Saturday Night Live UK: Meet the Cast Taking Centre Stage on the British SNL
The cast is comprised of television newcomers and familiar stars from popular series such as Big Boys and Taskmaster. Rachel McGrath reports on Saturday, 21 March 2026, at 08:42 GMT.
Chappell Roan performs on Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live stands as one of America's most successful comedy formats, having launched countless major stars in the US—including Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and Adam Sandler. Finally, a UK edition is set to premiere on 21 March, with British performers aiming to replicate that same trajectory on this side of the Atlantic.
Retaining the Classic Format with a British Twist
The UK version will preserve everything viewers adore about the original American show, featuring celebrity hosts and musical guests for late-night entertainment in a brand-new London studio. Since its debut in 1975, the US series has served as an unofficial training ground for Hollywood's funniest comedians and actors, propelling many beloved stars into the spotlight. For instance, Murphy was a cast member in the early Eighties before his breakout role in Beverly Hills Cop, while Sandler and Will Ferrell began their careers on SNL in the nineties. Friends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler also had overlapping stints on the show in the early 2000s, with Fey becoming the program's first female head writer. The duo later created 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, respectively. Additionally, SNL introduced audiences to talents like Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Andy Samberg.
SNL UK's initial six-week run will feature 11 new cast members delivering laughs through topical sketches, along with a British adaptation of the popular satirical news segment, Weekend Update.
Meet the Cast Members
Hammed Animashaun: A Londoner known for his role as undercover policeman Kay in the BBC comedy Black Ops. Animashaun describes himself as an actor first, with extensive theatre experience, and is excited to transition to live comedy.
Ayoade Bamgboye: A British and Nigerian comedian who quit her advertising job to pursue stand-up four years ago. She won the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and views SNL UK as the perfect training ground to accelerate her learning.
Larry Dean: A Glasgow-based comedian with TV appearances on Live at the Apollo and The Royal Variety Performance 2024. He cites comedy heroes like Jim Carrey and Richard Pryor from SNL and sees this as a dream opportunity to blend acting and stand-up.
Celeste Dring: From Wolverhampton, Dring has significant TV experience from roles in This Country, Wanderlust, and The Windsors. She performs in the double act Lazy Susan and joined SNL UK for the chance to collaborate with talented, funny people on something new.
George Fouracres: Also from Wolverhampton, Fouracres calls SNL his dream job, enjoying intense character roles and the glamour of late-night TV. With a theatre background, including work at Shakespeare's Globe, he is thrilled to be part of the UK version.
Ania Magliano: A well-known star from Buckinghamshire, featured on Live at the Apollo and Taskmaster UK. Starting stand-up at 18, she has since toured sold-out shows and filmed a special, finding her voice through comedy.
Annabel Marlow: A musician and comedian who has long been an SNL fan, even running a fan account. She looks forward to creating characters and writing music, with experience from her one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe and roles in musicals like Six.
Al Nash: A Buckinghamshire-born comedian who gained fame on TikTok and Instagram with sketch comedy. He sees SNL UK as an exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry and is happy to contribute his sketch-obsessed perspective.
Jack Shep: From Bedfordshire, Shep has appeared in shows like Big Boys, Netflix's One Day, and Changing Ends. Describing himself as a comic rather than a stand-up, he feels his playful nature makes him well-suited for SNL.
Emma Sidi: Known for roles in Black Ops, Starstruck, and Stath Lets Flats, Sidi loves character comedy and aims to bring back pioneering styles from shows like French & Saunders through SNL UK.
Paddy Young: Born in Scarborough, Young has worked with comedy greats in series like Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping and Everyone Else Burns. Growing up in a theatre environment, he developed a passion for comedy and is eager to showcase it on SNL UK.
Saturday Night Live UK premieres on Sky and the streaming service NOW on 21 March, marking a significant addition to British entertainment.
