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Meet the 11 stars of Saturday Night Live UK as cast is finally confirmed

Milo Pope Published February 4, 2026 5:00pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments The Cast

The comedy sketch series is a British reimagination of the American version (Picture: Sky UK)

The UK version of Saturday Night Live has announced its 11 cast members ahead of its release next month.

Launching the careers of actors such as Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell, the iconic comedy sketch show has cemented its place as an American pop culture institution.

Now, in a re-imagined British spin-off, a new generation of comedians will take to the stage in the inaugural season of the programme.

Written, rehearsed and performed in the week of each show, every episode will be staged live in front of a studio audience and will feature the opening monologue alongside sketches, live music and a British take on the satirical news segment, the Weekend Update.

Ahead of the six-episode Sky Original series kicking off next month on March 21, SNL UK announced that former Top Gear showrunner Lisa Clark will lead the show as a commissioning executive.

But, to find out which cast members will be saying that iconic line, ‘Live from London, it’s Saturday Night Live’, here is a look at the 11 new cast members.

Who is in the cast?

Hammed Animashaun

Hammed Animashaun has starred in a BBC comedy series (Picture: Sky UK)

Despite the cast of Saturday Night Live UK featuring a host of new faces, some viewers might be able to recognise Hammed Animashaun, who starred in 2018’s The Festival with Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas.

The 34-year-old from East London has also featured in the BBC comedy series Black Ops as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Bridge Theatre.

Asked about why he wants to be part of the SNL UK cast, he said: ‘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!’

The new cast member, whose comedy heroes include Lenny Henry, Gina Yashere, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock added that he thinks of himself ‘as an actor first and foremost’.

‘I’ve done a lot of theatre. That’s my first love so I feel very much at home on the stage and performing live. Transferring that experience over to live comedy is something I’m really excited for.’

Ayoade Bamgboye

Ayoade Bamgboye was on Rise and Shine with Channel 9 on Channel 4 (Picture: Sky UK)

Next on the list for the new cast of SNL UK is fellow Londoner Ayoade Bamgboye, who is also from Lagos.

The Nigerian and British comedian, who is dreaming of following in former SNL cast member Kristen Wiig’s footsteps, is known for Edinburgh Fringe show Swings and Roundabouts.

On top of this, she has starred in the Rise and Shine with Channel 9 on Channel 4 alongside Daniel Rigby.

Asked about taking part in the series, she explained: ‘There’s no better training ground. 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.’

Discussing her background in live performance and sketch comedy, she added: ‘I was in advertising, and I decided to quit my job and try comedy for a year. My journey in comedy since then has been such a series of blessings and serendipitous moments, it’s been a domino effect of doing lots of different comedy nights and meeting different comedians.

‘I’ve felt so empowered watching them, it’s made me try lots of different things. I went to Edinburgh Fringe for the first time and won Best Newcomer, it snowballed from there and now I’m on Saturday Night Live.’

Larry Dean

Scottish comedian Larry Dean has featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Picture: Sky UK)

Also joining the cast of SNL UK is Scottish comedian Larry Dean, who has previously performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 2024 on ITV and Live at the Apollo on the BBC.

The Glaswegian, whose comedy heroes include Richard Pryor and Jim Carrey, discussed his ‘love of sketch comedy’.

‘There have been so many people who have appeared on Saturday Night Live, either as hosts or part of the cast that are my comedy heroes like Jim Carrey, Richard Pryor, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey,’ he said.

‘It’s always been my dream to do acting and stand-up, so this is exactly what I want to be doing.’

Asked about his previous performing background, he added: ‘I did a couple of series of The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV), which was a bit different to the usual format as you’re miming other comedians’ stand-up routines.

‘But my background is really in stand-up which I love, performing all over and releasing a few specials.’

Celeste Dring

Celeste Dring has acted in previous BBC comedy series (Picture: Sky UK)

Boasting BBC’s This Country and Lazy Susan among her credits, Celeste Dring is another SNL UK cast member hoping to follow in Wiig’s footsteps.

Discussing her decision to join the cast, she described it as ‘a no-brainer really’.

‘I just love the idea of being creative with a group of brilliantly talented and funny people and the chance to do something new,’ she continued.

After performing in ‘more serious plays’ at university, Celeste said she decided to give comedy a crack after she lft.

‘Freya Parker and I started performing as a double act, Lazy Susan, going to Edinburgh Fringe and doing shows there. And from there we got our own radio show and eventually sketch comedy show on TV.’

George Fouracres

George Fouracres was part of a production of Hamlet at the Shakespeare Globe (Picture: Sky UK)

For Wolverhampton local George Fouracres, he has revealed that SNL was his ‘dream job’ from since he was young.

‘My favourite thing is playing lots of very intense, insane characters, and I love the glamour of late night live TV,’ the actor explained.

‘Seeing clips of SNL in the US I always thought “I wish we had that. Why don’t we have something like that?” So the fact that we do now, and I get to be part of it, blows my tiny mind.’

George’s previous credits include performing in Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe as well as in Steve on Netflix.

But despite his experience in dramatic roles, he started out in the industry by acting and writing in a sketch group called Daphne with his friends Jason Forbes and Phil Wang.

‘We gigged together for four years and wrote three Edinburgh Fringe shows and two series of a BBC Radio 4 show.’

Following that, George performed in a solo stand up show, Gentlemon, in 2019 before starring in Flo & Joan’s award-winning show One Man Musical in the UK and Australia.

Ania Magliano

Ania Magliano said she really found her voice ‘in stand-up’ (Picture: Sky UK)

Ania Magliano is no stranger to the UK comedy scene, having appeared in Channel 4’s Taskmaster and BBC’s Live at the Apollo.

