NBC’s comedy establishment “Saturday Night time Reside” (“SNL”) is crossing the pond to launch a British version in partnership with Sky.
The long-lasting late-night sketch present, which has been a cornerstone of American popular culture since 1975, will debut “Saturday Night time Reside U.Okay.” in 2026, bringing its signature mixture of political satire, celeb impersonations and musical performances to British and Irish audiences.
“SNL” mastermind Lorne Michaels, who created the unique NBC collection, will function govt producer for the U.Okay. adaptation whereas persevering with to steer the American mothership. The London-based model will observe the identical reside format that has made “SNL” a cultural juggernaut for practically 5 a long time.
“For over 50 years ‘Saturday Night time Reside’ has held a novel place in TV and in our collective tradition, reflecting and creating the worldwide dialog all beneath the masterful comedic steerage of Lorne Michaels,” mentioned Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content material officer at Sky. “The present has found and nurtured numerous comedy and musical skills through the years and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the ‘SNL’ staff to carry an all-British model of the present to U.Okay. audiences subsequent 12 months – all reside from London on Saturday night time.”
The collection is being commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, govt director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Frot-Coutaz’s Sky Studios division.
The British iteration shall be produced by Broadway Video, Michaels’ manufacturing firm, in partnership with Common Tv Different Studio’s U.Okay. manufacturing staff. Whereas solid members, hosts and musical friends have but to be revealed, Sky guarantees “a core solid of the funniest British comedians round.”
“Saturday Night time Reside U.Okay.” shall be accessible on Sky Max and the streaming service Now when it premieres in 2026. Extra particulars in regards to the present’s debut, together with premiere date and expertise lineup, shall be revealed in coming months.
“SNL” has accrued extra Emmy Awards than another tv program and has been a profession launchpad for comedy legends together with Invoice Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell. The present’s skill to launch careers and keep cultural relevance throughout generations has made it considered one of tv’s most enduring establishments.
This marks the most recent enlargement of the “SNL” format, which is licensed globally by NBCUniversal Codecs. Common Tv Different Studio, headed by president Toby Gorman with Helen Kruger-Bratt overseeing the London and Australian manufacturing groups, has discovered success adapting different codecs internationally, together with “Hollywood Recreation Night time,” “The Wall,” and “That’s My Jam.”
Since its 1975 debut, “Saturday Night time Reside” has impressed quite a few worldwide diversifications, every striving to seize the essence of the unique whereas tailoring content material to native audiences. Germany’s “RTL Samstag Nacht” (1993–1998) featured native celebrities and infrequently welcomed American personalities like Mel Brooks and Michael Winslow, although language limitations restricted their participation. In Spain, a 2009 adaptation on Cuatro carefully mirrored the U.S. format, even replicating authentic sketches, however it struggled to resonate and was short-lived.
Italy’s “Saturday Night time Reside from Milano” (2006–2011) supplied authentic materials, discovering average success. South Korea’s “SNL Korea,” premiering in 2011 on tvN, loved a strong nine-season run with 205 episodes, integrating Okay-pop components to enchantment to native viewers. The present was rebooted in 2021 on Coupang Play, that includes a mixture of returning and new solid members. In Quebec, “SNL Québec” aired on Télé-Québec from 2014 to 2015, adapting traditional sketches like “Schweddy Balls” into French, earlier than funds cuts led to its cancellation. Russia’s 2013 adaptation confronted challenges with low rankings and adverse opinions, resulting in a rebranded and quietly aired conclusion.
Within the U.Okay., premiering in 1985 on Channel 4, “Saturday Reside” was typically seen as Britain’s reply to “Saturday Night time Reside” – however the comparability ends on the format. Regardless of floor similarities, there was no official connection between the 2 exhibits. Produced by London Weekend Tv (LWT), “Saturday Reside” targeted on reside stand-up, sketches, and musical performances, serving as a launchpad for a brand new technology of British comedians together with Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie. In contrast to ‘SNL,’ which depends on a rotating roster of celeb hosts and a tightly scripted ensemble, “Saturday Reside” leaned into the vitality of the choice comedy increase, typically spotlighting solo performers and edgier materials. The present was later rebranded as “Friday Night time Reside” and revived intermittently, most lately in 2022 for Channel 4’s fortieth anniversary. Whereas by no means a franchise spin-off, it carved its personal place in U.Okay. comedy historical past.
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