Saturday Night Live UK Returns for a Second Season on Sky
Saturday Night Live UK Renewed for Second Season
Sky and Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS) have officially announced the renewal of Saturday Night Live UK for a second season, set to debut with an extended 12 episodes in the fall of 2026. This decision comes just nine days before the conclusion of the first season, which airs on Sky One in the UK and will be available on Peacock the following day.
The inaugural season has featured a lineup of notable hosts, including Aimee Lou Wood, Nicola Coughlan, and Tina Fey. Upcoming episodes will be led by Hannah Waddingham this Saturday, followed by Ncuti Gatwa in the season finale.
Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, expressed his pride in the show’s trajectory, stating, “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the show. It keeps getting better every week. I’m grateful to [Sky boss] Dana Strong and Sky for believing in and supporting SNL UK. I’m excited for the season ahead.”
Despite initial skepticism within the UK comedy community regarding SNL UK, it appears to have resonated well with audiences. The program is especially noted for highlighting younger talent, with rising stars such as George Fouracres, Al Nash, and Jack Shep gaining significant recognition.
This renewal marks a significant investment for Sky, as SNL UK is currently its most expensive unscripted show, with production costs reaching into the millions of pounds per episode. Should the series continue for several years, it could have a substantial impact on Sky’s annual budget. In addition, Sky has been increasingly supportive of original drama, recently securing a scripted deal with Canal+.
Produced by UTAS UK and Broadway Video, SNL UK benefits from the collaboration of executive producer Lorne Michaels, with Erin David as producer for Broadway Video and Helen Kruger Bratt as managing director overseeing production for UTAS UK. The show’s commissioning was led by Phil Edgar Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cecile Frot Coutaz, Chief Advertising and Content Officer at Sky, and the CEO of Sky Studios.
Edgar Jones remarked on the show’s journey, saying, “It’s fair to say people doubted SNL would work in the UK, but thanks to Lorne Michaels, his longtime Saturday Night Live producing team and UTAS UK, alongside our brilliant cast and writers, SNL UK is Sky’s most talked about show of the year. It’s now firmly part of the cultural conversation and we’re thrilled the show will be returning in the Autumn, bringing laughter and mischief to our audiences, live from London on a Saturday night.”
