Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sky Assembles Powerhouse Team for SNL UK's 2026 Launch
Sky Assembles Powerhouse Team for SNL UK's 2026 Launch
13 Nov
Summary
- Daran Jonno Johnson, Disney+ writer, joins as SNL UK head writer
- Liz Clare, experienced live TV director, hired as series director
- James Longman, producer of The Late Late Show, to lead SNL UK

In a major move, Sky has announced the appointment of its top creative team for the highly anticipated launch of Saturday Night Live UK in 2026. Daran Jonno Johnson, known for his work on the Disney+ series Wedding Season, has been brought on board as the head writer for the new sketch show. Joining him is Liz Clare, an experienced live TV director who has helmed major events like the BAFTA Film Awards.
The production will also benefit from the expertise of James Longman, the executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden. Longman will serve as the lead producer for SNL UK, drawing on his experience in producing the Late Late Show in LA and creating hit shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Alan Carr: Chatty Man in the UK.
The new team will work closely with Lorne Michaels, the creator of the original Saturday Night Live, to bring the iconic sketch comedy series to British audiences. Sky's entertainment boss, Phil Edgar-Jones, has expressed his desire for the UK version to capture the "chaos" and "noise" that has made the American show a cultural phenomenon for over half a century.




