The iconic US comedy institution Saturday Night Live is officially crossing the Atlantic. Sky has announced the cast for Saturday Night Live UK, a six-episode series launching on 21 March, reimagined through a distinctly British lens.
A Fresh Line-Up of UK Comedy Talent
The UK version will feature 11 rising stars from the British comedy circuit. The cast includes Emma Sidi, Ania Magliano, Larry Dean, Ayoade Bamgboye, Paddy Young, Celeste Dring, Annabel Marlow, George Fouracres, Hammed Animashaun, Al Nash, and Jack Shep. These performers bring experience from sitcoms, panel shows, Edinburgh Fringe Festival stages, and stand-up tours. Producer James Longman praised the group as “the freshest voices we have,” adding that their chemistry is “something special.”
Familiar Format With a British Twist
Like its US counterpart, SNL UK will feature a celebrity guest host and a musical performance each week. Episodes will be written and rehearsed in the days leading up to broadcast, then performed live in front of a studio audience.
Fans can expect the traditional opening monologue, topical sketches, live music, and a British take on the satirical news segment Weekend Update. The show will also revive the famous opening line with a local twist: “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”
Cast Members Share Their Excitement
Several cast members expressed their enthusiasm for joining the historic project.
- Hammed Animashaun, known for Black Ops, said he was eager to bring his theatre background to live comedy.
- Ayoade Bamgboye, an Edinburgh Fringe award-winner, described the opportunity as “the perfect place to accelerate my learning.”
- Larry Dean, a stand-up from Glasgow, called the role “exactly what I want to be doing.”
- Annabel Marlow revealed she once ran a fan account dedicated to SNL, making her casting “a dream come true.”
- Paddy Young joked that the scale of the production was “quackers,” highlighting the excitement around the show’s ambitious scope.
A Historic First for the UK
This marks the first official British adaptation of NBC’s long-running late-night comedy showcase, created by Lorne Michaels in 1975. Michaels will serve as executive producer on the UK spin-off, ensuring continuity with the original while allowing space for British humor to shine. With a mix of fresh talent and a proven format, Saturday Night Live UK aims to capture the same cultural impact that has made the US version a comedy institution for five decades.
