particularly targeting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the Beckham family with biting satire.
Royal and Celebrity Jokes Dominate the Show
In the Weekend Update segment, comedians Ania Magliano and Paddy Young delivered sharp jabs at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has remained out of public view since his arrest last month over connections to the Epstein files and allegations of misconduct in public office during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. Ania quipped, 'Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place over the last month, including the installation of Sky TV. So, if you're watching this Andrew, hello! You're not gonna like this next bit. Also, I'm older than I look. Andrew's new residence, Marsh Farm, is of course named after the nearby marsh where his body will be found...'
Paddy added to the roast, stating, 'It was reported this week that the police investigation into Andrew is set to widen. The big question now is, if Andrew is charged, found guilty and put in prison, will he be able to keep his mouth shut? I hope not, said his cellmate's penis.' The show also featured a joke about the ongoing feud between David and Brooklyn Beckham, with Paddy remarking, 'Feuding father and son David and Brooklyn Beckham narrowly missed each other whilst at the same Beverly Hills hotel. The feud began when Victoria was, quote, 'inappropriately' close with her son at his wedding, and escalated after Brooklyn accidentally yelled out his wife's name during sex with his mum.'
Critical Reviews Highlight Strengths and Weaknesses
Despite the bold humour, critics were not universally impressed. The Times offered a scathing review, suggesting a drinking game where viewers take a shot of vodka every time they laugh and then drive home, indicating a lack of consistent laughs. They noted that some jokes 'didn't live up to the risk' and that 'the spark is not there yet' with the show.
The Independent awarded three stars, pointing out that airing on Sky limits audience reach and criticising the lack of innovation, saying, 'This means SNL UK lacks its own spark of irreverence. At best it shows what it's learnt from a half-century of its New York cousin; at worst it seems like tepid cosplay.'
In contrast, The Guardian also gave three stars but was more optimistic, writing, 'it could have been a lot, lot worse' and predicting improvement as the team settles in. The Telegraph was the most positive, awarding four stars and praising Tina Fey's performance in a 'shockingly competent spin-off.'
Future Episodes and Cast Details
The show, which airs live from London at 10pm every Saturday night for 75 minutes, features a rotating host and musical guest each week. Upcoming episodes include Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan hosting on March 28 with band Wolf Alice, and Academy Award-winning British actor Riz Ahmed on April 4 with rock group Kasabian. The inaugural cast includes talents like Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, and Emma Sidi, among others.
However, bookmakers Coral have cast doubt on the show's longevity, offering odds of 1-2 for it being scrapped after the first series. Coral's John Hill commented, 'We are not optimistic about Saturday Night Live UK lasting very long. We make it odds-on to be scrapped after just one series.'
Audience Excitement and Show Background
Despite the critical ambivalence, many fans expressed excitement on social media platform X before the premiere, with comments such as 'I genuinely think SNL UK has the potential to actually be way better than the yank version' and 'UK SNL? FINALLLLLLYYYYY.' The show is a UK adaptation of the American late-night sketch series created by Lorne Michaels, which has aired on NBC since 1975, spanning over 1,000 episodes across 51 seasons.
Lead producer James Longman emphasised the talent behind the series, stating, 'The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have, they're bold, exciting and of course, incredibly funny.' Executive director Phil Edgar Jones OBE added, 'We all need a laugh like never before, so we're beyond excited to bring Saturday Night Live to the UK, only 50 short years after it first launched in the US.'
Viewers can watch Saturday Night Live UK live on Sky and streaming service NOW every Saturday from March 21, with episodes available on demand.
