Saturday Night Live UK is returning for its second season in September, broadcaster Sky has announced.
The UK version of the popular NBC sketch comedy show originally launched in March.
The format features a distinct host taking to the stage each week to lead the show alongside its inaugural comedy ensemble, complemented by a performance from a musical guest.
While a second season was initially confirmed back in May, Sky has now revealed that the opening episode will air on Saturday, 12 September.
Sky has promised that the initial six brand-new episodes will deliver a "fresh season of unpredictable, must-watch Saturday night television", with further shows planned to follow in early 2027.
A teaser video for the upcoming season depicts a selection of clips from the first series playing across screens in a control room, culminating in a countdown to the date announcement.
The entire 11-member inaugural cast will return for the new run. The lineup features Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young.
Broadcast live each week, the show will once again welcome a different celebrity host and musical guest for every episode, alongside topical sketches, live music performances and a British take on the Weekend Update segment.
Fans will also be able to apply to be part of the live studio audience, with a ticket ballot going live from 10am on Friday, 14 August.
The series debuted with SNL veteran Tina Fey, who was followed by The Fall actor Jamie Dornan, Bait star Riz Ahmed, comedian Jack Whitehall, Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan, Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood, Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham and then Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa.
Saturday Night Live creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels previously said he was “incredibly proud” of the team and the show, which “keeps getting better every week”.
The show suffered a dip in ratings after a solid start, which attracted 226,000 viewers for its first episode with Fey. The second episode, with actor Dornan, pulled in 205,000 viewers, with 130,100 tuning in for Ahmed’s episode the week after.
The show has been a huge success on social media, however, creating viral moments thanks to the cast’s impersonations of Princess Diana, Keir Starmer, Melania Trump and Prince Charles. As of late April, the series’ Instagram and TikTok clips had exceeded 86 million views, making it a certified hit in the current world of television.
Comedian and actor Nick Mohammed said the show was “the best thing that’s happened to British comedy since” Ricky Gervais’s sitcom The Office premiered in 2001.
SNL UK returns 12 September on Sky and Now.