Saturday Night Live UK has roped in some big names and familiar faces for its first run of episodes.
Saturday Night Live UK is almost upon us. The British spin-off of the epoch-defining (epochs-defining, really) American live sketch show goes to air in the UK on Saturday, March 21 on Sky One internationally, before hitting the US the next day. Here in Australia we’ll have to wait a little, with the first episode dropping on HBO Max on Monday, March 23.
Will it be any good? Excellent question, but I’ll tell you this: it’s got a higher bar to clear than the original Saturday Night Live did back in 1975. I’ve seen that first episode in the not too distant past, and it’s got some rough edges. This new UK crop of happy smiling faces have the whole weight of history pressing on their shoulders. It’s gonna be a tough room.
But to help them shoulder that weight (segue of the year right there), the powers that be have corralled some top notch talent to take on the coveted hosting and musical guesting slots for the first three shows.
First up we have Tina Fey on inaugural hosting duties, which is nice bit of baton-passing, seeing as Fey is both a former SNL star and head writer. The first musical guest is none other than Isle Of Wight weirdoes Wet Leg, so that’ll be worth the price of admission alone.
Episode 2 gets us Fifty Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan on hosting duties, so let’s just hope to God he’s funny, joined by musical guest Wolf Alice – so we’re two for two on the musical front, at least.
And the third episode gets us Riz Ahmed and Kasabian. Riz, at least, is funny. You can make your own mind up about Kasabian.
Let us not forget, though, that the actual stars of Saturday Night Live UK are newcomers Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young. They could be household names in a couple of weeks. Or, you know, they could not. Break a leg, I guess.
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