My thoughts on SNL UK Series 1
When they first announced that they were bringing Saturday Night Live over to the UK I, along with most of the country, was very hesitant. Despite its undeniable cultural relevance over 50 years, the US version has felt very stale lately, and it didn’t feel like the format would translate to a UK audience. Thankfully, SNL UK has surpassed expectations in every way, and has been a huge hit with audiences and critics. Here, I’ll share my thoughts on the best sketches, as well as the show as a whole.
Best Sketches
Weekend Update - The Woman Who Can’t Be Ignored 1
Just incredibly funny character work from Emma Sidi, so bizzare and off the wall and so up my street. Randomly bursting into song is so funny, and “it’s electric!” is exactly the sort of thing that tickles me.
45 Seconds With Fouracres 1 - What Type Of Irish Is Your Grandad?
The moment that made it clear that Fouracres is going to be a star (although we’d already had “cunty little earring” tbf). Just so absurd, and so perfect.
QVC Jewellery Sketch
Another Emma Sidi banger. Perfect execution from all, but especially Emma - nails the weird over familiarity of shopping channels; and “what is wrong with my fucking hand?” is just impeccable line delivery.
British Pork
“My wife’s got what it takes”. Incredibly niche and clearly a passion product from Fouracres - seeing him try to hold back from corpsing as he evidently can’t believe that he’s actually got this on television is hilarious, and showing the actual ad at the end was a masterstroke.
British Themed Pub
Probably the only musical sketch I’ll include but what a tune. The concept is a great observation and the delivery is sublime from all. “In the mediterranean, don’t speak Spainian”, class.
Hostage
There have been a few “Gen Z” sketches that have missed the mark but this one nailed it. Clearly from Annabel Marlow’s brain and her and Jamie Dornan bounce off each other so well here.
DadSwap
A lovely twist in the middle. However, once again I think it’s Fouracres that steals the show, his building disgruntlement as it goes on is fantastic and I adore “I have absolutely fucked it” as a comedic line.
Weekend Update - Scrimpch
Jack Shep has been in danger of being typecast a tad, has played a lot of “in the closet gay guy” roles I feel. Letting him showcase his range with this fantastic bit of character work was a brilliant idea, he’s unbelievably funny in this and I hope Scrimpch is brought back.
An Italian Plumber With Princess Problems
Fouracres, what can’t he do??? And Aimee Lee-Wood nails it too here tbf to her; it’s actually just great acting from both, and is surprisingly detailed and accurate with its Mario lore. That’s how you do a Mario sketch Elon Musk and SNL US!
The Traitors: Great Big Crab Man
Not just very funny and surreal but actually a very pointed and barbed bit of satire that highlights the unconscious racial biases that we see in The Traitors and other reality television. Also a brilliant Claudia impression from Celeste.
Honourable Mentions
Ian Wright, “I thought you was dead”
Weekend Update - Skin On Skin
Underáge
Pilot Emergency
The Jools Holland sketch
Looking Thereoux The Mirror
Shakespeare and his Cunty Little Earring
45 Seconds With Fouracres 2 - Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself
Bastard Seagull
1930s Cocaine
Mastermind - Gossip About People He Doesn’t Know
Operation
Boovies Goes To The Films (has earned its place here for the title alone tbh)
Glasses of Wine (actually don’t love this overall but it makes it just for Celeste breaking the fourth wall and then going “apologies to the fourth wall” - so clever and so funny).
Weekend Update - David Attenborough WWE bit
Weekend Update
I’ve included character work from the rest of the cast in my list but have left off the core Weekend Update material. Overall Ania and Paddy have absolutely nailed it and have definitely been one of the highlights each and every week. They’re much braver with their jokes than their US counterparts; it’s been so consistent and they haven’t been afraid to go close to the bone, whilst still being goofy and silly. Some people don’t like Ania breaking so often but I find it quite charming - very much hope she isn’t leaving as is rumoured.
Best Weekend Update Jokes
Paddy’s helium joke (maybe the joke of the season tbh)
Ania’s Hitler “kill yourself” joke
“Hand in Hand” and Ania using hand sanitiser afterwards
Paddy’s Michael Jackson joke
Paddy’s “friend of mandleson” joke
Ania listing off all the groups who would be hurt by a Reform government
Ania’s “anyone but ange” gag
Ania’s joke about Camilla wearing Diana’s horcrux
The running joke of Paddy being really into BTS and K-Pop
Ania’s “too busy killing women” joke about the MET police
Thoughts on Cold Opens
I think early in the series (other than the Prince Andrew one) the cold opens were usually one of the weakest parts of the show, but they got better as the weeks went on. It felt like George’s Starmer was being over used and wearing a bit thin at one point around mid season, but now I genuinely think that the saddest part of Starmer probably being ousted is that we likely won’t get to see as much of that impression. They’re clearly following the US pattern of always doing political cold opens, but I think they went a bit heavy on the Labour bashing and not enough on Reform, although I understand that they’re the obvious target as the reigning government. Bringing Serafenovic in as Farage last week was a breath of fresh air and, in general, bringing in more characters has been welcome - Celeste’s Rayner and, more recently, Paddy’s Burnham have been great additions.
Thoughts on Cast
There genuinely isn’t a weak link in this cast, and their friendship and chemistry is evident. I truly hope we keep the same cast as we head into season 2 and don’t lose anyone. Of course there are standouts: namely George Fouracres, Emma Sidi, Ania Magliano, and Paddy Young. There are clearly some talented writers on the team who could be promoted to the main cast - but I hope it doesn’t dilute things too much if that does happen, this smaller cast allows everyone to shine.
Overall Thoughts
It’s evident from how much I recall that I’m a huge fan of this show. I adore how quintessentially British it feels, and it’s wholesome to see how much the cast are clearly having so much fun doing it - it makes me want to be funnier myself. It’s not been afraid to lean into surrealism and the avant-garde, it feels in the vein of clsssic British sketch comedy such as Monty Python. Hiring a cast of largely unknowns was key to the success, they could’ve just gone for people from the mainstream panel show comedy circuit, but they’ve genuinely discovered some amazing talent here who are going to go on to big things. For them to overcome the initial scepticism is so impressive, and it’s outshone the current US version by every barometer. There is often just 1 or 2 funny sketches in each episode across the pond but over here I honestly think they’ve got a much better hit rate compared to the miss rate; and have provided some genuine laugh out loud moments. Overall, SNL UK is the best thing to happen for British comedy in many years, I hope the upcoming merger of ITV and Sky can boost its profile, and I can’t wait for the second series.