We’re just days out from the launch of SNL UK, and hype’s building in the UK.
At a Sky event in London this evening, the show’s lead producer (read showrunner) James Longman was effusive in his praise for the Universal Television Alternative Studio UK and Broadway Video show’s young cast ahead of its launch on Saturday.
Longman, the exec producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, explained how the cast had gone through a vigorous selection process that began with submitting a five-minute tape, followed by a live showcase, a “silent” studio audition and finally another five-minute performance, this time in front of a camera with no laughter track.
The successful crew were ultimately Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young, who are now approaching the biggest moment of their careers.
“These guys stood up and stood out,” said Longman during a short on-stage interview, accompanied by Magliano and Young, who it was revealed will be paired for a key sketch.
The audience at the event in central London were given a sneak peak of the SNL UK production’s behind the scenes footage, with various scenes paying homage to American counterparts (no spoilers). “We’ve borrwed the U.S. house, only we’re making our own rooms within it,” said Longman in a talk this evening.
Earlier in the showcase, Sky CEO Dana Strong called SNL UK “a major investment in the UK comedy ecosystem,” and claimed Sky was “Bringing one of the world’s most iconic shows and making it British.”
The first-ever SNL UK launches on British channel Sky One at 10 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. PT) and Peacock the following day. Tina Fey will host, followed by Riz Ahmed then Jamie Dornan in the guest host’s chair for the show that we first reported was in the works nearly five years ago.
Buzz has been building for SNL UK all week and teasers will be dropping through the week as Sky builds hype for the show, which kicks off with a six-episode order. In the U.S., the show will play on Peacock. Fey was unveiled in a teaser last night.
Led by Daran Jonno Johnson, the writing team features Al Roberts, Ayo Adenekan, Bella Hull, Celya AB, Charlie Skelton, Chris Cantrill, Ellie Fulcher, Gráinne Maguire, Hari Kanth, Humphrey Ker, James Farmer, Jonno Johnson, Joseph Moore, Keith Akushie, Laura Claxton, Lorna Rose Treen, Louis Waymouth, Nathan Foad, Omar Badawy, and Omodara Olatunji.
SNL UK is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio with Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. SNL UK was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Sky Commissioning Executive Lisa Clark, and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, who serves as CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky. Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK Productions is overseen by Managing Director Helen Kruger Bratt. Shanna Baynard will serve as Executive in Charge of Production, with Andy Charles Smith as the Lead Producer for UTAS UK Productions, alongside Sam Salter as Production Executive.
Sky’s Up Next event showcased upcoming shows such as Meantime and Inheritance and films such as Blood on the Snow, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom and Animol, the directorial debut of Adolescence actor Ashley Walters.
Earlier this evening, we were first with the news that Sky had acquired the second season of Heated Rivalry, new Hudson Williams show Yaga and A24 and Universal drama Superfakes.
English (US) ·