Tonight, something genuinely exciting happened on British television. Saturday Night Live UK aired its debut episode on Sky One, and the Isle of Wight indie rock band Wet Leg had the honor of being the very first musical act to take its stage. It was a landmark moment, not just for the band, but for UK sketch comedy more broadly.
Tina Fey hosted the inaugural episode, bringing genuine SNL pedigree to the occasion. Fey joined the original show as a writer back in 1997, became its first female head writer, and was a cast member until 2006. Having her introduce both the new format and Wet Leg to a live British audience was a smart, symbolic choice. Executive producer Lorne Michaels, who has been attending table reads in London alongside Seth Meyers in recent weeks, clearly wanted the first episode to carry real weight.
Wet Leg, who took home three Grammy Awards earlier this year and released their critically acclaimed second album “Moisturizer” last July, are currently one of the most exciting bands in British music. “Moisturizer” debuted at number six on the Billboard Top Rock and Alternative Albums chart, hit the top of the UK’s Official Albums Chart, and earned a Grammy nomination for best alternative music album. Their appearance on SNL UK felt less like a booking and more like a coronation.
The show also introduced eleven new cast members to the world: Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young. For many of them, this is the biggest stage they have ever played. Whether or not the sketches landed perfectly on a first attempt almost doesn’t matter. The ambition is there, and so is the talent.
For Wet Leg, the night was a statement. American viewers will be able to catch the full episode on Peacock tomorrow, March 22. The series, now extended to eight episodes after Sky ordered two more just days ago, continues next Saturday with Jamie Dornan hosting and Wolf Alice as the musical guest.
