Kiwi Joseph Moore has been hired as a staff writer on Saturday Night Live UK. Photo / Joseph Moore
Kiwi Joseph Moore has been hired as a staff writer on Saturday Night Live UK. Photo / Joseph Moore
A Kiwi comedian has scored his dream job, being announced as one of the first writers hired to work on Saturday Night Live UK.
Wellington-born Joseph Moore announcedon Instagram he’d been hired to write for the British version of live sketch comedy variety show. “In truly bonkers news I amworking as a writer on Saturday Night Live UK alongside so many talented people.”
The comedian jokes that he was “very unique in that I consider SNL to be one of the main reasons I got into comedy or pursued it as a career. So this is a dream come true in every way."
Moore said he had already started on the show.
“I’ve had an intense few weeks doing pre-production, have met some absolute heroes of mine, and we are all very excited to debut this brand new show that comes with no expectations and we know the British public will embrace with open arms.”
Based in London, Moore is one of 20 writers the show has hired for its launch on March 21.
In a show bio, Moore is described as a “New Zealand-born comedian, writer and director known for Funny Girls, Jono & Ben, Taskmaster NZ / Australia and Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee“.
The SNLUK writing team includes Al Roberts, Ayo Adenekan, Bella Hull, Celya AB, Charlie Skelton, Chris Cantrill, Ellie Fulcher, Gráinne Maguire, Hari Kanth, Humphrey Ker, James Farmer, Jonno Johnson, Joseph Moore, Keith Akushie, Laura Claxton, Lorna Rose Treen, Louis Waymouth, Nathan Foad, Omar Badawy, and Omodara Olatunji. Photo / Sky
Moore has twice been nominated for the Billy T Award, once as a solo act and once with Two Hearts. Two Hearts were also nominated for the Fred Award for Best Show at the 2021 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Joseph Moore stars in musical comedy group Two Hearts with Laura Daniel.
Actor Madeleine Sami was among those offering congratulations, commenting, “Yusssss Geddit Joey!!!”
Sami is directing The Sanctuary, an eight-part comedy TV series written by Moore and Laura Daniel. The show stars American actor Adam Pally as an eccentric American billionaire hiding from the law in New Zealand.
Plans for a British version of SNL were confirmed in April last year, with the first season to feature six episodes. Produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels, the British spin-off will follow the original’s format – with the celebrity-hosted opening monologue, live music and topical sketches.
According to the Sun, the debut episode of the show will be hosted by Tina Fey, an alum of the American show.
