Saturday Night Live UK is taking a week off on Saturday, October 3, 2026, but the Sky comedy show is not cancelled. The series returns on October 10 with Danny Dyer as host and singer Sasha Keable performing live. James Norton, The Streets, Cynthia Erivo and Blossoms are also lined up for the remaining announced October episodes.
If you were planning to spend Saturday night watching Saturday Night Live UK, there is a simple explanation for the missing episode: the second series is taking a scheduled break after three consecutive broadcasts. The show is due back next weekend, with more celebrity hosts, live music and topical comedy on the way.
The break comes as the British version of the legendary American sketch show continues to build its audience across traditional television and social media. Although its overnight TV ratings have been relatively modest, individual sketches are reaching millions of online viewers.
Here is everything you need to know about why SNL UK is not on tonight, when it returns, who is hosting the next episodes and how the show is performing.
Why isn’t SNL UK on tonight, Saturday, October 3?
There is no new episode of Saturday Night Live UK on Saturday, October 3, because the programme is taking a one-week break between its September broadcasts and the next run of shows.
The second series launched on September 12, with Hollywood actor Jeff Goldblum hosting alongside Irish singer-songwriter CMAT. Jamie Demetriou and rock duo Royal Blood followed on September 19, before Amelia Dimoldenberg and Rachel Chinouriri took over on September 26.
Rather than broadcasting a fourth consecutive episode this weekend, Sky has scheduled the next instalment for Saturday, October 10.
The gap is part of the series’ split-season schedule, not an announcement that the show has been cancelled. Sky commissioned 12 episodes for the second series, with the six episodes in the autumn’s first run followed by additional instalments planned for early 2027.
For viewers searching for the programme on Sky’s schedules, the key date is October 10, when SNL UK returns at its usual 10pm slot.
When does SNL UK return?
Saturday Night Live UK returns on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10pm on Sky One and NOW.
Danny Dyer will host the next episode, joined by singer-songwriter Sasha Keable as the musical guest.
Sky has also confirmed two further October episodes, giving viewers three upcoming shows to look forward to before the series pauses again.
| Date | Celebrity host | Musical guest |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 10 | Danny Dyer | Sasha Keable |
| Saturday, October 17 | James Norton | The Streets |
| Saturday, October 24 | Cynthia Erivo | Blossoms |
The line-up was announced by Sky on September 29. The broadcaster has confirmed that the remaining six episodes of the 12-episode second series are planned for early 2027, although the hosts and musical guests for that later run have not yet been announced. (Sky Group)
Who is hosting SNL UK next week?
Danny Dyer will lead the October 10 episode, bringing his familiar screen persona to a live comedy format that relies on celebrity impressions, character sketches and topical jokes.
Dyer is known for films including The Football Factory and Human Traffic, as well as television roles in EastEnders, Rivals and Mr Bigstuff. He won a BAFTA for his performance in the comedy programme Mr Bigstuff.
His episode’s musical guest, Sasha Keable, is a British singer-songwriter whose soulful vocals have established her as a name in contemporary R&B.
The pairing offers SNL UK another combination of a recognisable television personality and a music act, following the mix of Hollywood names, British comedians and established bands featured earlier in the series.
James Norton and The Streets — October 17
The following Saturday, actor James Norton will take over hosting duties, with The Streets performing as musical guest.
Norton is known for television dramas including Happy Valley, Grantchester and House of the Dragon. His film and stage work also gives him a varied background for a show built around rapidly changing characters and live sketches.
The Streets, led by Mike Skinner, bring a different musical flavour to the programme. Known for their distinctive British storytelling and spoken-word-influenced sound, the group will provide the live music for the October 17 broadcast.
Cynthia Erivo and Blossoms — October 24
The final announced October episode will feature Cynthia Erivo as host and indie-rock band Blossoms as musical guest.
Erivo is an award-winning actor and singer known internationally for Wicked and Harriet. Her experience across film, theatre and music makes her a natural fit for a variety format combining performance and comedy.
