Saturday Night Live is crossing the pond. The late-night sketch comedy series, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, will debut a British edition on Sky in 2026.
Creator Lorne Michaels will executive produce Saturday Night Live UK. It will be produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team.
According a press release, the London-based series will follow “the same live, fast-paced style that has made the show a cultural phenomenon with iconic hosts, musical guests, and a core cast of the funniest British comedians around.”
“For over 50 years Saturday Night Live has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture, reflecting and creating the global conversation all under the masterful comedic guidance of Lorne Michaels,” Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer at Sky, said in a statement. “The show has discovered and nurtured countless comedy and musical talents over the years and we are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the SNL team to bring an all-British version of the show to UK audiences next year — all live from London on Saturday night.”
Saturday Night Live debuted in 1975 and has aired 50 seasons on NBC. It has won dozens of Emmys over the years and launched talent like Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Jimmy Fallon. The most recent episode was hosted by Jack Black with musical guest Elton John and Brandi Carlile.
Last year, Michaels confirmed that he has no current plans to depart from the show. “It’s more about keeping it on course than anything else, and, obviously, I really love it,” Michaels told the Hollywood Reporter.
“And every year, there are more and more people that I rely on for other things, but, in the end, you really need someone to say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ So, I don’t really have an answer; I just know that this is kind of what I do and as long as I can keep doing it, I’ll keep doing it. There’s no immediate plan.”
From Rolling Stone US
