Saturday Night Live UK has received mixed reviews from critics after its star-studded series premiere, with some saying the show 'could have been a lot worse'. The first episode was hosted by American actress and comedian Tina Fey, who was joined by Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, TV presenter Graham Norton and Canadian actor Michael Cera.
It featured topical sketches, with one poking fun at Sir Keir Starmer and others including impersonations of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sir Winston Churchill. The Sky Original also included a cameo from Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page and a performance from Isle Of Wight band Wet Leg as the show’s first musical guest.
The Guardian awarded it three out of five stars and said: 'It could have been a lot, lot worse. And it could have been a lot better.' The Independent also gave the show three stars for 'some hits, some misses, and a bang-on Princess Di impression'.
However, The Financial Times awarded the show four out of five stars as its 'debut episode shows promise'. The Telegraph also gave the show four out of five stars and said 'predictions that a transatlantic SNL would crash and burn proved wide of the mark'. British comedy website Chortle also gave the show a four-star rating, calling its debut 'impressively strong'.
The show’s US version has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
