‘Saturday Night Live U.K.’ Sets Lisa Clark as Commissioning Executive

Sky has tapped Lisa Clark to serve as commissioning executive on “Saturday Night Live U.K.,” where she will collaborate with the broadcaster’s unscripted entertainment division under Phil Edgar-Jones to develop the series for British audiences.

Clark brings more than two decades of experience across British comedy and entertainment programming. She executive produced the BAFTA-nominated “Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing,” “Top Gear” and “Daisy May & Charlie Cooper’s NightWatch,” along with live broadcasts including the BAFTA TV Awards and Comic Relief. Her producer credits span 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 positions at BBC Entertainment and LWT.

The Sky original series will launch on Sky and streaming service Now, marking the first British adaptation of the long-running NBC franchise that has influenced comedy and pop culture for 50 years. The U.K. version will mirror the original’s live, fast-paced format with a new ensemble of comedy performers, rotating guest hosts and musical acts. Details on casting, hosts, musical guests and the premiere date will be revealed at a later date.

Previously announced key creatives include James Longman as lead producer, Liz Clare as director and Daran Jonno Johnson as head writer.

“The ‘SNL U.K.’ team are made up of the very best producers, writers, and department heads in the industry, so I am thrilled to have landed a true TV legend in Lisa Clark as Sky’s commissioning executive,” said Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director of unscripted originals at Sky. “Lisa has an incredible track record working collaboratively with some of the finest comedy talent in the business and will be a huge asset to the production.”

Clark added: “This is an incredible team to be a part of. I have always loved the thrill of live television and there is no greater stage for live comedy than ‘SNL.'”

Universal Television Alternative Studio’s U.K. production team and Broadway Video are producing “SNL U.K.” for Sky and Now. UTAS U.K. Productions is overseen by managing director Helen Kruger Bratt. Shanna Baynard serves as executive in charge of production, with Andy Charles Smith as lead producer for UTAS U.K. Productions alongside Sam Salter, production executive. Edgar-Jones commissioned the series, with Clark serving as commissioning executive at Sky, for Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer for Sky.