Sky has appointed Lisa Clarke as commissioning executive for Saturday Night Live UK, and will work with the broadcaster’s unscripted entertainment division, led by Phil Edgar-Jones, to develop the series for British audiences.
Clarke brings over 20 years of experience in British comedy and entertainment programming. She was an executive producer on the BAFTA-nominated films Mortimer and the White House: Gone Fishing, Top Gear and Daisy May and Charlie Cooper’s Night Watch, as well as live coverage of the BAFTA Television Awards and Comic Relief. Her producer credits include cult favorites such as “My Dad Wrote A Porno,” “Shooting Stars,” “League of Gentlemen Live Again,” and “Vic & Bob’s Big Night Out.” She previously held senior roles at BBC Entertainment and LWT.
The Sky original series launches on Sky and streaming service Now and marks the first UK adaptation of NBC’s long-running series, which has influenced comedy and pop culture for 50 years. The UK version follows the fast-paced live format of the original, featuring comedy performers, rotating guest hosts and a new ensemble of musical performers. Details such as cast, host, musical guests, and premiere date will be announced at a later date.
Key creatives announced so far include James Longman as lead producer, Liz Clare as director, and Darran Jono Johnson as head writer.
“The SNL UK team is comprised of some of the best producers, writers and department heads in the industry, so we are thrilled to have secured Lisa Clarke, a true television legend, as commissioning executive for Sky,” said Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director of unscripted originals at Sky. “Lisa has an impressive track record of working with some of the best comedy talent in the industry and will be a great asset to the production.”
Clark added, “This is a great team to be part of. I’ve always loved the thrill of live television, and there’s no better setting for live comedy than ‘SNL.'”
The UK production team at Universal Television Alternative Studios and Broadway Video are producing SNL UK for Sky and Now. UTAS UK Productions is overseen by Managing Director Helen Kruger Blatt. Shana Baynard will serve as Executive Producer and Andy Charles Smith will serve as Lead Producer for UTAS UK Productions alongside Executive Producer Sam Salter. Edgar-Jones commissioned the series, while Clarke turned to Cecil Flo-Coutas, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer at Sky, to serve as Sky’s commissioning executive.
