Cynthia Erivo Switches to Glinda for ‘Nigerian Wicked’ on ‘SNL U.K.’

Cynthia Erivo stepped into Glinda’s shoes for a “Saturday Night Live U.K.” sketch that turned “Wicked” into a deliberately low-budget melodrama. The actor, known for playing Elphaba in the film adaptation, appeared opposite Ayoade Bamgboye as her familiar character in the spoof, titled “Nigerian Wicked,” Variety reported.

Erivo wore a blonde wig and pink velour tracksuit for the role reversal. The sketch followed the musical’s enemies-turned-friends pairing while replacing its polished fantasy presentation with an exaggerated, lo-fi style, putting the contrast between the original and the parody at the centre of the premise.

The casting supplied an additional joke for viewers familiar with Erivo’s screen performance. Rather than simply revisiting Elphaba during her hosting appearance, she played the other half of the central relationship, leaving Bamgboye to take on the character audiences associate with her.

The parody also brought a cosmetic-surgery gag into the musical’s orbit. Variety’s headline singled out the line, “She wants a BBL that defies gravity,” connecting a Brazilian butt lift reference with one of the production’s best-known musical phrases. The joke positioned the sketch as an irreverent reworking rather than a straightforward recreation.

The visual choices reinforced that approach. A pink velour tracksuit and blonde wig offered an immediately readable version of Glinda without attempting to reproduce the film’s elaborate presentation. Alongside the melodramatic tone described by Variety, those details established a comic distance from the Oscar-nominated musical being spoofed.

Erivo’s appearance came as “SNL U.K.” continued its second series with a rotating lineup of celebrity hosts and musical performers. In its official announcement, Sky scheduled her hosting turn for October 24, 2026, with indie rock band Blossoms providing the episode’s musical performances.

Sky’s announcement placed Erivo after October hosting appearances by Danny Dyer and James Norton. Dyer was paired with Sasha Keable, while Norton’s episode featured The Streets, illustrating the programme’s format of bringing a different actor or entertainer into its ensemble each week.

Bamgboye is among the returning cast members named by Sky for the series. Her pairing with Erivo put a regular performer alongside the visiting host, with the guest taking on a recognisable role that inverted her own connection to the material. That combination gave the sketch a specific premise beyond a general “Wicked” impersonation.

The episode formed part of a programme that combines topical sketches, live music and a British version of “Weekend Update,” according to Sky. Within that format, “Nigerian Wicked” used its host’s film association as the starting point for a self-contained comic variation, rather than presenting another performance of her established role.

Sky lists the series as airing on Saturdays at 10 p.m. on Sky and streaming service NOW. Its announced format continues to pair visiting hosts with the regular ensemble; Erivo’s appearance demonstrated how that setup can turn a performer’s best-known work into material for a sharply different interpretation.