Saturday Night Live is an institution. It’s just recently had its official 50th birthday, and the show continues to entertain and draw people in, regardless of their interests in comedy.
Well, it’s not surprising that there is a look to bring that same style of sketch comedy to other parts of the world. The only thing surprising is that it has taken this long. Saturday Night Live UK has officially been ordered, and there’s a new exciting update.
Saturday Night Live UK is looking for its cast
After finding his creative team in November, Deadline confirms that Saturday Night Live UK is now in the casting process. Sky’s unscripted boss, Phil Edgar-Jones, has shared that they’re looking to nurture the “next generation of comic talent” in the United Kingdom. Part of that is through casting them in this sketch comedy show, which arguably started the careers of a number of great comedic actors in the U.S., including Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson.
The candidates are being asked to put together a sketch with a potential Saturday Night Live guest host. They will need ot be available from January 2026 to early April 2026 if they want a chance to work on the show, with the plan to launch the show sometime next year.
Edgar-Jones shared that he couldn’t give any more information. He has been known to give away too many details in the past, but the process is still ongoing right now.
It’s time the UK ‘stole’ comedy from America
According to Sky, Davidson, who just recently shared what it would take to get him back on SNL, said that it was about time the UK was able to take a comedy from the U.S. Usually, it’s the other way round, with The Office being one of the first that comes to mind.
He has a lot of praise for the idea of SNL making it across the pond. Maybe he can be one of the first guest hosts, as many will know him now from his movies as well as his comedy.
Lorne Michaels will oversee the production via his production company, Broadway Video. This further opens the door for some former SNL stars to give the new series a boost. That’s if it will need it, as for many, the show’s title is going to be enough.
The current plan is for Saturday Night Live UK to debut on Sky Max and stream on NOW in 2026.