SNL UK Ratings Drop 42% for Riz Ahmed Episode

The third episode of Saturday Night U.K., hosted by Riz Ahmed, experienced the sharpest ratings decline of the season to date. According to reporting from Variety, the episode garnered 130,950 viewers, representing an audience share of 1.8%.

This figure marks a 42% drop from the show’s inaugural episode and a 36% decrease from the second episode. In total, the viewership fell by 95,050 from the series’ season high.

Viewership Trends and Guest Hosts

The live comedy show has seen a steady downward trend in its initial three outings. The inaugural episode, hosted by Tina Fey, set the season high with 226,000 viewers and featured cameos from Graham Norton and Michael Cera.

The second episode, hosted by Jamie Dornan, saw a dip to 205,000 viewers. The most recent decline occurred during the April 5, 2026, episode hosted by Riz Ahmed, which featured musical guests Kasabian.

Episode 3 Content and Sketches

The third episode included a cold open featuring U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In the sketch, Starmer urged three of the nation’s most prominent figures to help cheer up the United Kingdom.

The sketch featured the following cast members and characters:

• George Fouracres as Keir Starmer
• Al Nash as soccer star Harry Kane
• Emma Sidi as actor Olivia Colman
• Annabel Marlow as the cartoon character Peppa Pig

the Weekend Update segment targeted Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, specifically referencing his bunker.