Saturday Night Live UK kicked off its debut episode with a strong mix of international and homegrown talent, including Irish actress Nicola Coughlan and her famed Bridgerton co-star, Regé-Jean Page.
The show, which follows the structure of the long-running Saturday Night Live, has been adapted for a British audience with a fresh cast of comedians, writers, and celebrity guests, signalling a major new platform for UK and Irish comedy.
The premiere episode was hosted by Tina Fey, a veteran of the original US series where she served as both head writer and cast member.
Fey used her opening monologue to introduce herself to UK audiences, joking about being the “youngest person to ever host” and referencing her role in Mean Girls.
The monologue was quickly interrupted by Coughlan, who drew laughs with a pointed joke about the choice of an American host for a British show, suggesting names like David Beckham and Judi Dench instead.
The launch also featured a notable reunion between Coughlan and her Bridgerton co-star Regé-Jean Page, who made a separate appearance during the episode.
Page, 38, rose to global fame playing Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the first season of the hit Netflix period drama — a role that helped turn Bridgerton into one of the platform’s most-watched series worldwide.
Regé-Jean Page and Adjoa Andoh, Filming Netflix Bridgerton, United Kingdom, 2019
Although he exited the show after its debut season, his performance remains one of its most recognisable.
Reflecting on the reunion, Page said: “Delightful. Lovely to see Nicola again. She was so funny and her comedy chops are wonderful.”
He also praised the wider experience of appearing on the show, adding: “The night was amazing. I got to act with Tina Fey which kind of made my life. And it was a joy to go step in and help kick that show off because I think it is a really good opportunity for British comedy, for British writers. Everything about the evening was wonderful.”
His comments underline the significance of the UK adaptation, which is being positioned as a major new stage for comedic talent outside the US.
Beyond the Bridgerton reunion, the episode included appearances from Graham Norton, who referenced his long-running talk show, and Michael Cera, who made a cameo highlighting the differences between UK and US broadcasting standards — particularly around language.
The show opened with a political sketch featuring Keir Starmer, played by cast member George Fouracres, dodging a call from Donald Trump, signalling that political satire will remain a core element of the format.
The inaugural cast includes a mix of rising and established comedians such as George Fouracres, Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, and others, reflecting a deliberate effort to showcase diverse voices within the UK comedy scene.
Writing duties are led by Jonno Johnson, alongside contributors including Charlie Skelton — known for 8 Out of 10 Cats — and a team of comedy writers from shows like Have I Got News For You and Stath Lets Flats, further grounding the series in established British humour.
Musically, the episode featured a performance from Wet Leg, the Isle of Wight indie group who have enjoyed major success in recent years, adding to the show’s blend of comedy and live music — a hallmark of the original US format since its launch in 1975.
Following her appearance, Coughlan shared her own reaction online, posting a photo alongside Fey and writing: “My life is made. Thank you SNL UK and congratulations on a very excellent first show, total joy.”
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Her involvement — alongside Page’s cameo — highlights how Bridgerton’s global success continues to shape opportunities for its cast across film, television, and live entertainment.
The UK version of Saturday Night Live is now available to watch on Sky and streaming platform NOW, with new episodes scheduled to air weekly. As the series finds its footing, its debut suggests a strong appetite for a distinctly British take on a format that has helped launch the careers of comedy heavyweights for over 50 years.
Irish actress Nicola Coughlan has spoken out about the way public conversation often focuses on her body, saying she has “no interest in body positivity” and finds the attention placed on her weight frustrating.
The Bridgerton star, who also gained widespread recognition as anxious student Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, addressed the issue in a new interview with Elle UK for the publication’s April cover.
@elleuk As a wave of Irish actors dominate our screens, ELLE UK cover star #NicolaCoughlan ♬ original sound - elleuk
Despite the global success of the Netflix period drama, in which she plays Penelope Featherington, Coughlan said she is disappointed that discussions about her work often shift toward her appearance rather than her performance.
In the interview, the actor explained that body image conversations were never something she personally focused on while growing up.
“The thing I say sometimes that p*** people off is I have no interest in body positivity,”*** she said. “When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn’t look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don’t care.”
She added that while many people feel strongly about the topic, it is not something she considers a personal priority. “There’s a lot of things I’m passionate about, it’s not one of them… That’s someone else’s thing. It’s not mine.”
Nicola also revealed that she finds it “boring” when people praise her for appearing as what they describe as a plus-size actress on screen. The performer noted that at the time of filming certain scenes in Bridgerton, she had been exercising regularly and had lost weight.
“I was probably a size 10 and one of the corsets was a size 8,” she said.
Despite that, she said the public conversation often framed her as representing a much larger body type, which she found strange. “Then people talked about how I was plus size and I was like, ‘How f** are we that I am the biggest woman you want to see on screen?’”***
She also recalled an awkward encounter with a fan who focused heavily on her body rather than her acting work.
“It’s really hard when you work on something for months and months of your life, you don’t see your family, you really dedicate yourself, and then it comes down to what you look like – it’s so f*** boring,”*** she said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Nicola discussed receiving a diagnosis for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, saying it has helped her better understand how her mind works.
“It feels like I got the handbook to my brain that I wasn’t given when I was born,” she explained, adding that the diagnosis has helped her give herself more understanding and patience.
Nicola Coughlan’s recent projects include appearances in the blockbuster film Barbie and the Channel 4 series Big Mood, the latter earning her a BAFTA Award nomination.
Her full interview appears in the April issue of Elle UK, which goes on sale on 10 March.
