Saturday Night Live will receive a special award in the annual BAFTA honours for the show's influence on comedy.
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The sketch show has been broadcast since 1975 and will be recognised for launching the careers of countless comedians.
Bill Murray, Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy and John Belushi have all starred on the NBC programme in its four-decade history.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) will present a Special Award to the creator of the show, Lorne Michaels.
Amanda Berry, chief executive of Bafta, said: "Saturday Night Live has discovered, nurtured and celebrated generations of comedy talents.
"We are delighted to be presenting this hugely popular show with a Special Award, one of the Academy's highest honours."
Dan Aykroyd, Chris Rock, and Mike Myers all had early success on the show, and former cast members will be in attendance on Thursday when the award is presented at a ceremony in New York.
Downton Abbey and the Monty Python team were recent recipients of the Bafta Special Award.
Alec Baldwin has recently appeared as a guest star in the role of US President Donald Trump, and the show was honoured with an Emmy Award this week.
Baldwin has revealed he will reprise his impression of President Donald Trump in SNL's 44th season, the actor revealed during the "Origins" podcast with author James Andrew Miller, a longtime "SNL" chronicler.
Baldwin's portrayal of the 45th President has lent the NBC mainstay a new relevance and made it part of the ongoing political conversation in late night.
Australian Associated Press
