Now less than three weeks out from its highly anticipated premiere, Saturday Night Live UK has unveiled its writing staff, and it is 20 scribes strong.
“The number of funny, talented writers we have got to work on SNL UK is ludicrous,” head writer Jonno Johnson said in a statement. “Some of them have been doing this for years, some of them it’s their first ever writing job. All of them make me giddy to come to work each day. Could not imaginably feel luckier that we get to make this show together.”
Johnson was announced as head writer back in November. Comedy writer and journalist Charlie Skelton (10 O’Clock Live; 8 Out of 10 Cats) has since been tapped to serve as “Weekend Update” head writer on the SNL offshoot, which bows March 21 on Sky and the streaming service NOW, as well as Canada’s Crave streamer.
No U.S. home has been locked in as of yet, nor has a host been announced for the premiere (or any of the other five first episodes)—though LateNighter has some ideas.
The people behind the words can be seen in the photo above. Below, you can read what each SNL UK writer brings to the table.
Al Roberts, like head writer Johnson, is one third of sketch group Sheeps, and is best known for Stath Lets Flats and Starstruck. He has appeared in Man Like Mobeen, Everyone Else Burns, This Is Going To Hurt, and Industry.
Ayo Adenekan is a stand-up comedian and joint winner of Best Newcomer at the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025. He also won the Bestie Award for Emerging Talent.
Bella Hull is a stand‑up comic and writer who has appeared on the UK’s Have I Got News For You and The Stand Up Sketch Show. She has taken three shows to Edinburgh, including the sold-out Doctors Hate Her.
Celya AB is a writer and stand-up comedian who has written for The Great British Sewing Bee and James Acaster’s Springleaf. She won Chortle Best Newcomer in 2022 and was a Funny Women finalist.
“Weekend Update” head writer Charlie Skelton‘s credits include Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. He co‑wrote Once More, With Feeling with Victoria Coren Mitchell, and co-founded The Friday Thing and The London News Review.
Chris Cantrill is a three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award–nominated comedian, writer and actor. He co‑created and stars in BBC Radio 4’s Icklewick FM and is half of double act The Delightful Sausage.
Ellie Fulcher is a writer and facilitator who won the Overheard podcast competition (with The Ballad of a Virgin who can’t drive) and had a dramaturg role on Soho Theatre’s Eat The Rich (but maybe not me mates x).
Gráinne Maguire is an award-winning Irish writer and stand-up whose credits include The Last Leg, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Late Night Mash, the BAFTAs and MTV Awards.
Hari Kanth is a writer and improviser who has written for Horrible Science and The Now Show.
Humphrey Ker is an actor, comedian, and writer who, as the community director of Wrexham football club, was featured in the Emmy-winning docuseries Welcome to Wrexham. He has appeared on Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and Whose Line Is It Anyway.
James Farmer is a Welsh writer and performer who has toured three sell-out stand‑up shows. His writing credits include Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Last One Laughing and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
Head writer Jonno Johnson is a writer, comedian, composer, and one third of sketch group Sheeps. His credits include Wedding Season, Siblings, Flat TV, Elliott From Earth and the award‑winning Parlement.
Joseph Moore is a New Zealand-born comedian, writer and director known for Funny Girls, Jono & Ben, Taskmaster NZ/Australia and Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee. He is also half of the comedy pop duo Two Hearts.
Keith Akushie began his TV career on Channel 4’s Fresh Meat, his BBC3 series Siblings ran for two seasons, and he was an executive producer and writer on HBO’s The Franchise.
Laura Claxton has written for Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, BabyCow and Channel 4.
Lorna Rose Treen is a comedian who has won the Funny Women Stage Award, Chortle Best Newcomer, and Dave’s Best Joke. She also co‑wrote BBC Radio 4’s Time of the Week.
Louis Waymouth, like SNL UK lead producer James Longman, is known for his work on The Late Late Show with James Corden. He also has written on The Armstrong and Miller Show, Psychobitches and, Me and My Monsters.
Nathan Foad is known for creating, writing and executive-producing Newark, Newark. He also starred in HBO’s Our Flag Means Death, and has written for a wide range of BBC and streaming projects.
Omar Badawy is a comedian and satirist originally from Egypt. He began stand-up in 2019 and won the So You Think You’re Funny award in his first year.
Omodara Olatunji is a writer and performer who has been active on the stand‑up circuit for two years. Her writing credits include ITV’s sketch show Say! Less!
