The Jurassic Park and Wicked star will host the live series opener on 12 September, with CMAT providing the music

We love Jeff Goldblum here at Silver. So the news that he will host the opening episode of the second series of Saturday Night Live UK has sent a good few of us into an excited menopausal fizz.

Goldblum takes up the reins when SNL UK premieres live on Saturday 12 September, joined by Irish singer-songwriter and Brit Award nominee CMAT as musical guest.

It’s great casting. Goldblum has spent decades perfecting that slightly eccentric, quick-witted, gloriously unpredictable screen presence that makes it difficult to imagine quite what he might do with live sketch comedy. Which, of course, is precisely the point.

Goldblum’s career now stretches across almost six decades, from The Big Chill, The Fly, and Jurassic Park through Independence Day, Thor: Ragnarok and, most recently, his turn as the wizard in Wicked, and Wicked: For Good. At 73, he also demonstrates rather neatly that older can often be better.

He has spent a fair bit of time this side of the pond recently too. Earlier this summer, Goldblum brought his other great love, jazz, to the UK with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, including a Royal Albert Hall show, while promoting his latest album Night Blooms.

There was also a considerably smaller appearance in Brighton in June, when he turned up at independent record shop Resident for a meet-and-greet and album signing. Silver editor Sam Harrington-Lowe was among those who went along to meet him and can confirm that, despite decades of Hollywood stardom and a queue of over-excited fans, he was every bit as charming in person as you might hope. Although Sam’s mate Gail asked him what it was like being a sex symbol at his age and he seemed completely flummoxed. Anyway…

What to expect

Goldblum and CMAT will kick off the second run of SNL UK, which follows the format of its American parent with a different guest host and musical act each week, alongside topical sketches and the British version of Weekend Update.

The first series attracted hosts including Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, Nicola Coughlan, Aimee Lou Wood and Hannah Waddingham. Series two begins with six episodes across September and October, with further shows planned for early 2027.

Saturday Night Live UK returns on Saturday 12 September on Sky One and NOW.

We’ll be watching. Obviously.