Popular sitcom Friends to leave Netflix UK as HBO Max prepares launch

Fans of the iconic sitcom Friends have expressed widespread disappointment as the show is set to leave Netflix in the UK on 30 December. The series, which originally aired from 1994 to 2004 and starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, remains a cultural phenomenon and continues to attract a new generation of viewers in the streaming era. While the future streaming platform for the show in the UK has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to move to HBO Max, which already carries the series in the US. Social media users shared emotional reactions to the news, describing Friends as a source of comfort, joy, and even a nightly aid for sleep. The departure coincides with the exit of another popular US comedy, The Big Bang Theory, from Netflix at the end of the year. Fans lamented losing daily access to these shows, which have become integral to their routines and emotional well-being. The article also notes the 2021 cast reunion special and the death of Matthew Perry in 2023. BBC News has reached out to HBO Max to confirm if Friends will be available on their platform in the New Year.