Saturday Night Live UK took a short break this weekend — but the Sky comedy show is returning next Saturday with Danny Dyer as host and Sasha Keable as musical guest.
The show returns on Saturday, October 10 at 10pm, when BAFTA Award-winning actor Danny Dyer will host the live comedy programme, with singer-songwriter Sasha Keable appearing as the musical guest.
It comes as the British version of the iconic US sketch show attempts to build on the momentum — and huge social media reach — generated by its first series earlier this year.
When is SNL UK back on?
SNL UK returns on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 10pm on Sky One.
The episode will be broadcast live from London and will also be available to stream on NOW.
The next three episodes have now been confirmed:
| Date | Host | Musical guest |
|---|---|---|
| October 10 | Danny Dyer | Sasha Keable |
| October 17 | James Norton | The Streets |
| October 24 | Cynthia Erivo | Blossoms |
Following the October 24 episode, the show will take a break before returning with further episodes in January 2027.
Danny Dyer is next to host SNL UK
Danny Dyer will take the SNL UK stage on October 10.
The actor, who has recently starred in Rivals and Mr Big Stuff, will become the latest celebrity to take on the show’s demanding live format. He’s perhaps best known for playing Mick Cater in EastEnders.
SNL UK is written, rehearsed and performed during the week of broadcast, with the host appearing alongside the regular cast in sketches and the show’s British version of Weekend Update.
Dyer will be joined by Sasha Keable, who will provide the night’s live musical performances. Sasha Keable is an upcoming musical star who has worked with Katy B and Disclosure.
Dyer’s daughter Dani is appearing on Strictly Come Dancing on the same night, just hours before her father takes to the SNL UK stage.
James Norton and Cynthia Erivo follow
The October line-up doesn’t stop with Dyer.
On October 17, James Norton will host the show, with British musical act The Streets joining him.
Norton is known for roles including Happy Valley and House of the Dragon, while The Streets, led by Mike Skinner, will provide the musical element to the episode.
Then, on October 24, Cynthia Erivo will take the hosting chair.
The Wicked and Harriet star, who is an Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner and a three-time Oscar nominee, will be joined by indie-rock band Blossoms.
After that episode, SNL UK will take its next break before returning in January.
Who is in the SNL UK cast?
The show’s returning ensemble includes:
- Hammed Animashaun
- Ayoade Bamgboye
- Larry Dean
- Celeste Dring
- George Fouracres
- Ania Magliano
- Annabel Marlow
- Al Nash
- Jack Shep
- Emma Sidi
- Paddy Young
The cast return for the second series after forming the inaugural SNL UK ensemble earlier in 2026.
Freddie Meredith has also joined the returning ensemble for the second series.
The programme combines topical sketches, an opening monologue, live music and a British version of Weekend Update, with each episode built around a new celebrity host.
How many people watch SNL UK?
SNL UK’s television ratings have been relatively modest compared with the huge audiences achieved by the American original — but its social media performance has been a very different story.
The first episode of the British version attracted 949,000 viewers across its initial launch audience, according to figures subsequently highlighted by Sky Media. Across the first series, the programme reached 3.2 million viewers across linear television and video-on-demand.
The detailed overnight figures for the first series were much lower. The first episode had an overnight audience of around 226,000, rising to 528,000 within seven days and 784,000 when repeat showings were included.
That demonstrates why SNL UK’s audience figures can look very different depending on which measurement is being used.
The show’s first series ultimately averaged around 506,000 viewers on Sky’s measure that included repeat showings and other viewing, according to published ratings data.
The second series has also begun with a relatively small linear audience. The first episode of series two, which aired on September 12, attracted 308,000 viewers within its first week, with only around 10% watching live, according to Chortle.
SNL UK’s social media numbers tell a different story
Where SNL UK has really made an impact is online.
Sky Media says the first series generated 206 million organic social views, alongside 2.1 million hours watched on social media.
The show also gained 376,000 followers in its first eight weeks, while becoming the number one trending topic on X in seven of its eight weeks on air.
Individual sketches have also reached audiences far beyond the show’s television audience.
The first episode’s cold open, which featured a spoof involving Harry and Meghan, reportedly passed 6 million YouTube views. More recently, Amelia Dimoldenberg’s opening monologue from the latest episode had already accumulated 2.9 million views on TikTok, according to Chortle.
That huge difference between traditional television viewing and social engagement is one of the most interesting aspects of SNL UK’s performance.
The programme may not be attracting millions of viewers to Sky One every Saturday night, but individual sketches can potentially reach millions of people online.
Where can I watch SNL UK in the UK?
SNL UK is available exclusively in the UK on Sky and NOW.
The show airs live on Sky One at 10pm on Saturday nights, with episodes also available on catch-up and on the NOW streaming service.
So for the October 10 episode:
SNL UK — Saturday, October 10, 2026
Sky One — 10pm
Streaming — NOW
The episodes are approximately 75 minutes long when broadcast in the UK.
Can I watch SNL UK in the US?
Yes.
American viewers can watch SNL UK on Peacock, with new episodes becoming available in the US on Sunday.
Peacock currently carries both seasons of the British series and describes the programme as a British version of the SNL format featuring British actors and comedians alongside celebrity hosts and musical guests.
For US viewers, that means the October 10 episode featuring Danny Dyer and Sasha Keable will be available to stream on Peacock on the following Sunday.
What time is SNL UK on?
For viewers in Britain, SNL UK is normally broadcast at 10pm on Saturday nights.
The show is performed live from London, with the cast and host responding to the week’s biggest news and events through topical sketches.
The format is deliberately designed to retain the fast-moving nature of the original American Saturday Night Live, with material written and rehearsed during the week before transmission.
SNL UK October 2026 schedule
Here’s the confirmed schedule for the next three episodes:
Saturday, October 10: Danny Dyer hosts, with Sasha Keable performing.
Saturday, October 17: James Norton hosts, with The Streets as musical guest.
Saturday, October 24: Cynthia Erivo hosts, with Blossoms performing.
There will then be a break before the show returns in January 2027.
So, if you’ve been searching “Is SNL UK on this week?”, the answer is no — there is a one-week break on October 3.
But the wait isn’t long: SNL UK returns to Sky One and NOW at 10pm on Saturday, October 10, with Danny Dyer on hosting duties and Sasha Keable providing the music.
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