Saturday Night Live fans divided as UK version of hit American comedy show given green light: ‘Won’t work!’
Sky has announced plans to bring the iconic US comedy show Saturday Night Live to the UK for the first time in 2026, and will be executive produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who launched the original NBC series in 1975.
The weekly sketch and entertainment show will follow the same live format that has made it a cultural institution in America for 50 years, with Sky confirming the news yesterday as part of their strategy to develop more in-house hits for UK audiences.
The London-based adaptation will feature British comedians and celebrities performing topical sketches and musical performances, adopting the same “live, fast-paced style” that has defined the American original for five decades.
Each episode will feature a different celebrity host and musical guest, following the established SNL formula and include timely sketches created by “the funniest British comedians around,” according to Sky.
Viewers can expect to hear the show’s famous catchphrase with a British twist: “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”
The format has proven successful in the US, combining political satire, celebrity impersonations and musical performances, with Sky hoping the weekly show will resonate with British audiences when it premieres next year.
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Saturday Night Live has been a cornerstone of American television since its debut in 1975, recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, and launching countless comedy careers over five decades.
Former SNL cast members include Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, as well as Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler and Jimmy Fallon also rising to fame through the programme.
In recent years, many of the show’s sketches have reached international audiences via YouTube and social media, with the political and pop culture spoofs often achieving viral status online, extending the show’s influence beyond US borders.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer at Sky, expressed enthusiasm about the project and said; “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.”
She added: “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!”
The partnership represents an increasingly close relationship between Sky and its US parent Comcast, which also owns NBC.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with fans divided over the British adaptation as some expressed enthusiasm, with one X user saying: “I will definitely check this out because British SNL sounds so intriguing.”
Another commented: “It’s gonna be 45 minutes of dry wit, one chaotic sketch, and someone singing Adele. I’m in.”
However, not all feedback was positive as one negative critic wrote: “Depends who’s doing it but I don’t think this is going to work.” (sic)
Sky has confirmed the show will involve “a core cast of the funniest British comedians around” but hasn’t specified if these will be household names or newcomers.
Critics have noted that the UK doesn’t have an equivalent show for launching new talent, with panel shows like Would I Lie To You? being the closest alternative.
The UK version will be filmed in London, though the exact studio location has not yet been announced.
Studio 8H at The Rockefeller Center has become an iconic part of the US show’s identity, attracting tourists and becoming synonymous with SNL.