UTAS UK Productions, which is part of Universal Studio Group, and Broadway Video today announced three key appointments to the creative team powering “Saturday Night Live UK”, which is coming to Sky and NOW in 2026.
James Longman will serve as Lead Producer, Liz Clare joins as Director and Daran Jonno Johnson takes on the role of Head Writer. Together, they bring a wealth of experience across comedy, live entertainment and television production to the London-based series. Lorne Michaels, creator and Executive Producer of the original NBC series, leads as Executive Producer on “Saturday Night Live UK”.
An eight-time nominated and two-time Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer, James Longman brings more than two decades of experience across comedy and entertainment. His credits include “The Late Late Show with James Corden”, “Never Mind the Buzzcocks”,“Alan Carr: Chatty Man” “The F Word” and “The Friday Night Project”. Longman is also behind specials like “The Jonas Brothers Family Roast”, “The Friends Reunion” and Golden Globe-nominated “Jamie Foxx: What Happened Was…”.
James Longman stated:
“After several years in LA, it’s amazing to come back home to such a vibrant and exciting live comedy scene.”
“Saturday Night Live” has set the bar for live sketch comedy for half a century, and to help bring that legacy to London using our amazing on screen and off-screen talent, along with a tremendous investment in UK production, is a massive honour.”
Liz Clare has directed some of the most-watched live broadcasts of recent years, including “An Audience with Adele”, “The BRIT Awards” and “The MTV Video Music Awards” and iconic live events such as Glastonbury Festival and The BAFTA Film Awards.
She is known for her instinctive visual storytelling and ability to command large-scale live productions, Liz has built trusted relationships with leading artists and producers across music, comedy and entertainment.
“Saturday Night Live UK” marks the first British adaptation of the long-running U.S. institution, which has shaped comedy and pop culture for five decades.
The upcoming series will follow the same live, fast-paced format as the original, featuring a new generation of comedy players in the core cast, alongside guest hosts and musical performances.
SNL UK will be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video for Sky and NOW.
