“Saturday Night Live U.K.” has been renewed for a second season, a decision confirmed by Sky, the Comcast-owned network. This announcement comes despite a rollercoaster performance in terms of traditional viewership ratings. The show, which is a transatlantic adaptation of the iconic American sketch comedy, has managed to secure a new 12-episode order, set to air in late 2026 and early 2027. This renewal highlights Sky’s ongoing commitment to the series and the belief in its potential, particularly given its strong performance on digital platforms like YouTube.

The initial season of “Saturday Night Live U.K.” launched with considerable fanfare, featuring well-known hosts and an ambitious budget of approximately £2 million ($2.6 million) per episode, an amount rarely seen for British comedy sketch shows. The premiere, hosted by Tina Fey, attracted a peak audience of 226,000 viewers. However, subsequent episodes saw a decline in linear television viewership, with hosts such as Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and Jack Whitehall. Episode 4, hosted by Jack Whitehall, recorded the lowest figures at 119,540 viewers. Following a brief hiatus, viewership began to rebound, with episodes hosted by Nicola Coughlan and Aimee Lou Wood bringing in 130,000 and 143,700 viewers, respectively.

While these broadcast numbers might seem modest when compared to the millions of viewers regularly tuning into free-to-air U.K. broadcasters like the BBC and ITV, they are considered robust for Sky. As a subscription-based service, Sky’s audience reach is inherently more limited than its public broadcasting counterparts. A significant factor in the show's continued success and renewal has been its remarkable performance on digital platforms. Several sketches from the first season have achieved viral status on YouTube, accumulating millions of views. Notably, the Prince Andrew cold open from Episode 2 amassed 2.4 million views, and a recent sketch featuring King Charles and Queen Camilla garnered 1.7 million views, demonstrating a strong online presence and engagement beyond traditional television metrics.

The renewal of “Saturday Night Live U.K.” for a second season underscores a strategic shift in how television success is measured, with digital engagement playing an increasingly crucial role. Despite the variability in live viewership, the show’s ability to generate significant buzz and viewership on platforms like YouTube indicates a strong connection with a younger, digitally-native audience. This approach allows Sky to cultivate a popular franchise, blending traditional broadcast appeal with the expansive reach of online content, ensuring the longevity and relevance of the beloved sketch comedy format in the evolving media landscape.