The (former) Doctor is in, in a first promo for this weekend’s Saturday Night Live UK season finale.
In the video above, May 9 host Hannah Waddingham cosmically “regenerates” into Rwandan and Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa, in an overt nod to the latter’s two-season run as Doctor Who‘s fifteenth Time Lord.
Greeting Gatwa alongside castmate Larry Dean, Emma Sidi is quick to make clear that the “regeneration” the finale’s host just experienced is “very slightly different” than the long-running sci-fi series recurring gimmick, for “copyright reasons.”
Sidi and Dean then demonstrate for Gatwa how the cast itself is able to freely regenerate. The former amid a crackle of electricity turns into Al Nash, while Dean… well, you’ll have to press play above to witness his unfortunate regeneration experience.
Though its freshman run ends this Saturday, SNL UK is already renewed for a second, expanded series of 12 shows to premiere in September and run through “early 2027.”
“I’m incredibly proud of our team and the show. It keeps getting better every week,” SNL UK executive producer and SNL creator Lorne Michaels said in a statement. “I’m grateful to [Sky Group CEO] Dana Strong and Sky for believing in and supporting SNL UK. I’m excited for the season ahead.”
SNL UK airs live Saturdays at 10 p.m. GMT on Sky One, and streams next day Stateside on Peacock.
