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Will Friends: The Reunion air in the UK? Trailer and celebrity guest list are unveiled ahead of show's US HBO Max release

06:00, 18 May 2021

It's the moment Friends fans have been waiting and wishing for.

Friends: The Reunion will see everyone's six favourite New York housemates get back together for a one-off show after a staggering 17 years on a break.

The cast of Friends, pictured here in 2004, are to reunite for a TV special this month. Picture courtesy of Channel 4
The cast of Friends, pictured here in 2004, are to reunite for a TV special this month. Picture courtesy of Channel 4

The much-anticipated get-together of Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc is said to have been in the pipeline for a number of years with plans almost coming to fruition more than a year ago before being halted when the pandemic swept in and put the meet-up on hold.

Although David Schwimmer, who played Ross, was spotted in Kent on two occasions in October last year, shortly before the virus peaked again in November and let to another lockdown, where he was filming a television advert with TSB.

But this month will finally see all six together on screen for the first time since that final episode of season 10 was shown back in 2004, after which the cast then went their separate ways.

To add to the excitement a teaser trailer from HBO Max has now been released, watched more than four-and-a-half million times on YouTube alone, which shows the cast walking arm in arm to an instrumental version of the sitcom's hit theme song I'll Be There For You.

The clip, which has also been shared online by some of the cast including actress Jennifer Aniston, is appropriately titled 'The one where they get back together'.

Watch the clip here

However this is not a scripted Friends episode but instead an unscripted reunion of the cast as themselves supported by celebrity appearances.

Tom Selleck, David Beckham, James Corden and Reese Witherspoon are among the big names scheduled to appear alongside those that played Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Ross.

David Beckham, pictured here at Prince Harry's wedding, is among the celebrities due to appear in the Friends reunion episode. Picture credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
David Beckham, pictured here at Prince Harry's wedding, is among the celebrities due to appear in the Friends reunion episode. Picture credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

The reunion will air in the United States next Thursday, May 27 on channel HBO Max.

But it's so far unclear how and when the reunion will be broadcast in the UK or whether Friends fans will be left devouring the online clips that will undoubtedly emerge after next week's big US unveiling.

HBO isn't an available streaming platform in the UK, albeit a lot of its content is shown through Now, formerly Now TV, which is owned by Sky.

Now is well known for taking many big US releases - in February it broadcast the Framing Britney Spears documentary via its Sky Documentaries platform following its huge US premier earlier in that month, but there has been no confirmation as to whether it will eventually have the Friends reunion.

Friends was originally on our TV screens between 1994 and 2004. Picture courtesy of Warner Bros/Channel 4
Friends was originally on our TV screens between 1994 and 2004. Picture courtesy of Warner Bros/Channel 4

Sitcom fans can currently binge-watch the original 10 Friends series on Netflix but there is no word yet that it will take the one-off show for its UK viewers.

Another contender could be Channel 4, which was the very first to broadcast Friends in the UK in 1994, right up until it ended a decade later, but there has been no suggestion so far that the broadcaster will round-off its relationship with this final programme.

Instead fans desperate for a UK-fix of their favourite Friends moments could instead consider a visit to the highly-acclaimed Friends Fest attraction that is once again preparing to tour the UK this summer.

Friends Fest recreates the iconic sets for visitors and describes itself as 'the ultimate celebration of the world's favourite TV show'
Friends Fest recreates the iconic sets for visitors and describes itself as 'the ultimate celebration of the world's favourite TV show'

The immersive fan experience recreates iconic sets from the show and adds interactive elements to give fans the ultimate Friends experience.

Ticket holders can wander through their various apartments, take a seat on the infamous sofa in Central Perk, twirl umbrellas and recreate the titles from the opening credits, watch the biggest and best clips on big screens and snap-up exclusive merchandise.

Coming to four outdoor locations this summer, including Clapham Common in London and Willen Lake in Milton Keynes, tickets and dates throughout July and August are now available to book from friendsfest.co.uk

For a complete guide to streaming services in the UK this year including how to catch this summer's big releases click here

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