‘SNL UK’ is putting the second-rate American original to shame
'SNL UK' has emerged as a critically acclaimed and creatively vibrant counterpart to the long-running American 'Saturday Night Live,' with many observers noting its superior writing and performances. Creator Lorne Michaels himself has praised the British version for being smarter and more original. The show's sharp political satire and breakout cast have garnered millions of views and instant cultural relevance.
- ▪'SNL UK' premiered on March 21, 2026, and has been consistently praised for its humor, wit, and creativity.
- ▪Lorne Michaels, creator of 'SNL,' stated that the UK version was designed to be the 'cooler' show and acknowledged it is smarter and funnier than the original.
- ▪The first cold open mocked Prime Minister Keir Starmer, portrayed by George Fouracres, in a sketch that gained viral attention after Donald Trump shared it on social media.
- ▪A recurring sketch featured Jack Shep's acclaimed impersonation of Princess Diana, contributing to his breakout status on the show.
- ▪'SNL UK' has gained massive popularity on YouTube and Instagram, with clips amassing millions of views shortly after release.
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Johnny Oleksinski Entertainment ‘SNL UK’ is putting the second-rate American original to shame By Johnny Oleksinski Published May 2, 2026, 2:59 p.m. ET Live from New York it’s . . . the second-best “Saturday Night”? It makes me feel for-Lorned to say it. But “SNL UK,” the brand-new British counterpart to the 51-year-old American sketch-comedy series is, frankly, kicking NYC’s arse. I watch both shows every week — UK airs here Sundays on Peacock — and the pattern is clear. On NBC, if we’re lucky, there’s one solid sketch showcasing breakout Ashley Padilla. Marcello Hernández is going to be an Adam Sandler-level movie star, 100 percent, but I never want to see Domingo again. Most of the material over at Studio 8H these days favors a wacky, coked-up premise over structure or payoff.
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