SNL UK Proves Doubters Wrong, Reignites Live Comedy Scene
The arrival of a UK iteration of the iconic American sketch show, Saturday Night Live, was met with a healthy dose of British scepticism. Questions abounded: would it translate? Could it be genuinely funny? Would it even survive its first season? However, following a triumphant reception to its inaugural episode, comedian Angela Barnes has revealed she harboured no such doubts, urging critics and audiences alike to give the show a fair chance.
The highly anticipated SNL UK premiered on March 21st, featuring none other than Hollywood powerhouse Tina Fey as its first host, with the indie darlings Wet Leg providing the musical entertainment. The show’s casting strategy focused on showcasing emerging talent, introducing 11 fresh faces to the comedy landscape. Among these rising stars are Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, and George Fouracres.
While some critics were reportedly poised to deliver damning reviews before the opening credits had even finished rolling, many were ultimately won over, delivering rave reviews. The show’s social media presence has been particularly potent, with viral clips amassing millions of views and demonstrating the enduring power of sketch comedy in the digital age.
Angela Barnes, who has built a significant following through stand-up and appearances on panel shows like Mock the Week, is a vocal advocate for embracing the evolving ways audiences consume comedy. In an exclusive interview, she shared her perspective: “People will bemoan social media and lack of attention span and people not being able to watch anything long-form, but whatever. The fact is, comedy has always evolved; it’s not a new thing. And you either sit in a corner and be bitter about it, or you try and go with it and adapt what you do. I think it’s really exciting.”
Reflecting on SNL UK, the 49-year-old comedian expressed her frustration with the pre-emptive negativity. “I was so frustrated with how everyone was determined it was gonna be awful before it started,” she admitted. “I know quite a lot of people in the cast, and I know a lot of the writers; there was no way it was going to be awful. It’s got some top talent doing what they do best. I know they’re working really, really hard on it. So let’s just wait and see, shall we? Before we start tearing it down.”
Barnes’ verdict on the first episode was unequivocally positive. She felt the show successfully “taken a very American product and made it suit a British audience.” She praised the team for their efforts, stating, “Good on them for challenging those naysayers saying it can’t be done here. It can, and it was.”
The live sketch show debuted to a respectable 226,000 viewers on Sky One. The premiere was further enlivened by surprise cameos from beloved personalities Nicola Coughlan and Graham Norton. As expected, the show didn’t shy away from topical humour, delivering sharp quips at the expense of figures like Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, proving its willingness to engage with the political landscape.
A Critic’s Take: SNL UK Delivers a Four-Star Debut
One contributor, Adam Miller, offered a glowing four-star review, highlighting the show’s strategic brilliance. “Across its 75 minutes, SNL UK was a masterclass in smart decision-making,” he wrote. “Fey set the tone by refusing to dominate the spotlight, instead allowing the cast to shine, while musical guest Wet Leg were the perfect accompaniment. With such little live music on television anymore, it was so refreshing to see a band who built huge success from radio play able to show themselves off as captivating live performers.”
Miller concluded his review with high praise: “There isn’t a single thing I would change about this debut. I am genuinely stunned SNL UK could be this strong – that one show could platform so many brilliant new comics, bring live music back to television, and make Saturday night tele genuinely exciting again.”
The Resurgence of Mock the Week
The digital age, while beneficial for SNL UK‘s launch, has also introduced a new generation of viewers to established comedy programs like Mock the Week. The BBC’s decision to axe the show after 17 years in 2022 left many fans incensed. At the time, co-creator Dan Patterson described the cancellation as “desperately disappointing,” and host Dara Ó’Briain bid farewell to the final episode in tears.
However, to the delight of millions, Mock the Week has since been revived, finding a new home on TLC. The reboot features a fresh lineup of talent, with Rhys James joining as a series regular.
Finding Your Feet: Barnes on the Return of Mock the Week
For Angela Barnes, a former panellist on the show, returning for the revival was a straightforward decision. She credits Mock the Week with being instrumental in helping her “find [her] feet” as a comedian. “It was such a shame when it was cancelled, because the big names, Josh Widdicombe, Rob Beckett, and Romesh Ranganathan, all came through that show, and it was such a good breeding ground for new material,” she explained. “As soon as I got the call to say, ‘It’s coming back. Will you be involved?’, it was an absolute no-brainer.”
