UK not connecting with Saturday Night Live UK?

[Mr+Ripley]

  I am one of those viewers who gave up on the show. I saw the first three episodes, but it was a case of it being too hit & miss for me as far as the laugh rate was concerned. If I'm going to watch a comedy sketch show, I expect to be laughing at all the sketches. Instead, I was only laughing at a few of them. It got to the point where if I hadn't laughed during the first minute of a sketch, I was fast-forwarding it. 

  From now on, I think it will depend on whether I like the guest host or not as to whether I watch anymore.

[xenon81]

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@Marie wrote:

Dare I be marginally controversial in some eyes by suggesting that liberal left satire with a left wing government never lands? The comics hearts are just not in it.

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The revival of Mock The Week has been a big success for TLC. They have just commissioned a bonus 5 episodes to run this summer ahead of a full new series in Autumn. 

[SKY1992bf]

Well sky must be happy with ratings it's been renewed for season 2

https://www.geektown.co.uk/2026/05/07/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-for-series-two...

[TimmyBGood]

@SKY1992bf 

Cancelling after one season would have been hugely embarrassing, so I'd think they would have budgeted for at least a couple initially.

I enjoyed the very carefully crafted quote 

" SNL UK is Sky’s most talked about show of the year. It’s now firmly part of the cultural conversation "

which doesn't actually claim anyone thought it was watchable ; )

[82bit]

If Sky One's return was all about nostalgia baiting us, then give us some nostalgic content! For example, a Dream Team relaunch would get better figures than that! Just saying!

I watched about 10 minutes of the first episode of SNLUK. That was all I could take. Honestly awful. 

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

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Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

[Angel_Aka]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

---

Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

---

They were absolutely not contracted for more than 1 series. The additional 2 episodes added to series 1 were not even scheduled until after the first episode aired.  

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@xenon81 wrote:

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@Marie wrote:

Dare I be marginally controversial in some eyes by suggesting that liberal left satire with a left wing government never lands? The comics hearts are just not in it.

---

The revival ofMock The Week has been a big success for TLC. They have just commissioned a bonus 5 episodes to run this summer ahead of a full new series in Autumn. 

---

I think that's a little different though, that a UK show that's been revived. So UK audiences would have knowledge of it already, and a viewership would have already been established. It was shown on BBC Two originally where it aired for 17 years (2005-2022). So Mock the Week is more like The Simpsons on Sky One, BBC Two and Channel 4/E4, it's well established. 

I think if every episodes of SNL (US) was shown for (e.g.) the last 10-20 years over here (like how The Simpsons is established here), I think the viewing figures for terrestrial TV/on-demand/catch-up would be much higher for SNL UK, and the SNL brand would be already established here. But SNL (US) has been only shown here for the last few years, I don't think that's enough time to establish a brand. 

Additionally, and a little off-note, Sky One now, is not and never will be Sky One again. I will always see it as a rebrand of Sky Max. They could've kept Sky Max as Sky One Max to keep the Sky One brand, but they've already killed it off, or at the absolute least, used Sky One as a FAST channel to keep it, like they did with Pick (Pick Paranormal/Monkey Rescue).

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

---

Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

---

They were absolutely not contracted for more than 1 series. The additional 2 episodes added to series 1 were not even scheduled until after the first episode aired.  

---

You don't know that for a fact. It's hearsay. The Sky Studios, SNL Studios and the other production companies and cast may have been required to sign NDAs. There's no evidence it was or was not contracted. I added my point as a suggestion, not as a fact. 

Quote:
"[...] it may just be that SNL Studios [...] have contracted it for two or more series."  Additionally, only the cast and/or the production companies know for sure. I just find it a little odd that Sky have announced series 2 mid-way through series 1. It seems like the timing was contracted after the original scheduled first series. But again, that's a suggestion. 

[Angel_Aka]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

---

Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

---

They were absolutely not contracted for more than 1 series. The additional 2 episodes added to series 1 were not even scheduled until after the first episode aired.  

---

You don't know that for a fact. It's hearsay. The Sky Studios, SNL Studios and the other production companies and cast may have been required to sign NDAs. There's no evidence it was or was not contracted. I added my point as a suggestion, not as a fact. 

Quote:
"[...] it may just be that SNL Studios [...] have contracted it for two or more series."

---

Believe it or not, I do know for a fact. I work in the industry and have done for the past 25 years. 

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

---

Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

---

They were absolutely not contracted for more than 1 series. The additional 2 episodes added to series 1 were not even scheduled until after the first episode aired.  

