What Critics Think About Saturday Night Live UK
The debut of Saturday Night Live UK took place last night, marking a significant milestone as it launched 50 years after its U.S. counterpart, NBC’s Saturday Night.
Tina Fey, a pivotal figure in the modern era of SNL, was brought in to lend her expertise to the UK version, featuring Wet Leg as the musical guest. The inaugural cast includes Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young. Following its UK premiere, the show is set to make its U.S. debut on Peacock this Sunday evening. Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed are confirmed to host the second and third episodes, alongside musical performances from Wolf Alice and Kasabian.
The response to the show in the UK has been cautious, with industry insiders expressing skepticism about whether the considerable investment by Sky will prove worthwhile.
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Critics have shared their opinions, and while reactions have varied, the overall sentiment appears to lean positive. Several reviewers have noted promising elements of the show, with a few expressing genuine enthusiasm.
The Telegraph offered a favorable review, awarding the episode 4 out of 5 stars. The publication stated, “Tina Fey shines as guest host in shockingly competent spin-off…Predictions that a transatlantic SNL would crash and burn proved wide of the mark.”
Similarly, the Financial Times endorsed the debut, commenting, “Britons may be skeptical of Saturday Night Live UK — but its debut episode shows promise. With Tina Fey as guest host and some close-to-the-bone humor, Sky’s SNL translation was often inventive and sharp.”
The Guardian rated the show 3 out of 5 stars, noting, “It didn’t fail and it could have been a lot worse: impressions of Keir Starmer, sketches about dodgy skincare products, and some ‘god-awful performances’ aside, the inaugural episode’s ambition was refreshing to see.”
The Independent also gave it a score of 3 out of 5 stars, remarking, “Some hits, some misses, and a bang-on Princess Di impression.” The review emphasized that judging the show based solely on its first episode could be misleading, as the chemistry among the cast will take time to develop. The article noted that audience reactions on platforms like TikTok and Instagram will likely influence which sketches resonate and which do not. Overall, it acknowledged a brave willingness to explore edgy content, suggesting that while the American format may seem familiar, new elements could emerge.
Website Latenighter expressed admiration, stating, “The central question facing this transatlantic experiment was whether it would feel like a distinctly British version of SNL or simply an American imitation set to Greenwich Mean Time. Saturday’s debut landed somewhere in between.” It praised the promising young cast of British, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish comedic talent, led by Fey, concluding that the show managed to deliver a commendable performance even if it did not wholly establish itself as entirely original.
In contrast, The Times of London expressed less enthusiasm, asserting, “Britain is funny but this isn’t yet…There’s talent in the cast — shame this Sky One debut was four parts American gurning, one part Princess Diana.”
Chuck Thomas, an executive producer at News UK and a veteran TV producer, voiced his support on X, describing the show as “a masterclass in live television. Loved it.”
Forget the promos. Saturday Night Live UK was a masterclass in live television. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/R8H085v64J
— Chuck Thomas (@chuckthomasuk) March 22, 2026
