Saturday Night Live UK’s full cast has been revealed as Sky has FINALLY confirmed the show’s release date – and it has promised a ‘bold, exciting and incredibly funny’ debut.
SNL, created by Lorne Michaels, is an American late-night sketch show that has aired on US channel NBC since 1975.
There have been 1,000 episodes across 51 seasons – and now fans will be over the moon to know that the show is coming to the UK.
The Sky Original series Saturday Night Live UK will hit our screens on Sky and NOW next month, on March 21.
The six-part series will be broadcast live every week and will bring ‘the high-wire, anything-can-happen energy that makes SNL a cultural force, now reimagined through a distinctly British lens’.
Viewers will be treated to a new guest host who will be joined by a chart-topping musical guest each week.
Saturday Night Live UK’s full cast has been revealed as Sky has FINALLY confirmed the show’s release date – and promised a ‘bold, exciting and incredibly funny’ debut
There will be 11 stars taking to the stage, including (top row) Paddy Young, Al Nash, George Fouracres, Hammed Animashaun; (second row) Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, (bottom row) Emma Sidi, Ayoade Bamgboye and Jack Shep
SNL, created by Lorne Michaels, is an American late-night sketch show that has aired on US channel NBC since 1975. Pictured: SNL musical guest Cher, guest host Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang
The press release adds: ‘Written, rehearsed and performed in the week of each show, every episode is staged in front of a live studio audience and features an opening monologue, topical sketches, live music and a UK take on SNL’s iconic news satire, Weekend Update.’
There will be 11 stars taking to the stage – and they include Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young.
Are you interested in who is taking part?
Let’s take a look at the cast…
Hammed Animashaun
When asked why he wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, Hammed said: ‘It’s the prestige of Saturday Night Live, to be part of something so popular and historic is a privilege.
Where is Hammed from? East London
What has he starred in? Black Ops (BBC), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bridge Theatre)
When asked why he wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, he said: ‘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!’
Ayoade Bamgboye
Ayode is another star taking part in SNL UK this year – and has starred in Swings and Roundabouts and Rise and Shine with Channel 9
Where is Ayoade from? London and Lagos
What has she starred in? Swings and Roundabouts (Edinburgh Fringe), Rise and Shine with Channel 9 (Channel 4).
When asked what her background in live performance/ sketch comedy is, she said: ‘I was in advertising, and I decided to quit my job and try comedy for a year.
‘My journey in comedy since then has been such a series of blessings and serendipitous moments, it’s been a domino effect of doing lots of different comedy nights and meeting different comedians.
‘I’ve felt so empowered watching them, it’s made me try lots of different things.
‘I went to Edinburgh Fringe for the first time and won Best Newcomer, it snowballed from there and now I’m on Saturday Night Live.’
Larry Dean
When asked why he wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, he said: ‘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’
Where is Larry from? Glasgow
What has he starred in? The Royal Variety Performance 2024 (ITV), Live at the Apollo (BBC)
When asked why he wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, he said: ‘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.’
Celeste Dring
When asked why she wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, she Celeste said: ‘It was a no-brainer really’
Where is Celeste from? Wolverhampton
What has she starred in? Lazy Susan (BBC), This Country (BBC)
When asked why she wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, she said: ‘It was a no-brainer really.
‘I just love the idea of being creative with a group of brilliantly talented and funny people and the chance to do something new.’
George Fouracres
George, who is from Willenhall, Wolverhampton, has starred in Hamlet and Steve
Where is George from? Willenhall, Wolverhampton
What has he starred in? Hamlet (Shakespeare’s Globe), Steve (Netflix)
When asked what his background in live performance/sketch comedy is, he said: ‘My career has mainly been performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London where I’m an Associate Artist (last year I did my seventh show there), but I started in the industry acting and writing in a sketch group called Daphne with my friends Jason Forbes and Phil Wang.
‘We gigged together for four years and wrote three Edinburgh Fringe shows and two series of a BBC Radio 4 show.
‘In 2019 I did my first (and only!) solo stand-up show, Gentlemon.
‘Most recently in the comedy world I performed in Flo & Joan’s award-winning show One Man Musical in the UK and Australia.
‘These days I also occasionally co-host the podcast Budpod with my best friend Pierre Novellie.’
Ania Magliano
Ania, who is from Buckinghamshire, has starred in Taskmaster and Live at the Apollo
Where is Ania from? Buckinghamshire
What has she starred in? Taskmaster (Channel 4), Live at the Apollo (BBC)
When asked why she wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, she said: ‘I love performing stand-up, but the chance to work collaboratively with other amazing comedians was a huge draw for me.
‘And honestly, being part of SNL UK is just incredibly cool.
‘SNL is a major comedy institution that I never expected to be a part of, so the idea that I get to go live on Saturday nights is mad – I can’t wait.’
Annabel Marlow
Annabel, who is from Henley-on-Thames, has starred in Six The Musical and Muriel’s Wedding
Where is Annabel from? Henley- on-Thames
What has she starred in? Six The Musical (Edinburgh Fringe), Muriel’s Wedding (Leicester Curve)
When asked what her background in live performance/ sketch comedy is, she said: ‘I wrote and performed a one woman show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 called Is This Okay??
‘That was an hour of comedy songs and pop songs, with bits of stand-up.
‘My background is stand-up and musical comedy, and all my acting jobs have been musical theatre.’
Al Nash
When asked why he wanted to be part of SNL UK, Al said: ‘I think it’s a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry’
Where is Al from? Buckinghamshire
What has he starred in? Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC)
When asked why he wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, he said: ‘I think it’s a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry in general.
‘For it to be a new sketch format in the UK, but also one of the biggest sketch comedy formats in the world, it’s got so much potential.
‘As someone who is sketch comedy obsessed, I’m just so happy to be a part of the cast.’
Jack Shep
When asked what his background in live performance/ sketch comedy is, Jack said: ‘I’d describe myself as a comic rather than a stand-up comedian. I do a bit of acting and writing too but basically, I’m always doing stupid s**t which I think makes me primed for SNL’
Where is Jack from? Bedfordshire
What has he starred in? Wanting To Be Cool, Having To Be Funny (Comedy Night), Big Boys (Channel 4)
When asked what his background in live performance/ sketch comedy is, he said: ‘I’d describe myself as a comic rather than a stand-up comedian.
‘I do a bit of acting and writing too but basically, I’m always doing stupid s**t which I think makes me primed for SNL.’
Emma Sidi
When asked why she wanted to take part, Emma said: ‘I love comedy and character comedy especially, and I think there isn’t much character comedy on TV in the UK right now’
Where is Emma from? Woking
What has she starred in? Starstruck (BBC), Alan Partridge Live: Stratagem (Amazon)
When asked why she wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, she said: ‘I love comedy and character comedy especially, and I think there isn’t that much character comedy on TV in the UK right now.
‘My favourite comedies to watch growing up were French & Saunders, The Fast Show, Reeves and Mortimer, all those pioneering shows from the alt comedy scene.
‘Saturday Night Live is a huge opportunity to get that kind of comedy back on TV and online.’
Paddy Young
Paddy, who is from Scarborough, has starred in Everyone Else Burns, Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping
Where is Paddy from? Scarborough
What has he starred in? Everyone Else Burns (Channel 4) Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping (Channel 4)
When asked what his background in live performance/sketch comedy is, he said: ‘I was very lucky because Scarborough had an amazing theatre – the Stephen Joseph Theatre – which I practically grew up in.
‘I was completely obsessed with comedy but had no idea how to do it.
‘By the time I went to drama school in Manchester I found myself constantly sneaking away to watch stand-up, though it took me a long time to actually do it.’
