After drawing to a dramatic close 14 years ago, Friends has topped a list of the most popular shows on paid-for streaming platforms in the U.K.
Compiled by British media watchdog Ofcom, and based on a survey of 2,500 viewers, the list saw Friends – which was added by Netflix in January and is also broadcast daily on Comedy Central in the U.K. – have twice as many episodes streamed in the first three months of 2018 that its nearest rival, Amazon’s Jeremy Clarkson-fronted motoring show The Grand Tour. Netflix’s multi-million dollar and Emmy-winning original, The Crown, meanwhile, came in third.
The love for Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Chandler and Phoebe has been shown by new fans binge-viewing all 234 episodes and older viewers tuning back in after more than a decade. This popularity is due to a resurgence of interest in Friends across the Atlantic, with Comedy Central putting on the “Friendsfest: travelling exhibition, currently in the middle of a 12-week tour of the U.K., stopping in six locations (four of which are already sold out).
The event reportedly includes a set of “Monica’s apartment, Joey and Chandler’s apartment, separated by the iconic corridor,” as well as a “full scale Ross’ apartment set.”
Stranger Things and Peaky Blinders came fourth and fifth on the list, respectively.
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