Everything you need to know about the Friends Reunion 🙌

The One Where They Get Back Together

Author: Natalie ReesPublished 21st Jun 2021
Last updated 21st Jun 2021

Friends was one of the biggest sitcoms of the 90s and its appeal has only grown since, with a new generation of fans enjoying the show thanks to regular TV re-runs and the Netflix streaming service.

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, ‘How YOU doin?’ We’re doing much better since it was announced last year that a special Friends reunion would be coming to our screens and you can now watch the highly-anticipated special episode on Sky One.

After months of waiting, the original cast of Friends: Jennifer Anniston (Rachel) , Courteney Cox (Monica), David Schwimmer (Ross), Matthew Perry (Chandler) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) all appeared in the episode, titled ‘The One Where They Get Back Together’.

Watch: Friends Reunion trailer

When is the Friends reunion on in the UK?

NOW! The hugely-anticipated Friends reunion aired on Thursday 27th May 2021 and is available on Sky on-demand and NOW TV.

How can I watch the Friends reunion in the UK?

The original trailer, which pictures the six friends walking away, revealed that the special will premiere on Thursday 27th May on HBO’s streaming service, HBO Max out in America.

The post was accompanied by the caption, 'It’s official! The #FriendsReunion premieres May 27th on @HBOMax — could we BE any more excited?! 😝❤️'. (sic)

If that wasn't enough to get Friends fans saying 'Oh. My. God!' Another teaser was released for the special episode.

The cast shared the clip on Wednesday 19th May which showed snippets from the show, including the cast playing Ross' famous trivia game and talking to host James Corden about the legacy of the show.

The post was accompanied with the caption: '05-27-21 We’ll be there for you... #friendsreunion @hbomax @friends @jenniferaniston @schwim @mattyperry4 @mleblanc @lisakudrow'

Can I watch the Friends Reunion on Netflix?

Not at the moment! However, you CAN watch every series of the show on the streaming platform.

Who was in the Friends Reunion episode?

The show featured some of our favourite supporting stars, including Maggie Wheeler (Janice), James Michael Tyler (Gunther), Reese Witherspoon (Jill) and Tom Selleck (Richard).

There was also a number of celebrity guests involved including David Beckham, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and James Corden. They were just some of the stars that took part.

Having celebrated the 25th anniversary of the hugely successful show in 2019, the Central Perk regulars were set to get back together last year for the much-anticipated reunion. However, pauses in production due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant the special was delayed.

After the easing of restrictions, the original cast were able to reunite and film together last month at the sitcom’s original soundstage at Warner Bros in Burbank, California, in front of a live audience

Take a look at all the celebrity cameos in Friends:

Janine, aka Elle Macpherson

Joey's Australian dancer roommate who is the real reason we got to witness Ross and Monica perform 'The Routine'.

Philip Schofield?!

Phillip Schofield shocked This Morning viewers by admitting he'd been on Friends, well, kinda. He's a superfan of the show, and so he actually went along to a viewing of Friends in the 90s.


His laugh can be heard in a scene between Jennifer Aniston's Rachel and Matt Le Blanc's Joey in series three.


He said: 'I have actually been on Friends. I've been in an episode of Friends. The one where they keep the scary books in the fridge. When I say I was on Friends... my laugh was on Friends.'

Sandy, aka Freddie Prinze Jr.

The male nanny who Ross had an uncomfortable, definitely not okay, problem with.

Melissa Warburton, aka Winona Ryder

Remember the big kiss? The one that Rachel apparently had in college with Melissa but no one believes her? That was with Winona.

Ben, aka Cole Sprouse

Ross's son with Carol was not in the show anywhere near as frequently as he should have been. But the episode where Rachel teaches him how to pull pranks is gold.

Ralph Lauren, aka Ralph Lauren

Kind of makes sense to have the real life fashion person referred to in Rachel's TV world job, played by the real life person.

Susie Moss, aka Julia Roberts

Susie stole Chandler's clothes after having him undress in a cubicle in some restaurant toilets as revenge for teasing and pulling up her skirt when they were at school.

