Tina Fey to Host the First-Ever Episode of ‘Saturday Night Live UK’
The woman who became SNL’s first female head writer is about to launch the show’s most ambitious international experiment yet — from London. Tina Fey will host the inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live UK on March 21, with English band Wet Leg as the musical guest, broadcaster Sky TV confirmed Monday.
If there’s anyone who could lend instant credibility to an international SNL spinoff, it’s the person who wrote for the show for nearly a decade.
For longtime fans, the choice carries real weight. Fey joined SNL as a writer in 1997 and became the show’s first female head writer in 1999. She joined the cast in 2000 and remained until leaving to create and star in 30 Rock in 2006. She has hosted SNL six times.
This will be her seventh hosting gig — in a completely different country.
Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers Are In the Room
This isn’t a remote operation. Lorne Michaels is executive producing the show, and Variety reported that Michaels and SNL alum Seth Meyers have recently been in London observing table reads as the cast and writers prepare for the premiere.
James Longman is lead producer, Liz Clare directs and Daran Jonno Johnson is head writer for the UK version.
Same Format, Shorter Runtime
SNL UK will follow the same format as the U.S. version: opening monologue, topical sketches, a live musical act, and the satirical news segment Weekend Update.
One difference stands out. Episodes will run 75 minutes, compared to 90 minutes for the U.S. version. That’s 15 fewer minutes — which could mean tighter shows with less filler, or it could mean beloved segments get cut for time. Either way, it’s a structural change fans will want to watch closely.
The show will air at 10 p.m. local time on Sky One and streaming service Now, with next-day availability on Peacock in the U.S.
Here’s the part any seasoned SNL watcher is already thinking about: this is the 14th international attempt to adapt SNL. Only the South Korean version is currently still airing. 13 out of 14 previous international adaptations are no longer on the air.
Who Else Is Hosting
Fey isn’t alone. Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed are scheduled to host subsequent episodes on March 28 and April 4, with musical guests Wolf Alice and Kasabian, respectively. Dornan is known for The Tourist and the Fifty Shades of Grey films, while Ahmed stars in the Prime Video series Bait, set for release later this week.
Who’s In the Cast
The all-British cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young — 11 performers building an ensemble for a UK audience.
When SNL UK was first announced in April 2025, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and Sky’s Chief Content Officer for Sky, said in a comment: “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. 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!”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