---

You don't know that for a fact. It's hearsay. The Sky Studios, SNL Studios and the other production companies and cast may have been required to sign NDAs. There's no evidence it was or was not contracted. I added my point as a suggestion, not as a fact. 

Quote:
"[...] it may just be that SNL Studios [...] have contracted it for two or more series."

---

Believe it or not, I do know for a fact. I work in the industry and have done for the past 25 years. 

---

Did you create the contracts for the SNL UK cast, and/or the production companies? I don't think so. So "being in the industry" doesn't hold true for this discussion. We're going around in circles here. We disagree, which is perfectly OK. Let's just leave it at that. 🙂

[Angel_Aka]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@Angel_Aka wrote:

---

@Timelord2018 wrote:

It's been renewed for 2nd series by Sky , coming in September 

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-confirms-saturday-night-live-uk-will-return-this-septembe...

---

Excellent news. That came quicker than expected and shows how positive Sky are about the show.

Commissioning 12 rather than 6 or 8 is a real commitment too. I reckon they'll get some higher calibre hosts now too as there really is good buzz around it in the industry.  

---

Not necessarily on how "positive Sky are about [SNL UK]" or related to the popularity of individual sketches and viewing figures, it may just be that SNL Studios and/or Broadway Video (who are two of the four production, Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Sky Studios being the other two) have contracted it for two or more series. So, while it may or may not flop, Sky may be contracted for more than one series, so they may have to do a series 2 whether they want to or not. 

Apart for episode 1, I did watch the Doctor Who sketch (being a Whovian). It was just OK. 

---

They were absolutely not contracted for more than 1 series. The additional 2 episodes added to series 1 were not even scheduled until after the first episode aired.  

---

You don't know that for a fact. It's hearsay. The Sky Studios, SNL Studios and the other production companies and cast may have been required to sign NDAs. There's no evidence it was or was not contracted. I added my point as a suggestion, not as a fact. 

Quote:
"[...] it may just be that SNL Studios [...] have contracted it for two or more series."

---

Believe it or not, I do know for a fact. I work in the industry and have done for the past 25 years. 

---

Did you create the contracts for the SNL UK cast, and/or the production companies? I don't think so. So "being in the industry" doesn't hold true for this discussion. We're going around in circles here. We disagree, which is perfectly OK. Let's just leave it at that. 🙂

---

I could say a LOT more... but it would obviously be posting information not in the public domain and would likely be removed by mods anyway so I won't. 

The show is a success. That's all that matters. 

Leaving it at that too. 😀

[Plektrum]

Might be worth also mentioning the most recent set of overnights... 

Episode 5 - 129,970

Episode 6 - 143,730

Episode 7 - 197,200

[Timelord2018]

---

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

---

@xenon81 wrote:

---

@Marie wrote:

Dare I be marginally controversial in some eyes by suggesting that liberal left satire with a left wing government never lands? The comics hearts are just not in it.

---

The revival ofMock The Week has been a big success for TLC. They have just commissioned a bonus 5 episodes to run this summer ahead of a full new series in Autumn. 

---

I think that's a little different though, that a UK show that's been revived. So UK audiences would have knowledge of it already, and a viewership would have already been established. It was shown on BBC Two originally where it aired for 17 years (2005-2022). So Mock the Week is more like The Simpsons on Sky One, BBC Two and Channel 4/E4, it's well established. 

I think if every episodes of SNL (US) was shown for (e.g.) the last 10-20 years over here (like how The Simpsons is established here), I think the viewing figures for terrestrial TV/on-demand/catch-up would be much higher for SNL UK, and the SNL brand would be already established here. But SNL (US) has been only shown here for the last few years, I don't think that's enough time to establish a brand. 

Additionally, and a little off-note, Sky One now, is not and never will be Sky One again. I will always see it as a rebrand of Sky Max. They could've kept Sky Max as Sky One Max to keep the Sky One brand, but they've already killed it off, or at the absolute least, used Sky One as a FAST channel to keep it, like they did with Pick (Pick Paranormal/Monkey Rescue).

---

Expect it technically is of course 

it just rebranded back,

Having seen when Sky Max trademark was originally applied for (January 2021), I suspect it was new Comcast management at Sky  that ultimately wanted to do it in first place 

I also remember the words "reset" getting used

[82bit]

@Plektrum those are rookie numbers, you’ve gotta pump those numbers up! 😜