Cynthia Erivo Plays Glinda in a "Nigerian Wicked" Sketch on SNL UK

Cynthia Erivo hosted Saturday Night Live UK on 24 October, and her big moment was a sketch that spoofs the hit musical Wicked.

The sketch is called "Nigerian Wicked." Variety reported that Erivo played Glinda, the bubbly witch from the stage and film musical, which retells The Wizard of Oz from the witches' side. She wore a blonde wig and a pink velour tracksuit for the part.

Ayoade Bamgboye played Elphaba, the witch usually seen as the green-skinned one, opposite Erivo. In the sketch, the pair go to meet the Wizard of LagOz. Hammed Animashaun played the Wizard and also voiced him.

Saturday Night Live UK is the British version of the long-running US sketch show. Its comedy is performed live, with a host and a musical guest each week. For this episode, the musical guests were the rock band Blossoms, according to AOL.

Erivo's hosting slot was set in late September. Sky announced on 29 September that Danny Dyer, James Norton and Erivo would host the show's next three episodes. Erivo's own hosting dates were then confirmed in the lineup.

Viewers can watch the show on Sky One in the UK. In the US, it streams on Peacock, as Erivo posted on 20 October. The show airs on Saturdays, so the 24 October episode is the one in the spotlight this week.

For anyone who has seen Wicked, the joke is in the swap. The sketch takes the musical's familiar pairing and sets it in a new setting, with the costumes and the Wizard's meeting reworked for comedy. For anyone who has not, the sketch works as a standalone laugh, with no homework required.

Next up on the Saturday Night Live UK schedule are the remaining episodes Sky has announced, with Dyer and Norton in the host chairs.