SNL UK Launches with a Fresh Crop of Comedic Talent
The wait is finally over as the much-anticipated UK version of the iconic sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live, makes its debut. Following in the footsteps of its American counterpart, which has launched the careers of comedy giants like Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, and Will Ferrell, SNL UK aims to establish itself as a cornerstone of British pop culture. This re-imagined British spin-off will feature 11 new comedians taking to the stage for its inaugural season.
Crafted, rehearsed, and performed within the same week of broadcast, each episode will be a live spectacle for a studio audience. Viewers can expect the signature opening monologue, alongside a variety of sketches, live musical performances, and a uniquely British take on the satirical news segment, “Weekend Update.”
Ahead of the six-episode Sky Original series, it was announced that the esteemed Tina Fey will be hosting the show’s premiere. But the real stars of the night will be the 11 new cast members ready to deliver the iconic line, “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night Live!”
Meet the 11 New Faces of SNL UK
The cast of Saturday Night Live UK is a vibrant mix of emerging and experienced comedic talent. Here’s a closer look at the 11 performers ready to make their mark:
Hammed Animashaun
While many faces on SNL UK might be new to some viewers, Hammed Animashaun has already graced the screen in the 2018 film The Festival alongside Joe Thomas. The 34-year-old East London native has also appeared in the BBC comedy series Black Ops and performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre.
Animashaun expressed his enthusiasm for joining the SNL UK cast, stating, “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!” Citing Lenny Henry, Gina Yashere, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock as his comedic heroes, Animashaun sees himself “as an actor first and foremost.” His background in theatre has made him feel “very much at home on the stage and performing live,” and he’s eager to translate that experience to live comedy.
Ayoade Bamgboye
Another Londoner with roots in Lagos, Ayoade Bamgboye is set to bring her unique comedic voice to SNL UK. This Nigerian-British comedian, who dreams of following in the footsteps of former SNL cast member Kristen Wiig, is known for her Edinburgh Fringe show Swings and Roundabouts. She has also featured in Channel 4’s Rise and Shine with Daniel Rigby.
Bamgboye sees SNL UK as “no better training ground,” explaining, “I’m maybe three, four years into comedy, and it just feels like the perfect place to accelerate my learning. Having a steep learning curve like this gives me so much bandwidth to try many different things in a short space of time.” Her journey into comedy began after quitting her job in advertising, leading to a series of “blessings and serendipitous moments” that culminated in winning Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Fringe and now, a spot on SNL.
Larry Dean
Scottish comedian Larry Dean joins the SNL UK ensemble, bringing with him experience from the Royal Variety Performance (2024 on ITV) and BBC’s Live at the Apollo. The Glaswegian performer, who counts Richard Pryor and Jim Carrey among his comedy heroes, is a self-proclaimed “love of sketch comedy.”
Dean’s dream has always been to pursue both acting and stand-up, making SNL UK an ideal platform. He previously featured in The Stand Up Sketch Show on ITV, a format that involved miming other comedians’ routines, but his primary background is in stand-up, where he has performed extensively and released several specials.
Celeste Dring
With credits including the BBC’s This Country and Lazy Susan, Celeste Dring is another cast member aiming to emulate the success of SNL alumni like Kristen Wiig. She described joining the cast as “a no-brainer,” drawn by the opportunity to collaborate with “brilliantly talented and funny people” and to “do something new.”
After initially pursuing “more serious plays” at university, Dring transitioned to comedy. Alongside Freya Parker, she formed the double act Lazy Susan, performing at Edinburgh Fringe and eventually securing their own radio and sketch comedy shows on television.
George Fouracres
For Wolverhampton’s George Fouracres, SNL has been a “dream job” since childhood. He thrives on playing “very intense, insane characters” and is captivated by the “glamour of late-night live TV.” Reflecting on the US version, he expressed a long-held wish for a similar show in the UK, stating, “So the fact that we do now, and I get to be part of it, blows my tiny mind.”
Fouracres’s previous work includes a role in Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe and a part in the Netflix series Steve. Despite his dramatic experience, his comedic journey began with the sketch group Daphne, which he co-founded with friends Jason Forbes and Phil Wang. They performed at Edinburgh Fringe and had a BBC Radio 4 show. He later presented a solo stand-up show, Gentlemon, and performed in Flo & Joan’s award-winning One Man Musical.
