Saturday Night Live UK Introduces Its First Ever Cast of 11 Members
First British Version of ‘Saturday Night Live’ Announces Cast
London, UK — The inaugural cast of Saturday Night Live UK, the British adaptation of NBC’s iconic late-night series, has been announced. Eleven talented comedians will bring their unique humor to the show, which is set to premiere its six-episode season on Sky on March 21, 2024.
The cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
Plans for a UK version of Saturday Night Live were officially confirmed in April 2023, garnering much anticipation among fans of British comedy. The show will also be available for streaming via NOW, a service in the UK.
Produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK team and Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, the show features Michaels in an executive producer role. James Longman is the Lead Producer, with Liz Clare serving as Director and Daran Jonno Johnson as Head Writer.
Longman expressed enthusiasm for the cast, 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 OBE, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, echoed this 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.”
The commissioning team includes Edgar-Jones, Sky Commissioning Executive Lisa Clark, and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky. Helen Kruger Bratt oversees Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK Productions, supported by Shanna Baynard in production and Andy Charles Smith as the Lead Producer.
The cast members have shared their personal motivations for joining the show. Hammed Animashaun remarked on the prestige associated with Saturday Night Live, saying, “It would’ve been weird to have said no!”
Ayoade Bamgboye emphasized the unique opportunity for creative development, while Larry Dean cited his admiration for past SNL cast members. Celeste Dring expressed enthusiasm for the chance to collaborate with her fellow comedians, describing it as a “no-brainer.”
As anticipation builds for Saturday Night Live UK, the show promises to blend tradition with fresh comedic talent, paving the way for a new chapter in British entertainment.
