The UK version of the iconic US comedy show launches this weekend with Taskmaster’s Emma Sidi, Ania Magliano, alongside Larry Fouracres, Hammed Animashaun, Al Nash and Jack Shep
A British version of the American TV show Saturday Night Live is set to debut this weekend, with an incredible line-up of 11 comedians and celebrity hosts.
The cast features Black Ops actor Hammed Animashaun, The Windsors star Celeste Dring, and the recipient of the 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Award For Best Newcomer, Ayoade Bamgboye.
Also joining the cast are former Scottish Comedian Of The Year Larry Dean, Changing Ends actor Jack Shep, regular performer at Shakespeare’s Globe George Fouracres, and ex-Cambridge Footlights member Emma Sidi.
Rounding out the ensemble are Taskmaster participant Ania Magliano, Everyone Else Burns actor Paddy Young, Edinburgh Fringe regular Annabel Marlow, and stand-up comedian Al Nash.
Writers for the show include 8 Out of 10 Cats writer Charlie Skelton, Stath Lets Flats actor and comedian Al Roberts and Have I Got News For You’s Bella Hull.
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The programme, which will be broadcast on Sky Original, marks the first ever official UK adaptation of NBC’s late-night comedy show, and will be aired live each week.
Mirroring the US edition – famed for kickstarting the careers of celebrities such as Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Eddie Murphy – a different guest host will steer the show each Saturday, including Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed.
It will air live on Sky and appear on streaming service NOW.
Fey, who has appeared on the American version several times will host the first episode, with Wet Leg performing. She’ll be followed by The Tourist star Jamie Dornan, alongside Wolf Alice.
The third show will be hosted by Four Lions actor Riz Ahmed, with rock band Kasabian accompanying him.
Scripted, rehearsed and performed in the week leading up to each episode, it’s presented before a live studio audience and follows a format comprising an opening monologue, topical sketches, live music, and a British spin on the satirical news segment, the Weekend Update.
The six-episode series launches tomorrow, when British audiences will hear the iconic line: “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night.”
Animashaun described being part of the line-up as a “privilege”. “I don’t think there’s another show like it that’s been running as long,” he added. “It would’ve been weird to have said no.”
Magliano said joining the programme was “incredibly cool”.
She said: “I love performing stand-up, but the chance to work collaboratively with other amazing comedians was a huge draw for me. SNL is a major comedy institution that I never expected to be a part of, so the idea that I get to go live on Saturday nights is mad.”
Lead producer James Longman 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, executive director of Unscripted Originals at 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 Live, a British comedy and music programme which showcased talents like Harry Enfield, Ben Elton, Julian Clary, Tracey Ullman, Sir Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, aired throughout the 1980s, making its debut on Channel 4 in 1985. This programme had no official ties to Saturday Night Live.
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