Ania Magliano
Ania Magliano is a familiar face on the UK comedy circuit, having appeared on Channel 4’s Taskmaster and BBC’s Live at the Apollo. For the Buckinghamshire-born performer, the chance to work collaboratively with fellow comedians was the “huge draw” to join SNL UK. She also confessed, “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.”
Magliano has also had sold-out comedy tours, filmed a stand-up special, and taken shows to Edinburgh. She credits stand-up with helping her “found my voice,” and is excited to bring that experience to sketch comedy, a format she deeply admires.
Annabel Marlow
Annabel Marlow, originally from Henley-on-Thames, is a lifelong fan of the show and is eager to “create characters and hopefully write some music as well.” Her performance credits include Six The Musical and Muriel’s Wedding, and she also presented a one-woman show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 titled Is This Okay??, which featured comedy songs and stand-up. Marlow’s background lies in stand-up and musical comedy, with her acting roles primarily in musical theatre.
Al Nash
Al Nash, known for his popular Instagram skits, is poised to make a significant impact on Sky’s SNL UK. Based in Buckinghamshire, this comedy creator, whose hero is John Candy, has also featured on BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Nash views SNL UK as a “really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry,” highlighting its potential as one of the world’s biggest sketch comedy formats. As a “sketch comedy obsessed” individual, he’s thrilled to be part of the cast. He began his comedy journey at the University of Sussex in a sketch group before transitioning to live performance in 2018 and creating online sketches since 2020.
Jack Shep
Describing himself as “more of a comic than a stand-up comedian,” Jack Shep from Bedfordshire is another addition to the inaugural SNL UK cast. He is recognised for his role in Channel 4’s Big Boys and counts Tim Robinson and Patti Harrison among his comedy heroes. Shep finds the show’s rapid production cycle “completely unique” and an “amazing” opportunity. He relishes the prospect of being “in a room full of comedians being stupid and funny like this,” calling it a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” His background includes acting and writing, but he primarily identifies with “always doing stupid stuff,” which he believes makes him “primed for SNL.”
Emma Sidi
With notable performances in Starstruck, Pls Like, Stath Lets Flats, and a recent appearance on Taskmaster (2024), Emma Sidi brings a wealth of experience to SNL UK. The 34-year-old actress, comedian, and writer counts Maria Bamford, Victoria Wood, and French & Saunders among her comedic inspirations. Sidi is particularly drawn to SNL UK because of her love for character comedy, which she feels is currently underrepresented on UK television. She cites pioneering shows like French & Saunders, The Fast Show, and Reeves and Mortimer as influences, and sees SNL UK as a chance to bring that style of comedy back to the forefront. Her career has involved sketch, character comedy, and improv since university, with extensive experience at the Edinburgh Fringe and tours across the UK, Melbourne, and New York. Her recent show, Emma Sidi Is Sue Gray, was described as a “manifesto of my taste. A bit left-field and very cheeky.”
Paddy Young
Rounding out the cast is Paddy Young, whose comedic icons include Vic & Bob, Norm Macdonald, and Viz. He has previously appeared in Channel 4’s Everyone Else Burns and Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping. Young believes SNL UK is “the most exciting thing that’s happened in comedy in this country for a long time.” He highlights the show’s “quackers” scale, with 11 cast members, 18 writers, and “world class” catering. Young’s early exposure to theatre at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough ignited his passion for comedy, though it took him time to pursue stand-up after attending drama school in Manchester.
When and Where to Watch SNL UK
The brand-new UK version of Saturday Night Live premiered on Sky and the streaming service NOW on Saturday, March 21st, offering a distinctly British interpretation of the beloved format. Each week, a new guest host will lead the show, joined by a chart-topping musical guest.
Lead producer James Longman expressed his excitement about the show’s launch, 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, added, “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, and this UK version will build on that legacy with the support of Lorne Michaels, a brilliant local production team, and an exciting new generation of voices. Saturday nights are looking bright!”
Saturday Night Live UK is available on Sky and streaming service NOW.
