⁠“SNL can’t be recreated"—Fans poke fun as UK version of Saturday Night Live set to premiere in London in 2026

News that a UK version of Saturday Night Live is set to premiere in 2026 has the internet doing what it does best—mocking it before it even exists. The reboot will be produced in London and aims to replicate the iconic sketch show format with a British twist. Though backed by the original show’s creator, the idea of transplanting SNL across the Atlantic isn’t sitting well with many fans. One top-liked comment under the announcement summed up the general vibe:

“no one, SNL cant be recreated,” tweeted @NovaNeonLive in response to @PopCrave’s post.

And thus, the comedy world braced itself for a British invasion of another kind.

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Fans are already roasting the idea of British SNL

It all kicked off after @PopCrave's tweet, after which some fans were quick to toss out casting suggestions… with side effects:

“james corden so he becomes the UK’s problem again,” @JackMFromBoca stated.

“Dua Lipa the FIRST singer guest fore SURE” @rove_rr commented.

Others treated the announcement like it was a national emergency:

“Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse,” @bloodylikeabody exasperatedly mentioned.

Then came the existential questions:

“It took them 50 years?!?!?!” @Ironix_2017 asked.

“didn’t they already try this or am i bugging,” @DaisyCarmi98 thought out loud.

And of course, there were a few concerned about the time difference,

“With the time difference, it'll be Saturday Afternoon Life.” @tadashiroll wrote.

In short, the vibes were chaotic, cheeky, and deeply skeptical. If the producers were hoping for viral buzz, well—they got it. Just maybe not the kind that wins Emmys.

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Wait, didn’t the UK already try this?

Yep, you're not bugging. The UK actually had its own version of Saturday Night Live back in the 1980s. It was called Saturday Live (creative, we know), and it aired on Channel 4. While the show introduced some breakout stars like Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, it fizzled out by the mid-90s. Apparently, even Britain decided it preferred its humor with fewer cue cards.

The new version, however, is being co-produced with the same team behind the original American show and will air weekly with live segments, celebrity hosts, and musical performances—all filmed in front of a London audience. British broadcasters say they're aiming to make it “distinctly British,” so no worries, you won’t be seeing a Guy Fieri impression in a flat cap anytime soon.

There’s no word yet on who’s hosting, but it’s expected to blend veteran UK comics with rising stars. While no cast has been confirmed, producers are reportedly trying to avoid just cloning the US format. Still, there’s a lot riding on whether UK audiences (and the internet at large) will actually tune in—or just roast the show weekly on X.