Blossoms, meanwhile, are known for songs including Charlemagne and Your Girlfriend. Their appearance gives the series another established British band to complement its celebrity-led sketches.
No further hosts have been confirmed for the episodes planned for early 2027.
Who has hosted SNL UK series two so far?
The second series began with three contrasting hosts, each bringing a different audience and performance style to the show.
September 12: Jeff Goldblum and CMAT
Goldblum, known for Jurassic Park and Wicked, opened the series alongside Irish singer-songwriter CMAT. The premiere also featured a topical opening sketch that would go on to attract substantial online attention.
September 19: Jamie Demetriou and Royal Blood
The Stath Lets Flats creator and BAFTA-winning comedy performer hosted the second episode, with rock duo Royal Blood supplying the live music.
September 26: Amelia Dimoldenberg and Rachel Chinouriri
Dimoldenberg, the creator and host of Chicken Shop Date, became the third host of the series. Singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri performed as musical guest.
The three episodes established the pattern for series two: a different celebrity host every week, a live musical performance and a returning comedy ensemble tackling British politics, celebrity culture, current affairs and everyday life.
Who is in the regular SNL UK cast?
Unlike a traditional panel show, Saturday Night Live UK relies on a regular ensemble of comedians who perform multiple characters throughout each episode.
All 11 original cast members have returned for the second series, joined by Freddie Meredith, whose credits include Such Brave Girls and Big Boys.
The regular performers are:
- Hammed Animashaun — actor and comedian known for screen and stage work.
- Ayoade Bamgboye — comedian whose work includes the Edinburgh Fringe.
- Larry Dean — stand-up comedian who has appeared on Live at the Apollo and the Royal Variety Performance.
- Celeste Dring — actor and comedian known for Lazy Susan and This Country.
- George Fouracres — comedian and actor with television and theatre credits.
- Ania Magliano — stand-up comedian known for Taskmaster and her live shows.
- Annabel Marlow — performer whose credits include Six the Musical.
- Al Nash — comedian and performer who has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
- Jack Shep — comedian and actor known for Big Boys.
- Emma Sidi — comedian and actor whose credits include Starstruck.
- Paddy Young — comedian and performer known for Everyone Else Burns.
Freddie Meredith joins the returning ensemble for series two, adding another performer with experience in contemporary British comedy.
The show also has a substantial writing team, led by head writer Jonno Johnson, with Laura Claxton promoted to co-head writer for the second series. Charlie Skelton leads the writing for the British version of Weekend Update, the show’s topical news-comedy segment.
The ensemble’s range is important to the programme’s format: celebrity hosts may be the headline attraction, but the regular cast supplies the characters, impressions and recurring sketches that can give the series an identity of its own.
How many people watch SNL UK? The latest ratings explained
The audience figures tell two different stories: the number of people watching the programme on television and the much larger audiences that some sketches can reach online.
The first series opened with a reported overnight audience of 226,000 for the Tina Fey premiere in March 2026. The episode’s seven-day consolidated audience was subsequently reported at more than 500,000.
The second series has also demonstrated a gap between traditional viewing figures and digital engagement.
According to UK comedy publication Chortle, the September 12 series-two premiere attracted 308,000 viewers within its first week, with approximately 10% watching live. The publication also reported that the episode’s opening sketch had reached around six million YouTube views. (Chortle)
These numbers should not be confused with overnight television ratings. A consolidated audience includes people who watch later, while YouTube and TikTok views measure digital video consumption rather than unique television viewers. The figures therefore describe different forms of engagement and are not directly comparable.
Nor do online views necessarily represent the number of people who watched an entire episode. A viewer might watch one sketch without ever tuning in to the full broadcast.
Nevertheless, the digital figures help explain why Sky continues to invest in the format despite relatively modest initial overnight audiences.
How many views do SNL UK viral sketches get?
Individual sketches have already generated substantial online interest.
