Saturday Night Live UK Announces Full Cast Lineup for Sky Original Series
The first ever official British incarnation of the iconic American late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live has revealed its full cast of eleven comedians. The Sky Original series, set to launch next month, will broadcast live each week from London, marking a significant moment for British television comedy.
Meet the Comedians Joining the Historic UK SNL
The ensemble cast brings together a diverse mix of established and emerging comedic talent from across the United Kingdom. Leading the lineup are Hammed Animashaun, known for his role in Black Ops, and Celeste Dring, celebrated for her performance in The Windsors. They are joined by Ayoade Bamgboye, the winner of the prestigious 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer.
The complete cast list includes several other notable performers:
- Larry Dean, former Scottish Comedian of the Year
- Jack Shep, star of Changing Ends
- George Fouracres, a regular performer at Shakespeare's Globe
- Emma Sidi, former member of the Cambridge Footlights
- Ania Magliano, a contestant from Taskmaster
- Paddy Young, known for Everyone Else Burns
- Annabel Marlow, an Edinburgh Fringe regular
- Al Nash, stand-up comedian
Production Details and Format of the New Series
The six-episode series will premiere on March 21, 2026, with the iconic opening line adapted for British audiences: "Live from London, it's Saturday Night." Each episode will follow the classic SNL format, featuring an opening monologue, topical sketches, live musical performances, and a UK-specific version of the satirical news segment, Weekend Update.
Mirroring the successful American model, a different guest host will helm the show each Saturday. The entire production will be written, rehearsed, and performed within the week leading up to each live broadcast, performed in front of a studio audience.
Cast and Producers Express Excitement for Groundbreaking Show
Cast members have shared their enthusiasm for being part of this historic television project. Hammed Animashaun described it as a "privilege," noting, "I don't think there's another show like it that's been running as long. It would've been weird to have said no."
Ania Magliano expressed similar excitement, calling the opportunity "incredibly cool." She added, "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 praised the selected talent, stating, "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, highlighted the timing and legacy of the project: "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!"
Distinction from Previous British Comedy Shows
It's important to note that this new series represents the first official British version of Saturday Night Live. This distinguishes it from Saturday Live, a separate UK comedy and music show broadcast on Channel 4 throughout the 1980s that featured stars like Harry Enfield, Ben Elton, and Stephen Fry, but had no official connection to the American SNL franchise.
The launch of Saturday Night Live UK represents a significant investment in live comedy television and provides a major platform for British comedic talent to reach both domestic and international audiences through Sky's broadcasting network.
