A Peek Into ‘SNL UK’: Strict Security, Giddy Cynthia Erivo and Sometimes More a Party Than a TV Set
SNL UK ended its second season with a live finale hosted by Cynthia Erivo, amid tight security and a lively, high-pressure atmosphere at London’s Television Centre. The account describes a large operation that feels more like a party than a television set, as the cast works to prove that the American sketch-show format can connect with British audiences.
The programme drew more than 220,000 viewers for Tina Fey’s first-season opener, but its first-season finale fell to 86,420 viewers, while Jeff Goldblum’s second-season opener attracted 105,000 overnight viewers. The finale’s audience numbered 275, and 30 to 40 sketches were cut to six or seven before broadcast; the returning cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye and Emma Sidi, with Freddie Meredith joining this season.
In short
- Cynthia Erivo hosted SNL UK’s second-season finale.
- The live audience was limited to 275 people.
- Writers cut as many as 40 sketches to six or seven.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The show’s supporters can argue that adapting a familiar format for British audiences takes time, and the live finale, returning cast and strong initial interest suggest there is room to build a distinctive programme. Its intense, collaborative production may also be part of what makes live sketch comedy exciting, while the large cuts reflect the discipline needed to shape a fast-moving broadcast.
The case against
Sceptics can argue that the steep fall from the first-season opener to its finale, followed by a modest second-season opener, raises fair questions about whether the format has found a lasting British audience. The demanding production and lively atmosphere may be enjoyable for those involved, but they do not by themselves show that the programme is working for viewers or justify its scale.
Explained simply
SNL UK is the British version of Saturday Night Live, the American sketch comedy programme built around a different host and live sketches each week. Its cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye and Emma Sidi, with Freddie Meredith joining for the second season; guest hosts have included Tina Fey, Jeff Goldblum and Cynthia Erivo.
The show is made at Television Centre in London, where a small audience watches sketches performed live. Each episode is assembled under tight time pressure, with many sketches rehearsed or considered before only a handful make it to air. Its early audience figures have varied, as the programme seeks to establish how the long-running American format fits British viewers.
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