Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed to front launch of Saturday Night Live UK
It kicks off with live music from Kasabian and more!
Last updated 6 hours ago
Saturday Night Live is officially crossing the pond, and Sky is making sure the first UK series lands with a bang.
Led by Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed as its opening hosts - with Kasabian among the first live musical guests – Saturday Night Live UK will bring live sketches, big musical guests and a brand-new British comedy cast.
Who is hosting the UK version?
Sky has lined up a big-name trio to front the first run of Saturday Night Live UK. Tina Fey, an SNL icon thanks to her years as a writer, cast member and the show’s first female head writer, will host the launch episode on 21st March 2026.
The following week on 28th March, it’s the turn of Belfast and The Fall star Jamie Dornan, while Oscar-winning actor and rapper Riz Ahmed closes out the initial run on 4th April.
What is the format?
Each week, the host will be joined by different musical guests, keeping things in event TV territory. Wet Leg are set to perform on Tina's episode, Wolf Alice will join Jamie, and Kasabian will bring the noise for Riz's show.
On top of that, the trio will share the stage with SNL UK’s new resident cast, including, Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young - who’ll be popping up across sketches and recurring characters.
Where can I watch it?
Saturday Night Live UK will air live from London at 10pm every Saturday night on Sky, following the classic SNL format of being written and rehearsed in the week leading up to broadcast.
Each episode runs for 75 minutes and features an opening monologue, topical sketches, live music and a British spin on the famous Weekend Update news segment.
The series’ head writer, Jonno Johnson, said: "The number of funny, talented writers we have got to work on SNL UK is ludicrous.
"All of them make me giddy to come to work each day," he added. "I could not imaginably feel luckier that we get to make this show together."
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