But the Buckinghamshire born performer, whose comedy hero is Ross from Friends, says the chance to work collaboratively with other comedians was the ‘huge draw’ for her in saying yes to SNL UK.

She added: ‘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.’

Ania also revealed how she has performed sold out comedy tours and filmed a stand-up special, as well as taking shows to Edinburgh.

‘It’s through stand-up that I really found my voice,’ she stated.

‘I feel very lucky to have performed for audiences who genuinely want to see me, and I’m excited to bring that background into sketch comedy.

‘Some of my favourite comedy moments are sketch so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it!

Annabel Marlow

Annabel Marlow was in a one woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe festival (Picture: Sky UK)

For Annabel Marlow, who is from Henley-on-Thames, the comedian has been a huge fan of the show and is excited ‘to create characters and hopefully write some music as well’.

Following performances in Six The Musical and Muriel’s Wedding, Annabel has also written and performed a one woman show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 called Is This Okay??.

‘That was an hour of comedy songs and pop songs, with bits of stand-up,’ she explained.

She added: ‘My background is stand-up and musical comedy, and all my acting jobs have been musical theatre.’

Al Nash

Al Nash makes hugely popular Instagram online sketches (Picture: Sky UK)

Known to most people in the UK for his hilarious Instagram skits, Al Nash will be hoping to make a similarly big splash on Sky’s new SNL UK.

Based in Buckinghamshire, the comedy creator – whose hero is John Candy – has featured in Michael McIntyre’s Big Show on the BBC.

Discussing why he has chosen to be a part of SNL UK, he explained: ‘I think it’s a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry in general. For it to be a new sketch format in the UK, but also one of the biggest sketch comedy formats in the world, it’s got so much potential.

‘As someone who is sketch comedy obsessed, I’m just so happy to be a part of the cast.’

After beginning comedy at the University of Sussex, where he performed in a sketch group, he said: ‘I then started performing live myself in 2018, and have made online sketches since 2020.’

Jack Shep

Jack Shep will form part of the new SNL UK cast (Picture: Sky UK)

Describing himself as ‘more of a comic than a stand-up comedian’, Jack Shep, from Bedfordshire, has also been added to the first ever cast of SNL UK.

Known for his performance in Channel 4’s Big Boys, his comedy heroes include Tim Robinson and Patti Harrison.

Asked why he wanted to be part of the new Sky comedy series, he said: ‘It’s just a completely unique show. To make a finished show in a week and then start all over again the next week is amazing.

‘Being able to be in a room full of comedians being stupid and funny like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.’

Discussing his background in comedy, he added: ‘I do a bit of acting and writing too but basically, I’m always doing stupid stuff which I think makes me primed for SNL.’

Emma Sidi

Emma Sidi has featured in a number of comedy series in TV (Picture: Sky UK)

Best known for her performances in Starstruck, Pls Like, Stath Lets Flats and her 2024 appearance as a contestant on Taskmaster, Emma Sidi will bring a wealth of experience to SNL UK.

The 34-year-old actress, comedian and writer said Maria Bamford, Victoria Wood and French & Saunders are among her comedy heroes.

Asked about her decision to take part, she revealed: ‘I love comedy and character comedy especially, and I think there isn’t that much character comedy on TV in the UK right now.

‘My favourite comedies to watch growing up were French & Saunders, The Fast Show, Reeves and Mortimer, all those pioneering shows from the alt comedy scene. Saturday Night Live is a huge opportunity to get that kind of comedy back on TV and online.’

Explaining her own career, she added: ‘I’ve been doing sketch, character comedy and improv since university. There’s nothing like the thrill that comes from live comedy, and it’s where I have met my best friends. I’ve found that I’ve specialised in character comedy, and have done the Edinburgh Fringe multiple times, and toured the UK, Melbourne and New York.

‘I loved touring my recent show, Emma Sidi Is Sue Gray, in which I played the former civil servant Sue Gray – because someone had to do it. That show was a real manifesto of my taste. A bit left-field and very cheeky.’

Paddy Young

Paddy Young said SNL UK is the ‘most exciting thing that’s happened in this country for a long time’ (Picture: Sky UK)

Last, but certainly not least, Paddy Young is hoping to make a splash on the UK’s version of SNL.

The comedian, whose comedy icons include Vic & Bob, Norm Macdonald and Viz, has previously starred in Channel 4’s Everyone Else Burns and Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping.

Discussing the upcoming comedy series, he said: ‘It feels like the most exciting thing that’s happened in comedy in this country for a long time, even more than Reels.

‘The scale of it is quackers: 11 in the cast, 18 writers, and the catering is world class.’

Explaining his previous background, he added: ‘I was very lucky because Scarborough had an amazing theatre – the Stephen Joseph Theatre – which I practically grew up in. I was completely obsessed with comedy but had no idea how to do it.

‘By the time I went to drama school in Manchester I found myself constantly sneaking away to watch stand-up, though it took me a long time to actually do it.’

When does Saturday Night Live UK start?

The new cast of comedians will be hoping to mirror the success of the American version (Picture: Sky UK)

Coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on March 21, the brand-new UK version brings SNL through a distinctly British lens.

Each week, a new guest host will take the helm, putting their distinctive stamp on the SNL formula alongside a chart-topping musical guest.

Discussing the new project, lead producer James Longman said: ‘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, also said: ‘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 comes to Sky and streaming service NOW on 21 March 2026.

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Meet the 11 stars of Saturday Night Live UK as cast is finally confirmed