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As it happenedended

Friends reunion – as it happened: How to watch, reactions, best moments and all the latest on HBO Max special

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry reunited for the first time in front of TV cameras

HBO Max release trailer for Friends: The Reunion

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The Friends reunion has finally been released. Could we be anymore excited?

The long-awaited programme debuted on 27 May on HBO Max in the US, with UK viewers able to stream it on NOW. The special, titled Friends: The Reunion, also aired on Sky One.

Originally announced in 2020, the special was extensively delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Taping took place in April on the original Friends soundstage at the Warner Bros Studio lot in Burbank, California.

The show, which was hosted by James Corden, marked the first time all six original stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry – reunited in front of television cameras.

A number of revelations were made during the episode including that David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston were “crushing” on each other during filming.

Mysteries were solved, such as the one surrounding the overhead beam in Monica’s apartment that suddenly disappears without explanation at some point in the series.

A host of guest stars joined in too, including a special duet performance of “Smelly Cat” by Lady Gaga and Kudrow. Reese Witherspoon, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, and BTS also made appearances, alongside Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Kit Harington, Mindy Kaling, and Malala Yousafzai.

Follow the release of the reunion special as it happened with our live blog:

Following news that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer had “major crushes” on each other during filming, this old interview of Aniston being questioned about a potential off-screen romance has resurfaced.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 15:10

An undeniable highlight of the special was seeing the cast do table-reads of old scenes. This one of “The One Where Everyone Finds Out” got viewers laughing. They’ve still got it.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 15:30

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house (theirs or ours) during today’s emotional special...

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 15:50

The reunion saw Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc sink into their familiar La-Z-Boy sofas – but Perry wasn’t always a fan.

Matt LeBlanc says Matthew Perry thought classic Friends episode was ‘stupid’

“The One Where Ross And Rachel... You Know” saw the two stars spend the entirety of the episode in their brand new reclining leather chairs. The scene is beloved now, but the Chandler actor initially thought it was “stupid”.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 16:10

Ross’s iconic “Pivot” scene has gone down in history – but how exactly could he have got that massive sofa up the stairs?

Indy100 puts to the question to a mathematician...

Mathematician figures out how Ross could have got sofa upstairs in iconic Friends pivot scene

It’s one of the most iconic moments in the TV series Friends – and now a mathematician has revealed that, in fact, Ross could have got the sofa up the stairs in the famous “PIVOT” scene.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 16:30

Judy and Jack Geller (aka Christina Pickles and Elliott Gould) surprised viewers with an in-real-life appearance. The pair – who played Ross and Monica’s parents – said that during their time on the series, they thought of the core six as their own “children” and revealed that they would often “worry” about them.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 16:45

Now, one can’t imagine life without Friends – but there was a time when the show’s future hung in the balance. During the reunion special, the series’ creators revealed what one-sentence pitch got everybody’s favourite sitcom green-lit.

The one-sentence pitch that got Friends greenlit

Creators of the beloved sitcom appeared on the newly released reunion special

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 17:00

The Friends creators also revealed the one-sentence pitch, which got everyone’s favourite Nineties show green-lit in the first place.

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 17:00

Were you blindsided by the Friends reunion’s Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer revelation?

You weren’t the only one.

Friends fans blindsided by Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s romance revelation in reunion episode

‘We channelled all our love for one another into Ross and Rachel,’ Aniston said

Jacob Stolworthy27 May 2021 17:02

The bombshell revelation that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were crushing on each other during filming has made us all reconsider the could’ve-been couple’s most romantic on-screen moments...

Annabel Nugent27 May 2021 17:15

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