Channel 4 has secured the rights to air all 10 seasons of the classic sitcom Friends, marking the show's return to its original UK home after 15 years. The free-to-air broadcast is due to begin in January 2027.
Since leaving Channel 4, Friends has aired on platforms including Netflix, 5 and Comedy Central. HBO Max will remain the show's UK streaming home, while Channel 4 will hold free-to-air rights.
Channel 4 boss welcomes sitcom's return
Kiran Nataraja, Channel 4's content strategy boss, said: "Friends has always been an audience favourite and we're delighted to welcome the show back to its original UK home, made possible through our valued relationship with Warner Bros."
She added: "Its witty, character-led comedy and lasting popularity make it a natural fit for Channel 4. Cherished by long-time fans and continuing to attract new viewers, it will complement the distinctive programming across our slate."
Cultural impact and fan reactions
The sitcom originally aired on NBC from 1994 until 2004, following Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer as six friends navigating life in Manhattan. The series finale, broadcast on May 6, 2004, drew around 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fifth-most-watched series finale in US TV history.
Throughout its run, Friends became one of the most popular and highest-grossing shows of all time. Its cultural legacy includes Jennifer Aniston's hairstyle, nicknamed 'The Rachel', and Matt LeBlanc's character Joey's catchphrase, "How you doin'?"
Viewers on IMDb hailed the series as the "best ever". One commented: "Can't remember any other time I didn't want a sitcom to end. Watching the last episode is hard to believe it's the last time you'll see the gang together. Show does a great job of keeping a wide array of episode themes throughout its 10-season run."
Another wrote: "Timeless piece of art. I love Friends as much now as an adult than I did when it was originally on 25 years ago when I was still a kid. It's just one of those all-time great sitcoms that are just as funny watching reruns as it was watching for the first time. Not many shows hold up and are just as funny today as they were 20+ years ago but Friends is absolutely one of those shows."
All 10 seasons of Friends will be available from January 2027 on the Channel 4 VoD player and E4.
