Saturday Night Live UK Cast Revealed Ahead Of March Launch

Saturday Night Live, the iconic American comedy institution, is about to make its long-awaited leap across the Atlantic. On February 4, 2026, the entertainment world received confirmation from outlets such as Deadline, Sky News, and Mashable that the first-ever UK adaptation of the legendary NBC late-night series has finalized its inaugural cast and is set to premiere on March 21, 2026. The show, simply titled Saturday Night Live UK, will air on Sky and be available for streaming on the UK platform NOW, marking a milestone in British television comedy.

The new series will run for six episodes, with each installment broadcast live on Saturday nights. True to the original SNL format, every episode will feature a rotating guest host and musical guest, an opening monologue, a UK take on the famous Weekend Update news satire, and a collection of SNL-style sketches. The creative team behind the show includes some heavy hitters: Lorne Michaels, the mastermind behind SNL’s American success, serves as executive producer, while James Longman leads as producer, Liz Clare directs, and Daran Jonno Johnson takes the reins as head writer. The show’s UK production is handled by Universal Television Alternative Studio and Michaels’ own Broadway Video, with a robust support team from Sky and Universal.

The cast, described by lead producer James Longman as “the freshest voices we have,” consists of 11 comedians who represent an exciting cross-section of the UK’s vibrant comedy scene. The line-up includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young. While some of these names may be familiar to fans of British comedy—thanks to credits in shows like Taskmaster, Starstruck, Big Boys, This Country, and Black Ops—most are known primarily within comedy circles, echoing the grassroots recruitment approach of the original SNL.

“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,” Longman said in a statement provided to Deadline and Mashable.

Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Sky’s Executive Director of Unscripted Originals, echoed the excitement: “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!”

Each cast member brings a unique comedic background and a personal story to the table. Hammed Animashaun, known for his roles in Black Ops and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, expressed his sense of privilege at joining such a historic show. “It’s the prestige of Saturday Night Live, to be part of something so popular and historic is a privilege. 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!” Animashaun said to Deadline.

Ayoade Bamgboye, who splits his time between London and Lagos and was named Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, called SNL UK “the perfect place to accelerate my learning.” He described his journey from advertising to comedy as a series of “blessings and serendipitous moments.”

For Larry Dean, a familiar face from Live at the Apollo and The Royal Variety Performance 2024, the opportunity to join SNL UK is a dream come true. “I just love sketch comedy. There have been so many people who have appeared on Saturday Night Live, either as hosts or part of the cast that are my comedy heroes like Jim Carrey, Richard Pryor, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey. It’s always been my dream to do acting and stand-up, so this is exactly what I want to be doing,” Dean told Sky News.

Celeste Dring, whose work includes Lazy Susan and This Country, said joining SNL UK was a “no-brainer.” She relished the prospect of creating with “a group of brilliantly talented and funny people.” George Fouracres, who has performed at Shakespeare’s Globe and on Netflix’s Steve, shared that being part of the new show “blows my tiny mind.”

Other cast members bring similarly impressive resumes and enthusiasm. Ania Magliano, a Taskmaster alum, described the opportunity as “incredibly cool” and looked forward to collaborating with her fellow comedians. Annabel Marlow, a self-professed SNL superfan, said, “SNL combines everything I love. I’m excited to create characters and hopefully write some music as well.” Al Nash, known for his online sketches and appearances on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, called the show “a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry in general.”

Jack Shep, who has appeared on Big Boys, described SNL UK’s weekly production cycle as “amazing,” while Emma Sidi, whose credits include Starstruck and Alan Partridge Live: Stratagem, welcomed the chance to bring character comedy back to British television. Paddy Young, referencing his roots at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre and his love for the “scale” of the project, quipped about the “world class” catering—proof that even comedians can’t resist a good behind-the-scenes anecdote.

The creative team, announced in November, is expected to reveal the writers’ room soon. Each episode will be written, rehearsed, and performed within the week, all before a live studio audience. This fast-paced, high-stakes process is a hallmark of SNL’s enduring appeal and is set to test the mettle of the UK’s new comedic stars.

Of course, the stakes are high. SNL in the US has run for 50 years, launching the careers of Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Kristen Wiig, and Will Ferrell, among many others. The British version, as Sky News notes, aims to build on this legacy with its own “new generation” of comedians. The show’s format—complete with topical sketches, live music, and a UK take on the beloved Weekend Update—remains largely faithful to its American predecessor, though with a distinctly British flavor.

With the UK’s comedy scene currently thriving and audiences hungry for fresh laughs, the timing seems ideal. As Edgar-Jones put it, “the time is right for the show as we all need a laugh like never before.” With SNL UK’s debut just around the corner, the stage is set for a new chapter in British comedy—and perhaps, the launch of the next wave of household names.

As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Sky and NOW come March 21. The world will soon see if SNL’s transatlantic experiment can capture the same magic that’s kept American audiences tuning in for half a century.