Saturday Night Live UK's opening episode has drawn a sharply divided response, with some viewers praising the British adaptation as 'fantastic' while others dismissed it as 'not funny at all'. The debut instalment, which aired over the weekend, began with a monologue from American SNL veteran Tina Fey, 55, who joked she was hosting because no British performer had wanted to do the job.
Among those watching was former Pointless and House of Games presenter Richard Osman, who took to X/Twitter to share his approval. Osman, who has produced shows including Deal or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats, said he was 'loving' the programme, adding his voice to a number of positive early reactions.
Many viewers admitted that not every sketch landed, describing the episode as 'hit or miss', but still welcomed the fresh approach. One person wrote: 'Really good. Some bits haven't quite landed as much as others but that's gonna happen. Looking forward to seeing how it develops.' Another called it a 'good start' to the eight-part series, though noted the cast appeared to be reading from cue cards, something they hadn't noticed in the US version.
Particular praise was reserved for cast member Jack Shep, whose impression of Princess Diana was widely shared on social media. One viewer predicted Shep would 'be huge', while others suggested he deserved a BAFTA for the performance.
The Independent's Nick Hilton awarded the opening episode three stars, calling it 'some hits and some misses'. He argued it would be 'foolish' to judge the show on its first outing, adding that the reaction on social media would help determine which sketches had longevity. He also noted that the episode demonstrated a willingness to 'push the envelope' and take risks, suggesting that while borrowing an American format might feel stale, there were elements that could offer something fresh.
