Wet Leg have been announced as the first musical guest for the launch of Saturday Night Live UK, the new Sky Max and NOW reboot of the legendary US sketch show. The Isle of Wight duo will perform on the live series premiere on 21 March, joining inaugural host Tina Fey for an episode broadcast from London.

The UK spin-off of Saturday Night Live will air weekly on Sky Max and stream on NOW, bringing the long-running American format firmly into the British TV landscape. Produced as a six-part series, the show will stick to the familiar mix of topical sketches, celebrity hosts and live music, but is being promoted as “reimagined through a distinctly British lens”. Episodes will go out live on Saturday nights, maintaining the franchise’s reputation for last-minute rewrites, surprises and the occasional on-air chaos.

For UK music fans, Wet Leg’s booking as the debut musical guest feels like a statement of intent. The guitar band, led by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, have been one of the UK’s most significant breakout acts of the past few years, first exploding with viral single ‘Chaise Longue’. They have already had major TV appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, performing on Later… with Jools Holland, Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Landing the first performance slot on SNL UK cements their move from cult favourites to mainstream fixtures.

Legendary US actress Tina Fey’s involvement gives the British version an immediate connection to the original in New York. The comedian and writer is a former cast member, writer and anchor, remaining one of the most recognisable alumni of the US show. Her hosting the London debut has been framed in reports as a symbolic, passing-of-the-baton moment from the American home to its UK counterpart.

The first episode’s line-up sets a precedent to blend international star power with homegrown music. Jamie Dornan will host the second episode, backed by BRIT-winning band Wolf Alice as musical guests, while the third show pairs host Riz Ahmed with Leicester rock veterans Kasabian. For British artists, the series offers a new, high-profile live TV slot that sits alongside Jools Holland, the BRITs and Glastonbury coverage as a key showcase moment. With Wet Leg leading off on opening night, SNL UK is setting out its stall as a prime-time home for the country’s most talked-about bands

Wet Leg’s upcoming UK shows are as follows:

Isle of Wight Festival, Isle of Wight – Jun 18

Seaclose Park, Newport  -Jun 18

Seaclose Park, Newport – Jun 19

Bellahouston Park, Glasgow- Jun 30

Castlefield Bowl, Manchester- Jul 8

Millennium Square, Leeds- Jul 9

Alexandra Palace, London- Jul 10

Henham Park, Southwold- Jul 23

Hillsborough Park, Sheffield- Jul 24

Henham Park, Southwold0 Jul 25

Hillsborough Park, Sheffield- Jul 26

Clifton Down, Bristol Aug 29

Clifton Down, Bristol- Aug 30