SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Hardinge and Kevin Fortune join series

UTAS UK Productions, which is part of Universal Studio Group, and Broadway Video today announced three major creative appointments to Saturday Night Live UK, naming Pauli Lovejoy as Musical Director, Annie Hardinge as Costume Designer, and Kevin Fortune as Head of Wigs, Hair & Make-Up. Lorne Michaels, creator and Executive Producer of the original NBC series, leads as Executive Producer on “Saturday Night Live UK”.

Music has been central to the heritage of “Saturday Night Live” for 50 years, from its legendary house band to unforgettable performances that have become part of television history. Pauli Lovejoy’s appointment brings a singular perspective to this tradition, shaping how the UK series will define its own musical identity.

Over the show’s five decades on NBC in the US, hair & make up and costume have played an equally defining role, from character-driven transformations to looks that have become instantly recognisable long after transmission. With Annie Hardinge and Kevin Fortune’s attachment, the UK series will draw on their rich experience across film, television, and live performance to shape the show’s distinctive visual world.

Together, all three reflect the creative and distinctly British foundations shaping what “Saturday Night Live UK” will bring.

Today’s announcement follows recent news that James Longman (Lead Producer), Liz Clare (Director) and Daran Jonno Johnson (Head Writer) will lead the show’s production, direction and writing teams.

Pauli Lovejoy is one of the most influential musical directors and drummers working today, recognised by The Guardian and WIRED as among “the world’s best drummers.” As touring musical director and percussionist for Harry Styles’ global Love On Tour for over two years, Pauli became a fan favourite while helping shape one of the decade’s biggest live music phenomena. As a Musical Director, his credits span iconoclasts such as Jamie xx, FKA twigs, Maggie Rogers, Charlie Puth, Lizzo and currently Florence + The Machine. He has also toured as drummer for Damon Albarn, Robyn, Sampha and Bobby Womack. Pauli made history as the first artist to perform at The Sphere, serving as Atomic MC/DJ for U2’s 40-night inaugural residency. Under the moniker Pauli The PSM, Pauli has released critically acclaimed projects and has composed original music for high-profile campaigns, including YouTube Originals’ Black Renaissance featuring Michelle and Barack Obama. Pauli’s 2023 headline Saucy Tour sold out major cities across the US, UK and EU, and he is currently working on his debut album.

Annie Hardinge is one of the UK’s most respected Costume Designers, known for her era-defining work across comedy and drama. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, she went on to work at the BBC for 15 years before building a prolific freelance career. Her film credits include “Shaun Of The Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”. Annie has designed the costumes for many cult comedy shows, such as the “Blackadder” series and “The Mighty Boosh”, as well as numerous Television Drama series, and she worked closely with Lesley Manville in creating her iconic looks in Anthony Horowitz’s series “Magpie Murders” and “Moonflower Murders”. She has won five Royal Television Society awards, an American ACE award and is a two-time BAFTA nominee. Her work has been featured in British Vogue and in 2019 her costume illustrations were included in the ECA’75 Exhibition at the Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh.

Kevin Fortune is a leading Hair & Make-Up Designer with more than 30 years’ experience across film, television, theatre, and large-scale live performances. Co-founder of the internationally renowned Kevin Fortune Hairstyling Academy, now recognised as one of the world’s premier training institutions for session stylists, focusing on high-level hair education. Kevin’s credits include Hair & Make-Up Designer for the acclaimed Netflix series “Master of None: Moments in Love” and acting as Head Hair Designer for SAULT’s “Acts of Faith” 2023 live event, where he led, and directed a creative team of more than 100 stylists. In 2023, Kevin made his Opera-design debut, credited as Wigs, Hair & Make-up designer for English National Opera’s all-black cast production “Blue”. English National Ballet commissions Kevin to design wigs for principal dancers across major productions, such as “Cinderella” and “The Nutcracker”. Kevin’s client list reads as an international who’s who - his talent & artistry trusted by actors, presenters, musicians, dancers and fashion personalities. His artistic practice includes the art installation project “Bring Me to Heal” in collaboration with Amartey Goulding, showcasing a spell-binding full-body hair garment at the iconic Victoria & Albert Museum, now touring exhibitions to share its exploration of cultural identity, ancestry, and intergenerational storytelling through hair.

“Saturday Night Live UK” marks the first British adaptation of the long-running institution, which has shaped comedy and pop culture for five decades. The forthcoming series will follow the same live, fast-paced format as the original, featuring a new generation of comedy players in the core cast, alongside guest hosts and musical performances.

“SNL UK” will be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video for Sky and NOW. UTAS UK Productions is overseen by Managing Director Helen Kruger Bratt. Shanna Baynard is the Executive in Charge of Production; Andy Charles Smith is the Lead Producer for UTAS UK Productions alongside Sam Salter, Production Executive. SNL UK is commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals and Lisa Clark is Commissioning Executive at Sky, for Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky.

SNL UK is commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky.

Saturday Night Live is a production of Broadway Video in association with Universal Television. Lorne Michaels is the creator and executive producer.

Broadway Video is a global media and entertainment company focused on the creation and distribution of premier content. Founded by Lorne Michaels in 1979, Broadway Video’s legacy originated with the cultural icon Saturday Night Live. Broadway Video has since built a stable of television programs, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Documentary Now!, Schmigadoon, MacGruber, The Kids in the Hall, The Other Two, Portlandia, and 30 Rock, feature films including the musical comedy Mean Girls and live theater such as Mean Girls, as well as podcasts including Heads Will Roll and Hot White Heist.

Led by President Toby Gorman, Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS) is a global supplier of broad, premium, unscripted programming and formats. The London and Australian-based production teams are currently overseen by Helen Kruger Bratt, who reports to Gorman. The studio develops and produces game shows, competition programs, true crime, documentaries, and docuseries. The Americas, a 10-part natural history show narrated by Tom Hanks with music by Hans Zimmer, recently launched on BBC One and NBC as the most-watched nature documentary on linear television in more than 15 years. Additionally, the studio produces hit formats that are replicated worldwide: longtime NBC favorite Hollywood Game Night, for which Jane Lynch has won two Emmy Awards as host, has been remade in 25 territories; The Wall has been sold into 29 territories internationally; and Emmy-nominated music and comedy event series That’s My Jam is fast approaching its tenth international version. The Saturday Night Live format is licensed globally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group.

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