Saturday Night Live UK has hit a stride with its inaugural season and is quickly proving itself to be the hottest show on television. That vindicates the entire team behind the spin-off, but one standout segment could give it real staying power. The highly anticipated UK version of the long-running US comedy variety show had every reason to fail amid sky-high expectations, skepticism of remakes, and the notoriously tough live comedy genre. Yet, only five episodes in, the up-and-coming cast has admirably stepped up, already cementing several iconic moments.
From the popular recurring skit 45 Seconds with Fouracres to Jack Shep's brilliant character work, including his impeccable Princess Diana impression, and wonderfully game guest stars like Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and most recently Nicola Coughlan, the show has raked in respectable viewing figures. Jack Whitehall's fourth episode secured 371,700 seven-day ratings. But the real impact is on social media, where it has taken off with millions of YouTube views, countless TikTok reels, and several clips from each episode going viral weekly.
Weekend Update Shines Brightest
Now that SNL UK has settled into its skin, it is clear that while sketches can be hit and miss, one segment has truly shone: Weekend Update. Helmed by Ania Magliano and Paddy Young, the comedy duo pose as news presenters running through the biggest headlines with satirical quips, often introducing other cast members as larger-than-life faux pundits. What makes this segment work so well is their no-holds-barred humor. On live mainstream TV, they happily make the jokes everyone is thinking about some of the most controversial topics, in a way no other comedy show delivers right now, including the US version.
British panel shows are also falling short. Have I Got News For You, normally leading political satire, seems to have lost viral steam, and the Mock the Week reboot hardly whips up the same frenzy. Enter the new generation of comics with SNL UK. In the latest episode, their commentary on the Michael Jackson biopic went there. As pundits and critics flailed over the singer's historic accusations of child sex abuse, SNL UK had no such qualms. 'The new Michael Jackson biopic has been released in cinemas nationwide. It's the first ever film to be rated 12 and under…' Ania stared. Paddy pushed further: 'The intended third act of the Jackson biopic, which was to depict the sexual abuse allegations, has been scrapped for legal reasons, leaving something short and underdeveloped. It's what he would have wanted.' Shocked laughter ensued.
Risky Jokes Win Praise
Risky jokes like that have been praised by fans online. One X user, Phoebe, declared: 'This show gives less of a f**k every week and that's exactly how it should be.' Steve agreed: 'I just love how they really don't care, they are literally leaving everything UNCENSORED, and I am here for it!!!' Andrus added: 'The SNL UK weekend update [is] so refreshingly better than the US version…love the dry humour.' The dynamic duo have also joked about Andrew's body being found in a marsh, influencers being bombed out of Dubai, Jesus being the only murdered Palestinian we're allowed to talk about, and journalists in Saudi Arabia killing themselves, among other highlights.
Although not with the same regularity, there have been similarly bold gambits during sketches, such as Fouracres' pitch-perfect singing about Epstein not killing himself and a spot-on parody of strange racism on The Traitors. It is difficult to think of a recent SNL US joke that has landed with the same splash. In fact, many recent US sketches have faced backlash for poor taste rather than applause, such as Sarah Sherman's Aimee Lou Wood impression and a strange Harry Potter Heated Rivalry spoof. Even their Weekend Update segments tend to lack real oomph these days.
Comparisons to US Golden Era
On the flip side, Paddy and Ania's humor seems closer to the days of yore in the US. One Reddit user, curtinmartis, said it reminds them of the Amy Poehler/Tina Fey/Seth Meyers era, with much more dry, matter-of-fact news delivery. Also, SNL UK makes use of much stronger language and explicit scenes, such as the father-and-son skin-to-skin interview, which naturally fuels its provocative nature. Perhaps it is no surprise that SNL UK is proving itself a razor-sharp standout, with creator Lorne Michaels himself saying he wanted the British version to be 'smarter, funnier and more original.'
Certainly, Ania and Paddy, whose delivery, chemistry, and looks are starting to grow a cult following, are proving the brilliance of punching up in comedy after years of older comics complaining about political correctness. Take note, Ricky Gervais: their sharp satirical quips about the rich and famous are funnier than a million jokes about trans people. All this to say, Weekend Update has quietly proven itself the show's secret weapon, drawing in viewers who might otherwise not have tuned in, and could bolster SNL UK's success for years to come.
