SNL Creator Lorne Michaels Sets Lofty Goals for British Spin-Off
Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels has revealed his ambitious vision for the UK version of the iconic sketch show, declaring it must surpass the American original in wit and originality. The 81-year-old producer, speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of his documentary Lorne on Tuesday night, emphasised that SNL UK needs to establish its own distinct identity rather than merely imitating the long-running US programme.
High Expectations for British Comedy Talent
Michaels, who has been overseeing the British adaptation, stated his "design for it was that it would be the cooler of the two shows." In comments first reported by Variety, he elaborated that SNL UK should be "smarter, funnier and more original" than its American counterpart. "It had to be its own thing," Michaels insisted. "It couldn't be an imitation of what we do."
The inaugural UK episode launched last month on Sky and Now TV, hosted by Tina Fey, one of the original SNL's most successful alumni. Subsequent episodes have featured hosts including Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and Jack Whitehall, with upcoming episodes scheduled to be fronted by Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan and Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood.
Distinctly British Satire Takes Centre Stage
SNL UK has already developed a decidedly British flavour, with sketches targeting prominent UK figures including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The show's Weekend Update segment has put a satirical spin on recent British news stories, covering topics from Scott Mills' BBC departure to the Kanye West controversy at Wireless Festival.
Despite his close involvement, Michaels emphasised that the British creative team must maintain autonomy. He revealed he speaks regularly with UK showrunner James Longman and head writer Daran Jonno Johnson, but stressed: "It has to be their show because I can tell you how I would do it — I've been doing it for 50 years, and it's pretty well known how I would do it — [but] you have to do it your ways."
Viewership and Critical Reception
The sketch show's initial commission was extended from six to eight episodes before the first instalment even aired, indicating early confidence from broadcaster Sky. While viewers have generally responded warmly to the programme, critical reviews have been mixed.
The Independent's television critic Nick Hilton argued that "SNL UK lacks its own spark of irreverence," suggesting that "at best it shows what it's learnt from a half-century of its New York cousin; at worst it seems like tepid cosplay."
Ratings have presented challenges, likely hindered by the programme's paywall status on Sky and Now TV. After a promising premiere attracted 226,000 viewers, average viewership had declined to approximately 130,000 by the third episode according to BARB figures.
As SNL UK takes a brief hiatus before returning with new hosts, the pressure remains on the British creative team to deliver the smarter, funnier, and more original content that Michaels envisions, while carving out a distinctive identity within the global SNL franchise.
