Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, has set high expectations for the UK version of the show, stating it should be 'smarter, funnier and more original' than its American counterpart. Speaking at the premiere of his documentary 'Lorne' in Los Angeles, the 81-year-old producer revealed that his 'design for it was that it would be the cooler of the two shows'.
SNL UK, which premiered on Sky and Now TV last month, is the first international adaptation of the long-running US sketch show. The inaugural episode was hosted by former SNL star Tina Fey, with subsequent episodes fronted by Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed and Jack Whitehall. The show is currently on a break, with upcoming hosts including Nicola Coughlan and Aimee Lou Wood.
Michaels emphasised that the British edition needed to be distinct, saying: 'It had to be its own thing. It couldn't be an imitation of what we do.' He added that he communicates regularly with UK showrunner James Longman and head writer Daran Jonno Johnson, but stressed: 'It has to be their show... you have to do it your ways.'
The series was originally commissioned for six episodes but was extended to eight before its launch. Sketches have parodied UK figures such as Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, while Weekend Update has covered stories like Scott Mills' sacking. However, critical reception has been mixed, with The Independent's Nick Hilton describing the show as lacking 'its own spark of irreverence'.
Ratings have declined from 226,000 viewers for the premiere to an average of 130,000 by the third episode, according to BARB figures. The show's availability only on subscription services may have hampered its reach.
