Live From London: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK Promises a Comic Revolution

You can almost hear it already—“Live from London, it’s Saturday night!” Yes, you read that right. The iconic phrase that’s opened 49 seasons of American television’s wildest, weirdest and most wonderfully unhinged variety show is about to be uttered this side of the Atlantic. And if the buzz is anything to go by, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK is poised to shake up British telly in a way that hasn’t been done since the heyday of The Young Ones.

This isn’t a reboot. It’s a rebirth.

A Transatlantic Leap Half a Century in the Making

It’s frankly astonishing that it’s taken this long. Since its debut in 1975, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE has become a juggernaut of comedic culture in the U.S., launching a who’s who of household names—Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler—the list is near-endless. It’s won more Emmys than any other show in history, claimed four George Foster Peabody Awards, and earned itself a coveted spot in the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In short, it’s not just a television show. It’s a machine for producing pop culture.

But here’s what’s really delicious: in 2026, that machine is coming to the UK. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK has officially been green-lit by Sky, with episodes to air on Sky Max and NOW. Even more tantalising? The British incarnation is being produced in London by the UK arm of Broadway Video and Universal Television Alternative Studio—with none other than SNL creator Lorne Michaels serving as executive producer.

Let that sink in. The man who discovered Adam Sandler and Bill Hader is now turning his gaze to British talent.

Why Now?

The timing couldn’t be more ripe. With comedy formats becoming increasingly homogenised—panel shows aplenty and streaming specials aplenty more—there’s been a gaping hole in British broadcasting for something unapologetically live, chaotic, and deliciously imperfect. Enter SNL UK, with its signature mix of high-wire sketches, topical satire, celebrity hosts and live musical acts—all delivered under the pressure-cooker conditions of live television.

But beyond format, this move is culturally symbolic. SNL has always been more than jokes and impressions. At its best, it’s a mirror held up to society’s absurdities—skewering politics, pop culture, and our own social tics with uncanny precision. In the U.S., it’s where Sarah Palin met Tina Fey, and where Adele belted Hello live for the first time. It’s a barometer of the cultural moment. Bringing that lens to the UK—post-Brexit, mid-cost-of-living-crisis, deep in a golden age of online absurdity—is not just welcome, it’s vital.

What We Know So Far

Details remain tantalisingly scarce. No names for cast or hosts have been released, and the premiere date is still under wraps. But the structure is familiar: a regular ensemble of British comedians, a weekly guest host, and live musical performances. Each episode will broadcast live from London, opening with the same cold open declaration that’s become iconic: “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”

It’s also worth noting the pedigree behind the scenes. Broadway Video, Michaels’ production company, knows this format like the back of its hand. And with Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz on board, there’s serious commitment to nurturing British talent while preserving the irreverent DNA of the original.

As Frot-Coutaz puts it: “For over 50 years SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture… 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!”

Translation? They’re not cutting corners. They’re swinging big.

A Spotlight on British Comedy—or A Risky Experiment?

Of course, the sceptics are already sharpening their pencils. British comedy has a very different cadence—drier, darker, more cerebral. SNL by contrast is bombastic, often brash, and very much built for the American sensibility. The worry, naturally, is that the format won’t translate.

But here’s a thought: what if it evolves?

This isn’t the first time SNL has flirted with international offshoots. Versions have been attempted in Germany, Italy, South Korea and even Spain, to varying degrees of success. But none have had the full weight of Michaels’ executive eye, nor the creative infrastructure Sky and Universal can offer. If anything, this version has the best shot yet at becoming a genuine staple—not a novelty.

What’s more, the UK has no shortage of comic talent. Imagine Aisling Bea riffing off a Brexit-themed sketch. Mawaan Rizwan sending up influencer culture. Katherine Ryan hosting in a sequin-studded monologue. And you know Olly Alexander is due to sing something breathtakingly extra.

The real question is: will this become a platform for the next generation of icons?

Lorne Michaels Still Pulling the Strings

One of the more fascinating tidbits tucked into the announcement is that Lorne Michaels will remain hands-on. While still leading the American mothership, he’ll also executive produce the UK edition. That’s no small commitment for a man overseeing one of the most demanding production schedules in American television.

But perhaps it’s personal. Michaels has long admired British comedy. The original SNL drew inspiration from the anarchic energy of Monty Python and The Goon Show. In some ways, SNL UK is a full-circle moment—Britain reclaiming a format that was, in part, inspired by its own comic lineage.

The irony? Where the UK once exported sketch comedy to the world, it now imports its most daring incarnation back.

A Cultural Crossroads Worth Watching

For theatre lovers—and I include myself unabashedly in that group—this is the kind of live performance magic we live for. Not because it’s polished or predictable, but because it’s brave. The idea of an actor performing live, with cameras, with no retakes, to a national audience is pure adrenaline. It’s the closest thing TV gets to theatre.

More than that, it speaks to a deeper hunger—for collective experience. In a world of on-demand everything, there’s something sacred about knowing you and thousands of others are watching the exact same thing at the exact same moment. It’s tribal, it’s temporal, and it’s electric.

If SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK can capture even a fraction of that energy, then it won’t just be good telly. It’ll be an event.

The question isn’t whether SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK will be a perfect replica of its American cousin. It won’t be—and it shouldn’t be. The question is whether it will find its own rhythm, its own cast of chaos-bringers, and a uniquely British voice within a time-tested structure.

And if it does? Well, brace yourselves.

Because if there’s one thing the original SNL taught us, it’s that from within the madness of live comedy—where timing is tight and anything can go wrong—magic sometimes appears.

And now, finally, it’s our turn.

Live from London. On Saturday night. Let’s have it.