‘Saturday Night Live UK’ Renewed For Season 2 At Sky

Saturday Night Live UK has been renewed for a second season.

The first ends in nine days’ time but Sky and Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS) have liked what they’ve seen enough to give an early greenlight for a second run, which will air an extended 12 episodes from fall 2026. The show lands on Peacock the day after it airs on Sky One in the UK.

The first season has featured hosts including Aimee Lou Wood, Nicola Coughlan and Tina Fey. Hannah Waddingham will shepherd this coming Saturday’s ep and Ncuti Gatwa will take charge of the final one.

SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who produces the UK version, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the show. It keeps getting better every week. I’m grateful to [Sky boss] Dana Strong and Sky for believing in and supporting SNL UK. I’m excited for the season ahead.”

The UK comedy community was skeptical about SNL UK but the vast majority would concur it has gone down well.

While overnight ratings haven’t been anything to write home about, the show has been received well with critics, has attracted a high caliber of guest host and has performed extremely well on social media. A Deadline analysis recently found that it had stormed past 86 million views across its official online accounts on YouTube, Instagram Reels, X/Twitter, and TikTok. Jimmy Fallon was even in town late last month taking that week’s host Coughlan on a wild studio tour.

SNL UK has also been praised for its platforming of younger talent, many of whom came up through social media. Particular breakouts include George Fouracres, Al Nash and Jack Shep.

Speaking to Deadline before the eight-episode first season kicked off, lead producer James Longman said he wanted to leave a legacy.

The move is a big one for Sky given that SNL UK is by a distance its most expensive unscripted show of all time, with each episode costing into the millions of pounds. If SNL UK runs for years, it will have a major impact on the annual Sky budget. The pay-TV giant has also been greenlighting more original drama of late and recently struck a scripted deal with Canal+.

SNL UK is produced by UTAS UK and Broadway Video for Sky and Now. Michaels is executive producing; for Broadway Video, Erin David serves as producer; for UTAS UK, Managing Director Helen Kruger Bratt oversees production. SNL UK was commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cecile Frot Coutaz, Chief Advertising and Content Officer, Sky, CEO Sky Studios.

Edgar Jones said: “It’s fair to say people doubted SNL would work in the UK, but thanks to Lorne Michaels, his longtime Saturday Night Live producing team and UTAS UK, alongside our brilliant cast and writers, SNL UK is Sky’s most talked about show of the year. It’s now firmly part of the cultural conversation and we’re thrilled the show will be returning in the Autumn, bringing laughter and mischief to our audiences, live from London on a Saturday night.”