UK's 'SNL' Remake to Bring 'Chaos' and 'Noise' to Screens in 2026

In the lead-up to the launch of the UK version of 'Saturday Night Live' in 2026, Sky has revealed more details about its plans to bring the iconic American sketch show to British audiences.

According to Phil Edgar-Jones, Sky's executive director of unscripted originals, the UK remake will aim to capture the "chaos" and "noise" that has made the original NBC version so successful. To that end, Sky's talent scouts have been embedded in the Scottish city of Edinburgh, assessing the next generation of comedy talents at the Fringe festival.

Confirming earlier reports, Edgar-Jones announced that James Longman, the executive producer of 'The Late Late Show With James Corden', will serve as the showrunner for the UK 'SNL'. The series will be filmed at a BBC Studioworks facility, which Edgar-Jones hopes will "capture the intimacy" of the American original.

While the UK version will stay true to the spirit of the American 'SNL', Edgar-Jones emphasized that it "has to be a very British thing" to resonate with local audiences. He also noted that the production will be a "big employer", further boosting the UK's thriving comedy scene.

The launch of the UK 'SNL' in 2026 will mark the most high-profile international version of the long-running NBC late-night show, following remakes in China, Germany, Italy, and South Korea.