Saturday Night Live UK Debuts with 11 Fresh Comedians
The highly anticipated UK adaptation of the legendary Saturday Night Live has finally arrived, bringing a distinctly British flavor to the iconic comedy format. Launching careers of comedy giants like Bill Murray, Kristen Wiig, Eddie Murphy, and Will Ferrell, the American institution now gets a British makeover with 11 new comedians taking the stage for its inaugural season.
Live Comedy Returns to Saturday Nights
Each episode of the six-part Sky Original series will be written, rehearsed, and performed within a single week before going live before a studio audience. The format retains the classic SNL elements: opening monologues, sketch comedy, live musical performances, and a British version of the satirical Weekend Update news segment. The debut episode will be hosted by comedy legend Tina Fey, setting the stage for what promises to be a groundbreaking addition to British television.
Meet the 11 Stars of SNL UK
Hammed Animashaun: The 34-year-old East London actor brings theater experience from Shakespeare's Globe and BBC's Black Ops. "Being part of something so historic is a privilege," he says of joining the cast.
Ayoade Bamgboye: This Nigerian-British comedian from Lagos and London won Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Fringe. "This is the perfect place to accelerate my learning," she explains about the SNL opportunity.
Larry Dean: The Scottish comedian has performed at Royal Variety and Live at the Apollo. "It's always been my dream to do acting and stand-up," he states, citing Richard Pryor and Jim Carrey as influences.
Celeste Dring: Known for BBC's This Country and Lazy Susan, she describes joining as "a no-brainer" and looks forward to collaborating with talented comedians.
George Fouracres: The Wolverhampton native calls SNL his "dream job" since childhood. "I love playing intense, insane characters," he reveals about his comedy style.
Ania Magliano: A Taskmaster and Live at the Apollo veteran, she says working collaboratively was the "huge draw" for joining the cast.
Annabel Marlow: From Henley-on-Thames, this musical theater performer is excited "to create characters and hopefully write some music" for the show.
Al Nash: Known for Instagram comedy skits, the Buckinghamshire creator says "it's a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry in general."
Jack Shep: The Bedfordshire comic from Channel 4's Big Boys describes the show as "completely unique" and a "once in a lifetime opportunity."
Emma Sidi: With credits including Starstruck and Taskmaster, she sees SNL UK as "a huge opportunity to get character comedy back on TV."
Paddy Young: The final cast member, known for Channel 4's Everyone Else Burns, calls the production scale "quackers" with 11 cast members and 18 writers.
Production and Broadcast Details
Saturday Night Live UK premieres on Sky and streaming service NOW on March 21, 2026. Each week will feature a different guest host alongside chart-topping musical guests. Lead producer James Longman emphasizes: "The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have."
Phil Edgar Jones OBE, executive director at Sky, adds: "We all need a laugh like never before, so we're beyond excited to bring Saturday Night Live to the UK, only 50 short years after it first launched in the US." The series promises to build on SNL's legacy of discovering comedy talent while introducing a new generation of British voices to Saturday night television.
