Deadline announces that Tina Fey (30 Rock, Mean Girls), Jaime Dornan (Belfast, Fifty Shades of Grey), and Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) will headline as the first guest hosts for the debut season of the upcoming Saturday Night Live UK. The trio will help kick off the show’s first run as it introduces the UK version to audiences.
According to Deadline, Tina Fey will host the premiere episode, establishing direct link to Saturday Night Live. Before her TV and film career took off, Fey worked as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live, where she later became the show’s first female head writer. Dornan will host the second episode, while Ahmed is set to lead the third, giving the series an early lineup of internationally recognized talent.
Deadline says the UK version will keep the show’s long-running format, with a celebrity host leading the episode and appearing in live sketches, music, and recurring bits. By reworking the format for British audiences, the production aims to spotlight a new generation of UK comedians while retaining its fast-paced, live creative style.
mxdwn has previously tracked the development of Saturday Night Live UK. Earlier coverage on the show reported that the popular streaming service Peacock will carry the series in the United States, which enables American audiences to tune in for the premiere.
Additional mxdwn reporting had examined the show’s first teaser trailer, which introduced the ensemble cast set to anchor the weekly sketches. That article highlighted how the production is blending emerging British comedic voices with the established structure of the original program.
With Fey, Dornan, and Ahmed leading the first handful of episodes of the new series, Saturday Night Live UK launches now with a mix of global star power and a fresh set of comedic talent. The early lineup sets the tone as the show looks to find its footing within UK audiences.