The opening sketch from the September 12 premiere, which featured a fictional return to the UK by Prince Harry and Meghan, reached approximately six million views on YouTube, according to Chortle’s September 29 report.
Amelia Dimoldenberg’s opening monologue from the September 26 episode had also accumulated approximately 2.9 million TikTok views by the time of that report.
Those are reported figures at particular points in time, not permanent totals. Views can continue to accumulate after a television broadcast, and platforms count video views differently.
The show’s first series also produced several sketches that attracted attention beyond the live audience. The Guardian highlighted segments including The Prince Andrew Plan, Traitors, Beanz Bros and The Budger among the programme’s memorable early sketches.
This online afterlife is central to the show’s appeal in a media environment where comedy clips are often discovered through social feeds rather than scheduled television.
A topical sketch can be shared, quoted and watched repeatedly long after the original broadcast, giving the programme a second audience beyond those who tune in at 10pm.
For SNL UK, the challenge is turning that digital attention into a sustainable audience for the complete show.
Why does SNL UK take a break in the middle of its series?
The current schedule reflects a split run rather than a conventional uninterrupted weekly season.
Sky confirmed that series two would contain 12 episodes, with six episodes beginning in September and additional shows planned for early 2027. The October 3 gap falls between the first three broadcasts and the next confirmed episode on October 10.
The broadcaster has not publicly attributed this particular week’s break to a specific production issue, so it would be inaccurate to claim that it is definitely caused by rehearsals, costs or any other single factor.
The confirmed schedule is the clearest explanation viewers need: the show is taking a weekend off and is due back the following Saturday.
The planned early-2027 episodes also mean there will be another pause after the October broadcasts. Hosts and musical guests for that later run remain unconfirmed.
Where can you watch SNL UK?
In the UK, Saturday Night Live UK airs live on Sky One at 10pm on Saturdays, with episodes also available through NOW and catch-up viewing.
Sky is the programme’s official UK broadcaster. Viewers who miss the live transmission can check the relevant Sky or NOW listing for on-demand availability.
For viewers in the United States, the programme is available through Peacock, with episodes arriving after their UK broadcast.
The show is rated 15 by Sky. Its content can include strong language, sexual humour, brief nudity and mock violence.
SNL UK: the key dates and facts
- Is SNL UK on tonight? No new episode is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- When is it back? Saturday, October 10, at 10pm.
- Who is hosting next? Danny Dyer.
- Who is the musical guest? Sasha Keable.
- Where can you watch it? Sky One and NOW in the UK.
- Who hosts the following episodes? James Norton on October 17 and Cynthia Erivo on October 24.
- When will the remaining episodes air? Sky has planned the additional six episodes for early 2027, with further guest announcements awaited.
- How many viewers watched the series-two premiere in its first week? A reported 308,000.
- How many views did the premiere’s opening sketch attract? Approximately six million on YouTube, according to a September 29 report.
The verdict: when should viewers tune in again?
Anyone looking for Saturday Night Live UK on Saturday, October 3, will need to wait another week. The show is taking a scheduled break, with Danny Dyer and Sasha Keable set to headline the October 10 return.
The next three episodes offer a varied guest line-up, from Dyer’s television and film career to James Norton’s dramatic roles and Cynthia Erivo’s work across film, theatre and music.
Meanwhile, the programme’s early digital viewing figures show why its performance cannot be judged solely by overnight television ratings. Millions of views for individual sketches suggest that the show’s online reach can extend well beyond the audience watching live.
Whether that attention translates into a larger regular audience will become clearer as series two continues. For now, the next confirmed date is straightforward: SNL UK returns on Sky One and NOW at 10pm on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Get entertainment news, where to watch guides & lifestyle/travel recommendations in your inbox for free:
Discover where to stream the best TV shows and movies. Get fresh entertainment news, streaming guides, and real-life pop culture experiences at WhereToWatch.tv.
Share this post with someone you think would like it…