Eddie Murphy returning to Saturday Night Live

Eddie Murphy will return to ‘Saturday Night Live’ for the show’s 40th anniversary.

The 53-year-old actor got his big break as a series regular on the sketch program in 1980 but hasn’t appeared as a guest host since his departure in 1984 but insists that isn’t anything to do with animosity.

Asked why he has never returned to ‘SNL’, he told ‘NewsOne Now’: ”It’s just timing. It never worked out where the timing was right for me to do it.

”Actually, they are having a 40th anniversary, I think, in two weeks. I’m going to that. That will be the first time I have been back since I left.”

Eddie was widely credited with turning the comedy show’s fortunes around when he was cast as ratings had flagged after five years on screen.

However, since his departure, he has reportedly refused to return in any capacity and was one of the only major cast members not to take part in the 25th anniversary celebrations in 2000.

He also declined to be interviewed for Tom Shale’s book ‘Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live’.

So far, it hasn’t been announced which former stars will be a part of the three-hour 40th anniversary broadcast, which will air on NBC on February 15.