While the show’s weekly budget still falls far short of its Stateside counterpart’s rumoured $4 million (£3 million) per episode, it’s a figure that is almost unheard of for a topical sketch show in the U.K., even one running to 75-minutes.
Insiders tell Variety that a typical British sketch show usually costs around £300-500,000 per episode, less than a quarter of “SNL U.K.’s” budget.
They pointed out it’s one of the reasons the sketch show format has become something of a dying art in the U.K. “They’re expensive, which is why no one does them anymore,” says one entertainment veteran. “Topical shows also have no repeatability, unlike dramas.”
Let’s be honest, these shows are expensive only because some people cash in a lot more money than they deserve. Period.
Well, no. In this case they have a large cast and a very large writers’ room, and have taken occupancy of TC1 at TV Centre for the duration. Then there are dozens of sets per week, many of which wont make the final episode. Costumes, props, etc.