The inaugural season of Saturday Night Live UK is maintaining its formidable momentum. On Tuesday (March 31), producers confirmed that British soul sensation Jorja Smith will serve as the musical guest for the upcoming April 11 broadcast. The 28-year-old singer-songwriter will share the spotlight with host Jack Whitehall, marking another high-profile pairing for the fledgling sketch series.
Sky’s adaptation of the legendary late-night franchise premiered on March 21, launching with indie-rock favorites Wet Leg and SNL royalty Tina Fey. The momentum continued the following week with appearances from actor Jamie Dornan and a musical set by Wolf Alice. Before Smith takes the stage, this weekend’s episode (April 4) will feature rock mainstays Kasabian alongside host Riz Ahmed.
Smith’s upcoming performance serves as a prelude to a massive summer, highlighted by her co-headlining slot at All Points East on August 16 with Tems. Since her 2018 debut Lost & Found—which secured her a BRIT Award and a Mercury Prize nomination—Smith has remained a powerhouse in the U.K. music scene. Her sophomore effort, 2023’s Falling Or Flying, peaked at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. Beyond her studio albums, she recently contributed the original track “Price Of It All” to the Amazon Prime series Bait and delivered a celebrated performance at Glastonbury 2025.
Host Jack Whitehall is equally well-versed in the spotlight. The London-born comedian is widely recognized for his roles in Bad Education and his popular travelogue series Travels With My Father. Whitehall also holds the distinction of hosting the BRIT Awards six times—more than any other presenter in history—including the most recent ceremony at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
Mirroring the structure of the American original, each 75-minute installment of SNL UK features a live monologue, satirical sketches, and a British rendition of the “Weekend Update” news segment. Despite receiving a spectrum of critical reviews, the show’s debut run was recently expanded from six episodes to eight due to strong viewership interest.
Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the show live on Sky One at 10 p.m. GMT. For viewers in the United States, episodes are available to stream the following day at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Peacock. The SNL UK ensemble features a rising generation of comedic talent, including Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
View this post on Instagram
