SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE RUN EXTENDED BY SKY AHEAD OF SERIES LAUNCH THIS WEEKEND

Ahead of its launch this weekend, Saturday Night Live UK has been handed an extra two episodes by Sky. The series will now run for a total of eight episodes, rather than original commission of six episodes.

Saturday Night Live UK announced that Tina Fey, celebrated for her era defining years as head writer and cast member on the US version, will host the launch episode of SNL UK on 21 March. Tina will be joined by a chart-topping musical guest, Isle of Wight indie sensations Wet Leg. 

On 28 March, critically acclaimed Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan (Belfast) will be joined by the BRIT Award-winning band Wolf Alice. On 4 April, Academy award-winning British actor Riz Ahmed (Bait, Hamlet) will be joined by titans of rock Kasabian.

Sky reveals the 11 comedy players who will take to the stage as the inaugural cast of Saturday Night Live UK, the first ever British incarnation of NBC’s legendary late-night comedy showcase. The six-episode Sky Original series will kick off next month on 21 March, ending the wait for UK audiences to hear the iconic line, “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”

The SNL UK cast are: Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young. Writers will be announced soon.

Broadcast live each week, this brand-new UK version brings the high-wire, anything-can-happen energy that makes SNL a cultural force, now reimagined through a distinctly British lens. A new guest host will take the helm each week, putting their distinctive stamp on the SNL formula alongside a chart-topping musical guest. 

Written, rehearsed and performed in the week of each show, every episode is staged in front of a live studio audience and features an opening monologue, topical sketches, live music, and a UK take on SNL’s iconic news satire, Weekend Update.

James Longman, Lead Producer, said: “The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have, they’re bold, exciting and of course, incredibly funny. The chemistry between them is something special and we can’t wait to share this funny group of people with the world.”

Phil Edgar Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted Originals, Sky said: “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 show’s long-standing legacy of discovering and nurturing outstanding comedy talent speaks for itself, and this UK version will build on that legacy with the support of Lorne Michaels, a brilliant local production team, and an exciting new generation of voices. Saturday nights are looking bright!”

Saturday Night Live UK comes to Sky and streaming service NOW on 21 March 2026.