Barnes admitted that the cast was initially “unsure” how the reboot would be received, given its new channel, which some viewers might not have been familiar with, and the four-year gap since its original run. “Would anyone still be interested?” she pondered. “It turns out, when people really like something, they’ll find it,” Barnes stated with a smile. “It doesn’t matter where it is. We’ve been blown away by how well the clips do on social media, which is how people are finding it for the first time.”
She highlighted Mock the Week‘s role in providing audiences with a much-needed “break” from the often relentless news cycle, offering “light relief” through its dynamic panel discussions and organically generated humour.
Barnes also acknowledged the show’s positive evolution in recent years. She noted a more diverse range of comedians appearing on the panel and a shift away from any “bunfighting” between comics, describing it as a “much more respectful show” today, particularly for female performers.
The Art of Editing: What Doesn’t Make the Cut
Television production inevitably involves significant editing, and Mock the Week is no exception. With filming sessions lasting up to three hours per episode, a substantial amount of material is cut from the final 45-minute broadcast. Barnes explained that comedians must accept that not every joke will make it to air. “As a comic, you can’t afford to be territorial, as it’s ‘sod’s law’ that your favourite joke on the night won’t be used,” she said. “The record is three hours long, so there’s a lot you don’t see. It might be that the lawyers have said no, or the story has changed and isn’t relevant anymore.”
The reboot has tested boundaries on several occasions, with jokes touching on sensitive topics such as the Epstein files, Prince Andrew, and the Beckham family, even poking fun at TLC itself. “Sometimes you say things and think, ‘That’s not gonna make the edit.’ But maybe it’s to do with the freedom of no longer being on a non-BBC channel,” Barnes remarked. “Certainly, when it comes to things like swearing, on the BBC, we had to be a bit more careful about that. But I have been quite surprised by some of the jokes that slipped through the net.”
Barnes’ “Angst” Tour: Laughter as the Best Medicine
Fans eager to hear more of Angela Barnes’ unfiltered thoughts will have the opportunity this spring as she embarks on her “Angst” tour. The self-proclaimed “anxious person” is set to explore the universal theme of worries. “There’s nothing better than live comedy,” she declared. “All the other things we do, the TV, the radio, the podcasts, all of that is to let people know we’re there so they can come to the live shows. That’s where the magic happens.”
Approaching her 50th birthday, Barnes describes the tour as her “sort-of mid-life show.” She elaborated, “It’s about anxiety, confidence, all those things, but you come to have a laugh – I don’t want anyone worried that they’re going to be worried throughout the show. Leave that to me! I want my audience to come away having had a really good laugh and thinking, ‘Thank God I’m not her.’ They’ll feel better about their own lives.”
Tickets for Angela Barnes’ “Angst” tour are available.
Angela Barnes’ “Angst” Tour: Spring Dates
- March
- Wednesday, March 4 – Maidenhead, Nordon Farm Centre
- Thursday, March 5 – Burton, The Brewhouse
- Friday, March 6 – Market Drayton Festival, Drayton Centre
- Tuesday, March 10 – Henley, The Kenton Theatre
- Wednesday, March 16 – Brighton, Forge
- Saturday, March 21 – Reading, South Street
- April
- Wednesday, April 1 – Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall
- Saturday, April 11 – Chesham, The Elgiva Theatre
- Tuesday, April 14 – Hastings, White Rock Theatre
- Wednesday, April 15 – Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall
- May
- Friday, May 1 – Ivybridge, The Watermark
- Saturday, May 2 – Hereford, The Courtyard
- Friday, May 8 – Crawley, The Hawth
- Saturday, May 9 – Milton Keynes, Stables
- Friday, May 15 – Corsham, The Pound Arts Centre
- Saturday, May 16 – Bridport, Arts Centre
- Friday, May 22 – Bishops Stortford, Southmill Arts Centre
- Saturday, May 23 – Sudbury, Quay Theatre
