It’s official: Peacock will be the U.S. streaming home for Saturday Night Live UK, the upcoming British adaptation of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series.
The show’s debut on the NBC-owned streaming service will mark the first time an international edition of SNL will be made available in the U.S.
“I’m over the moon that I’m able to finally tell people that we’re going to be on Peacock in the U.S.,” SNL UK lead producer James Longman shared Monday during a Reddit AMA. “Having been in L.A., I watched … Saturday Night Live U.S. on Peacock so I’m really excited that we’re going to be there as well. It’s a great opportunity for us to show US fans what our version of the show will be.”
The new series premieres Saturday, March 21 on Sky One and the streaming service NOW in the United Kingdom. Peacock will not stream the show live; instead, episodes will be available to American viewers the following day, beginning Sunday, March 22, with new installments dropping weekly.
Saturday Night Live UK marks the first official British version of the format, and the first time SNL creator Lorne Michaels has been actively involved in an international adaptation of the show.
Like its American counterpart, the series will feature a repertory cast performing live sketches alongside a weekly celebrity host and musical guest.
The show’s cast, announced last month, includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
NBCUniversal framed Peacock’s acquisition as a natural extension of the streamer’s existing relationship with the franchise. Peacock currently carries new episodes and an extensive library of Saturday Night Live, which is now in its 51st season on NBC.
“Saturday Night Live is one of the most influential comedy brands in the world, and bringing the UK edition to Peacock is a natural extension of that legacy,” said Liz Jenkins, Chief Business Officer for NBCUniversal Entertainment, in a statement announcing the deal.
Production on Saturday Night Live UK is handled by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK team and Broadway Video, the production company founded by Michaels. Michaels will executive produce the series alongside lead producer Longman.
As we’ve reported, the SNL UK team has been working closely with Michaels’ Stateside production team as the British show nears its premiere. Longman and the UK edition’s director Liz Clare shadowed their counterparts in November, and members of the new cast were spotted in Studio 8H last month.
Though recent weeks have seen a flurry of announcements about the new show, there’s still no official word on who will be hosting its premiere (British tabloid reports that SNL alum Tina Fey has been tapped are unconfirmed).
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No thanks. I’ll stream it from some other site if I’m home and remember or I’ll watch later via torrent.
Torrent is the best choice. If it’s like the US version, there will be plenty of shit to skip.