Saturday Night Live UK has a secret weapon that will make it massive

Saturday Night Live UK has hit a stride with its inaugural season and is quickly proving itself to be the hottest show on TV.

That’s a vindication of the entire team behind the spin-off, but for me, there’s one standout segment that could give it real staying power. 

Because let’s not forget, the highly anticipated UK version of the long-running US comedy variety show had every reason to fail in the face of sky-high expectations, a scepticism of remakes, and the live comedy genre being a notoriously tough nut to crack.

But, only five episodes in, the up-and-coming cast has stepped up to the task admirably, already cementing several iconic moments. 

From the popular recurring skit 45 seconds with Fouracres to Jack Shep’s brilliant character work, such as his impeccable Princess Di to wonderfully game guest stars including Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed and, most recently, Nicola Coughlan.

It has raked in respectable (although somewhat declining) viewing figures week-on-week, with Jack Whitehall’s fourth episode securing 371.7k seven-day ratings. 

But the real impact is on social media, where it has totally taken off, with millions of YouTube views, countless TikTok reels and several clips from the latest episode going viral weekly.

Now that SNL UK has settled into its skin, it’s clear that while the sketches can be hit and miss, there is one segment that has truly shone: Weekend Update. 

Helmed by Ania Magliano and Paddy Young, the comedy duo pose as news presenters running through the biggest headlines of the week with satirical quips to match before usually introducing other members of the cast as larger-than-life faux pundits. 

And what has made this segment work so well (and garner widespread praise) is how no-holds-barred Ania and Paddy’s humour is.

On live mainstream TV, they are happily making the jokes we’re all thinking (about some of the most controversial topics around) in a way no other comedy show is delivering right now, including in the US version.

Meanwhile, British panel shows are also falling short of the mark with Have I Got News For You – normally leading the way when it comes to political satire – seemingly losing its viral steam and even the Mock the Week reboot hardly whipping up the same frenzy it once did.

Enter the new generation of comics with SNL UK. In the latest episode alone, their commentary on the discourse-sparking Michael Jackson biopic went there. 

As pundits, critics and mainstream media have flailed in the face of the Thriller 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 then pushed it further, adding: ‘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 in the studio ensued. 

Risky jokes like the Jackson one have been praised by fans online, with one X user, Phoebe, declaring: ‘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!!!’

‘The SNL UK weekend update [is] so refreshingly better than the US version…love the dry humour,’ Andrus agreed. 

The dynamic duo have also joked about (formerly Prince) 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 – to name just a few highlights.

And, although not with the same regularity, there have been some similarly bold gambits during the SNL UK sketches themselves, such as Fouracres’ (literally) pitch-perfect singing about Epstein not killing himself and a spot-on parody of the strange racism on The Traitors.

It’s difficult to think of a recent SNL US joke that has landed with the same splash. 

In fact, a lot of their recent sketches have faced backlash for poor taste rather than applause – such as Sarah Sherman’s Aimee Lou Wood impression and the strange Harry Potter Heated Rivalry spoof.

Even their Weekend Update segments tend to lack real oomph these days. I can’t remember the last clip to flood my social media page.

On the flip side, Paddy and Ania’s humour seems closer to the days of yore in the US, with one Reddit user, curtinmartis, saying ‘it reminds [them] of the Amy Poehler/Tina Fey/Seth Myers era. Much more dry, matter-of-fact news delivery.’

Also, it has been pointed out that SNL UK makes use of much stronger language and explicit scenes (lest we forget the father-and-son skin-to-skin interview), which naturally fuels its provocative nature.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, especially thanks to Weekend Update, 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, I feel Ania and Paddy – whose delivery, chemistry, and looks are starting to grow a cult following, with me included – are proving the brilliance of punching up in comedy after years of older comics complaining about political correctness going rogue.

Take note, Ricky Gervais – Ania and Paddy’s 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 have otherwise not have tuned in for another episode, and it could bolster SNL UK’s success for years to come (if we’re lucky).

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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