A television sensation that seemingly came out of nowhere is finally set to hit screens in the United Kingdom. Heated Rivalry, the Canadian series that has taken the world by storm, will make its long-awaited debut for British audiences this week.
From Niche Production to Global Phenomenon
What began as a modest production for the Canadian streamer Crave has exploded into an international hit. The show, which adapts Rachel Reid's beloved Game Changers queer romance novels, was filmed in a brisk 37 days. Initially targeting Crave's approximately 4 million subscribers, its trajectory changed dramatically when the trailer ignited fervent excitement among the books' American fanbase online.
This social media storm led to HBO Max swiftly acquiring the series for the United States. Since its premiere on November 28th, the show has broken records: it's now Crave's most-watched original series ever and scored HBO Max's top debut for an acquired, non-animated title since 2019. The buzz even propelled Reid's original novel back onto the New York Times bestseller list seven years after publication.
Plot and Central Characters
Heated Rivalry delves into the high-pressure world of professional ice hockey, centring on a secret romantic relationship between two of the sport's biggest stars. Season one draws from the first two books in Reid's series.
The core story follows Shane Hollander, the disciplined, Japanese-Canadian captain of the Montreal Metros, and Ilya Rozanov, the charismatic and provocative Russian captain of the Boston Raiders. Publicly, they are bitter rivals drafted first and second overall. Privately, a chance encounter sparks a clandestine relationship that deepens over eight years, fraught with media scrutiny and the challenges of being queer in a traditionally hostile sport.
A secondary, quieter love story runs parallel, focusing on Toronto Centaurs captain Scott Hunter and gifted rookie Kip Grady.
The Breakout Cast and Season Two News
The series has launched its previously unknown leads to instant fame. Hudson Williams (24) stars as Shane Hollander, amassing 1.5 million Instagram followers. Playing Ilya is Connor Storrie (25), whose role has earned him 1.6 million followers, eclipsing his previous appearance in Joker: Folie à Deux.
The supporting cast includes François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Fans will be delighted to know the story continues. The show's official Instagram confirmed a second season renewal in December. Hudson Williams, during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, teased that if season one was an internal battle, season two presents more of an external conflict, hinting at new adversaries.
How to Watch in the UK
The wait is finally over for viewers in Britain and Ireland. All six episodes of Heated Rivalry's first season will be available from Saturday, January 10th. The series will be accessible via Sky and the streaming service NOW, allowing audiences here to join the global conversation that has dominated platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.
