Sky has officially unveiled the ensemble of rising stars who will bring the iconic Saturday Night Live format to British television for the first time. The UK edition, set to premiere on 21 March, will feature an eleven-strong cast of comedians and actors hoping to follow in the footsteps of legendary American alumni like Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Adam Sandler.
A British Take on an American Institution
Saturday Night Live is one of the most successful and enduring comedy formats in television history. Since its US debut in 1975, it has served as an unofficial training ground, launching the careers of countless Hollywood stars. The British version promises to retain the core elements viewers love: celebrity hosts, musical guests, and late-night laughs, all broadcast live from a brand-new London studio.
The initial six-week run will feature topical sketches and a British incarnation of the beloved satirical news segment, Weekend Update. This marks a significant moment for the UK comedy scene, offering a major platform for homegrown talent to showcase their skills in a live, high-pressure environment.
Meet the Cast of SNL UK
The selected performers represent a mix of television newcomers and faces familiar from shows like Big Boys, Taskmaster, and Black Ops. Here is a closer look at the eleven stars taking centre stage.
Hammed Animashaun: A Londoner best known for his role as undercover officer Kay in the BBC comedy Black Ops. With a strong theatre background, Animashaun is excited to transfer his live performance experience to the world of sketch comedy.
Ayoade Bamgboye: A British-Nigerian comedian who quit her advertising job to pursue stand-up just four years ago. She won the prestigious Best Newcomer Award at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe and sees SNL UK as the perfect training ground to accelerate her learning.
Larry Dean: A Glasgow-based comedian with prior TV appearances on Live at the Apollo and The Royal Variety Performance. Dean cites comedy heroes like Jim Carrey and Mike Myers, who have graced the SNL stage, and describes landing this role as a dream come true.
Celeste Dring: Hailing from Wolverhampton, Dring brings considerable TV experience from roles in This Country, Wanderlust, and Channel 4's The Windsors. She also performs as part of the double act Lazy Susan and called joining the cast a no-brainer opportunity.
George Fouracres: Also from Wolverhampton, Fouracres describes SNL as his dream job. An associate artist at Shakespeare's Globe with a background in theatre and sketch groups, he is thrilled to bring his love for intense, insane characters to late-night TV.
Ania Magliano: A well-known face from Live at the Apollo and series 20 of Taskmaster UK. The Buckinghamshire-born comedian has been performing for nearly a decade and found her voice through stand-up, leading to sold-out tours and an Edinburgh special.
Annabel Marlow: A musician and comedian who once ran a fan account dedicated to being obsessed with SNL. Marlow, who originated the role of Katherine Howard in Six the Musical, is excited to combine character comedy and music writing on the show.
Al Nash: A social media sensation from Buckinghamshire who has built a massive following on TikTok and Instagram with his sketches and satirical trends. Nash believes SNL UK is a really exciting opportunity for the entire UK comedy industry.
Jack Shep: With credits in Channel 4's Big Boys and Netflix's One Day, the Bedfordshire-born star describes himself as a comic primed for SNL due to his propensity for doing stupid s*** and his work in acting and writing.
Emma Sidi: Recognisable from Starstruck, Stath Lets Flats, and a brief role in Black Ops. Sidi, who grew up admiring pioneers like French & Saunders, sees SNL as a huge opportunity to revive character comedy on British television.
Paddy Young: The Scarborough-born performer has worked with comedy greats in shows like Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping. Growing up in a theatre environment, Young was obsessed with comedy but took time to find his path into stand-up and performance.
A New Chapter for UK Comedy
The launch of Saturday Night Live UK represents a bold investment in live comedy entertainment by Sky. By assembling this diverse group of eleven performers—from theatre veterans and social media creators to award-winning stand-ups and established TV actors—the production aims to capture the anarchic, spontaneous spirit of the original while providing a unique showcase for British humour.
The show will air on Sky and streaming service NOW, offering audiences a fresh late-night option and giving these up-and-coming stars a platform to potentially become the next generation of UK comedy icons. All eyes will be on the London studio come 21 March to see if this British interpretation can carve out its own legendary status.
