Lorne Michaels will produce a British version of SNL launching next year for Sky - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-11-2025, 07:32 PM

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...on-1236186767/

The London-based UK version of Saturday Night Live, expected to premiere in 2026, will be similar to its American counterpart, but with a cast of British comedians. As The Hollywood Reporter's Abid Rahman notes, "it’s been a long time coming for an official SNL adaptation for the U.K., despite the show boasting local offshoots in countries like Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Finland and Poland — although it must be said, all the local versions were short-lived and went off the air some years ago. An unofficial, but heavily inspired by, version of SNL aired in the U.K. under the title Saturday Live on Channel 4 from 1985 to 1988 and then was resurrected for a short-lived run on ITV in 1996, as were a few specials. Saturday Live was notable as it showcased a number of U.K. comedians and comedy writers who would go on to have enduring success including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Patrick Marber, Morwenna Banks, Chris Barrie, Julian Clary, Emo Philips, Tracey Ullman, Craig Ferguson, Craig Charles, Josie Lawrence, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson."

TMC · 04-17-2025, 02:04 AM

Why a British version of SNL is doomed to fail

It was a critical disaster. The Guardian described it as 'an extravagant money pit of forced laughter and plummeting ratings.'

Britain doesn't need an SNL reboot

If the American version of SNL can no longer generate enough reasonable material — and it can't — then a British one absolutely can't.

04-11-2025, 07:32 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,612	Lorne Michaels will produce a British version of SNL launching next year for Sky https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...on-1236186767/ The London-based UK version of Saturday Night Live, expected to premiere in 2026, will be similar to its American counterpart, but with a cast of British comedians. As The Hollywood Reporter's Abid Rahman notes, "it’s been a long time coming for an official SNL adaptation for the U.K., despite the show boasting local offshoots in countries like Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Finland and Poland — although it must be said, all the local versions were short-lived and went off the air some years ago. An unofficial, but heavily inspired by, version of SNL aired in the U.K. under the title Saturday Live on Channel 4 from 1985 to 1988 and then was resurrected for a short-lived run on ITV in 1996, as were a few specials. Saturday Live was notable as it showcased a number of U.K. comedians and comedy writers who would go on to have enduring success including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Patrick Marber, Morwenna Banks, Chris Barrie, Julian Clary, Emo Philips, Tracey Ullman, Craig Ferguson, Craig Charles, Josie Lawrence, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson."

04-17-2025, 02:04 AM	#2
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,612	Why a British version of SNL is doomed to fail It was a critical disaster. The Guardian described it as 'an extravagant money pit of forced laughter and plummeting ratings.' Britain doesn't need an SNL reboot If the American version of SNL can no longer generate enough reasonable material — and it can't — then a British one absolutely can't.