Officer Goodbody, aka Danny Devito

Phoebe's last minute stripper for her bachelorette party was a fantastic dancer, and I won't hear otherwise.

Dr. Michael Mitchell, aka George Clooney

Meet hot doctor number one who somehow finds himself in the middle of Rachel and Monica's identity swap after Monica loses her health insurance.

Jamie, aka Helen Hunt

Helen popped up way back in the first season to give Friends a weird cross over into the Mad About You world. She tries to order coffee from Phoebe. It's a bit awks.

Cousin Cassie, aka Denise Richards

Ah cousin Cassie Gellar. A relative who comes to stay with Monica but is oogled at a bit too much by Chandler so then goes to stay with Ross and has a weird moment over there too.

Andrea Waltham, aka Jennifer Saunders

What a role, eh? Andrea played mother to Emily (Ross's wife who's name he did not say at the alter) and answers the phone to poor pregnant Phoebe who wasn't able to fly to London for the wedding.

Tim and Tomas, aka Billy Crystal and Robin Williams

The award for the most out of nowhere cameo probably goes to these two guys who sat on the gang's sofa in the coffee house. Robin's character thinks his wife is cheating on him and for such an impromptu skit, it's pretty funny.

Will Colbert, aka Brad Pitt

Aka co-president of the 'I Hate Rachel' club and lover of Thanksgiving food.

Paul Stevens, aka Bruce Willis

Paul is dating Rachel after she breaks up with Ross who is dating Paul's daughter Elizabeth. It's one of the best awkward relationship squares that I can think of and that pep-talk moment in the mirror is A-grade brilliance.

Richard Crosby, aka Gary Oldman

If you thought the guy who plays opposite Joey in a film then here's why. There's an awkward joke about an Oscar that he hasn't won (in real life and on the show).

Leonard Hayes, aka Jeff Goldblum

Leonard/Jeff ends up getting peed on by Joey while congratulating him for a great audition, and I think we'll leave it there.

Erica Ford, aka Brooke Shields

Yep, Joey's creepy Days Of Our Lives stalker is played by the Brooke Shields.

Zack, aka John Stamos

To jog your memory, Zack is someone Monica and Chandler want as a sperm donor - they just don't tell him this!

Amy Green, aka Christina Applegate

Here we have one of the Green sisters. We only meet Amy twice, and she has a real issue with getting Rachel's daughter Emma's name right.

Jill Green, aka Reese Witherspoon

And here we have the other Green sister. She's Rachel's younger sister who comes to find her in the city hoping to start a new life like Rachel did but, well, doesn't. We think dating Ross to spite Rachel might have had a little something to do with it...

Tommy, aka Ben Stiller

Remember Tommy the screamer?

Erica, aka Anna Faris

Fun fact, Monica and Chandler's baby girl (one of the twins they adopted from Erica) would be about 17 now.

Ryan, aka Charlie Sheen

Ryan, one of Phoebe's old flames, comes into town for a couple of weeks and hangs around even though Phoebe has the chicken pox. I suppose you could say it's kind of sweet.

Kristen, aka Gabrielle Union

Kristen is one of the many women that Joey and Ross bicker over. She appears in The One With The Cheap Wedding Dress (when the girls go to that crazy discount store to help Monica find her dress) and ultimately choses to date neither of them.

Wendy, aka Selma Blair

Miss Oklahoma runner up and causer of Christmas friction between Chandler and Monica.

Jessica Lockhart, aka Susan Sarandon

We really hope no one took Jessica's screen kissing tips seriously. She's one of Joey's Days of Our Lives co-stars who is involved in that weird brain swap scenario.

Mackenzie, aka Dakota Fanning

Nine-year-old Dakota Fanning played the little girl who chats to Joey when he's taken by Chandler and Monica to visit a house out in the suburbs. Neither of them wanted the sale to happen so they bonded.

Guy on plane, aka Hugh Laurie

Let's have a moment for the unfortunate, nameless guy who has to sit next to Rachel on the flight from New York to London when she's adamant about telling Ross how she feels.

How to listen to Absolute Radio:

Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".