According to Deadline, SNL UK experienced its sharpest ratings dip of the season during its third episode, which aired Saturday at 10PM on Sky and was hosted by Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, Sound of Metal). Deadline reports that the episode drew 130,100 overnight viewers, marking a 36% decline from last week’s 205,000 viewers and a 42% drop from the series premiere hosted by Tina Fey (30 Rock, Mean Girls), which opened with 226,000 viewers.
Despite the week‑to‑week slide, Deadline notes that SNL UK continues to outperform the average late‑Saturday offering on Sky and still ranks ahead of the U.S. version of Saturday Night Live, which airs on Sky Comedy. As Deadline explains, the network is not expected to evaluate the series solely on overnight numbers; Sky historically prioritizes multi‑platform performance, including repeat broadcasts and catch‑up viewing.
Saturday’s episode opened with a political sketch featuring Keir Starmer and lineup of unexpected “advisors,” including Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Favourite) and Peppa Pig. Deadline adds that the show also delivered a parody of The Traitors, poking fun at the reality series’ ongoing conversations about unconscious racial bias.
Ahmed acknowledged his own varied career in his opening monologue, joking, “I’m an actor, I’m a writer, I’m a producer, and I’m a rapper. So, for those of you who don’t know who I am, clearly, neither do I.” According to Deadline, the monologue was one of the episode’s standout comedic beats.
Sky’s broader evaluation strategy may work in the show’s favor. Deadline highlights that last week’s Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor cold open has already surpassed two million views on YouTube, making it the most‑watched sketch from the series so far. With the network emphasizing sketch vitality and long‑tail engagement, Deadline reiterates that the live audience for SNL UK represents only one part of the show’s overall performance picture.
As Deadline reminds readers through its ongoing coverage, the show’s week‑to‑week momentum will likely depend on both host appeal and sketch virality.