“Saturday Night Live U.K.” is on track for a second season renewal.
Though Sky has not officially commented, numerous sources have verified the renewal to Variety, stating that the Comcast-owned network is enthusiastic about the show despite its fluctuating ratings.
Sky CEO Dana Strong, who considers the series “a point of pride,” has been a strong advocate from the start. She was present in the studio audience for the Nicola Coughlan-hosted Episode 5 after a brief one-week break. Among the audience were J.J. Abrams and his son, indicating the live broadcast has become a popular draw for Comcast executives and collaborators visiting the area.
The U.K. edition has also benefited from support by its original American counterpart. “SNL” alum Tina Fey hosted the debut episode, while Jimmy Fallon made a guest appearance in Episode 5. Additionally, “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels and alum Seth Meyers played significant roles in the show’s development.
The decision to extend the series to a second season underscores Sky’s faith in the show, which initially expanded from six to eight episodes before its debut. According to Variety, each episode commands a budget of approximately £2 million ($2.6 million), a rarity for British comedy sketch series.
Despite the volatile ratings, which peaked at 226,000 viewers for the premiere hosted by Fey and declined over the following three episodes (hosted by Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and Jack Whitehall), the series saw a resurgence post-hiatus. Whitehall’s Episode 4 saw the lowest viewership at 119,540, but numbers began to rise again with Coughlan’s Episode 5 drawing 130,000 viewers and Aimee Lou Wood’s Episode 6 achieving 143,700 viewers.
While the viewership is modest compared to other U.K. broadcasters like BBC and ITV, which frequently attract millions during their Saturday night slots, the figures are respectable for Sky, a subscription-based service. Additionally, various sketches have gained significant traction on YouTube, with the Prince Andrew cold open from Episode 2 amassing 2.4 million views, followed by the King Charles and Queen Camilla cold open last week, which garnered 1.7 million views.
“Ted Lasso’s” Hannah Waddingham and “Doctor Who” star Ncuti Gatwa are set to complete the hosting lineup for this season.
