Saturday Night Live UK Expands to Eight Episodes on Sky
Saturday Night Live UK is set to expand its lineup to eight episodes, growing from the initially planned six.
The series, which will air on Sky in the UK, has opted to add two additional 75-minute episodes. The first episode is slated to debut tomorrow night, March 21, at 10 PM local time, generating significant excitement in the lead-up to its launch.
The inaugural episode will feature Tina Fey as host, with the band Wet Leg providing musical entertainment. Subsequent episodes will be hosted by Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed, with musical performances by Wolf Alice and Kasabian.
Joining the cast of SNL UK are Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
In the United States, the streaming rights have been secured by Peacock, a service under Comcast, Sky’s parent company.
Additonal Info on the Show
Sky CEO Dana Strong highlighted the show’s potential to transform one of the world’s most iconic programs for the British audience while making “a major investment in the UK comedy ecosystem.” Lead producer James Longman noted that the production team has “borrowed the U.S. house” and is in the process of “building our own rooms.”
The UK has not seen a sketch show with the ambition and scale of SNL for some time.
SNL UK is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK team alongside Broadway Video for Sky and NOW. Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, is attached as an executive producer, with Longman as Lead Producer, Liz Clare directing, and Daran Jonno Johnson serving as Head Writer.
