Sky has announced the first three hosts for ‘Saturday Night Live UK’, with Tina Fey (30 Rock), Jamie Dornan (The Tourist) and Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) set to front the opening run of the new live comedy series.
Launching later this month, ‘Saturday Night Live UK’ will kick off with a pretty strong opening trio. Tina Fey will host the debut episode, bringing some serious SNL pedigree with her thanks to those era-defining years as head writer and cast member on the US version. She’ll be joined by indie favourites Wet Leg as the first musical guest.
The second episode sees Jamie Dornan take hosting duties, alongside BRIT Award-winning band Wolf Alice. Then Riz Ahmed fronts the third show, with Kasabian providing the musical performance.
Broadcast live from London at 10pm each Saturday night, every 75-minute episode of ‘Saturday Night Live UK’ will feature a different host alongside the show’s inaugural cast of Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young.
Like the long-running US original, ‘Saturday Night Live UK’ will be written, rehearsed and performed in the same week as broadcast, keeping that gloriously chaotic high-wire energy intact. Each episode will feature an opening monologue, topical sketches, live music, and a UK take on the iconic satirical news segment, Weekend Update.
Behind the scenes, the series is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video for Sky and NOW. Lorne Michaels serves as executive producer, with James Longman as Lead Producer, Liz Clare directing, and Daran Jonno Johnson as Head Writer.
With that line-up, Sky is clearly trying to make sure the British version lands with a bang rather than a polite shrug.
‘Saturday Night Live UK’ premieres Saturday, 21st March 2026 on Sky and NOW.
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