Review: “Saturday Night Live UK” — A Promising Start with Tina Fey
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, writers George Fouracres and Jack Shepp are among the breakout stars of this sketch comedy show, which airs every Saturday on Sky One and the following day on Peacock.
“Saturday Night Live UK” has finally premiered this weekend after much anticipation, and it’s time to address a few obvious points.
First of all, congratulations to “Saturday Night Live UK”—this is the last week anyone can say the show used to be funnier!
Air Date: Saturday, March 21 (Sky One)
Cast: Hammed Animashaun, Aiyawade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Anya Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shepp, Emma Sidi, Paddy Young
Overall Verdict: Strong cast, scattered writing — much like the original American version
Despite the writers having had 51 years to craft the first episode, this is what we got? It’s amusing, but starting with Tina Fey’s monologue—featuring a joke about being the youngest host—this kind of humor feels expected.
While it is somewhat surprising that Lorne Michaels took so long to bring one of America’s most popular and profitable TV formats to the UK, the adaptation of “Saturday Night Live” for British audiences has been carried out with relatively few issues.
The first episode felt like a slightly warped mirror of NBC’s long-running original—not one that exaggerates differences dramatically, but one that reflects subtle yet noticeable distinctions for viewers familiar with the original. For instance, Tina Fey using a microphone at the end of the show was one such difference.
The premiere largely grappled with the usual SNL problems: the writers didn’t always have fully developed ideas, and at times the cast wasn’t used to its full potential. However, “Saturday Night Live UK” proved that its ensemble is talented, versatile, and genuinely funny—and that is the main reason to keep watching future episodes.
Choosing Tina Fey as the inaugural host was an ideal decision. She not only has experience as a head writer and Weekend Update anchor but has also won an Emmy Award for her performances as a guest host. If one person were to represent the full potential of SNL, Tina Fey would be the perfect choice.
That said, her monologue included explanations about the show that felt somewhat unnecessary for a British audience, who are already familiar with her work such as “30 Rock,” “Mean Girls,” and “Date Night.” She delivered these introductions alongside guest appearances from Nicola Coughlan (“Derry Girls”), Michael Cera from Canada, and Graham Norton, before transitioning into the main portion of the monologue, where she offered one-line takes on British shows from her childhood.
George Fouracres stood out with his impressions of Keir Starmer and David Attenborough, as well as the sketch “45 Seconds With…” Jack Shepp drew significant attention with his portrayal of Princess Diana and his role as a shy baby. Hammed Animashaun and Celeste Dring also introduced characters with potential for recurring appearances.
In the Weekend Update segment, Anya Magliano and Paddy Young had engaging moments, but the first episode did not showcase strong chemistry between them, and the low-budget news setup somewhat limited their performance.
Segments such as the Starmer and Attenborough sketch had promising ideas but fell short in execution. A fictional commercial for a beauty product called “Underage” started with a clever comedic premise, but its repeated use diminished its impact.
Still, there were no major missteps; the format differences were minor, and the relative freedom to use stronger language was applied appropriately.
For fans of British comedy, the series introduces a mix of fresh and experienced talent. While some viewers may find it unnecessary, the cast is engaging enough to justify tuning in for future episodes.
