Netflix viewers expressed their disappointment after the streaming service announced it would be removingsitcom Friends from its library in December.

The cherished series, which originally aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004, had been accessible on the platform since 2018, with all ten seasons available to stream.

After its exit from the streaming giant on 30 December, British fans of the iconic 1990s series won't face a lengthy wait before it reappears on their screens.

Friends, featuring Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer andMatthew Perry, chronicles the adventures of six friends residing in New York, reports The Mirror.

The show comprises an impressive 236 episodes, providing viewers with over 88 hours of entertainment. Netflix subscribers took to social media to voice their frustration, with one user posting on X: "You cannot take Friends off Netflix. Every night without fail I watch it."

Sharing similar feelings, another commented: "How can Netflix be taking Friends off in the UK? Literally the ONLY thing I go onto Netflix everyday for, I watch it non stop back to back, my absolute comfort show, may as well cancel my subscription." Another concluded: "Genuinely heartbroken Friends is being taken off of Netflix. Best TV show of all time."

But it's not all bad news, as all ten seasons will soon be accessible on HBO Max, which launches in the UK on 26 March - having been operational in America since 2020. The platform, also home to other hit series like Game of Thrones and Succession, will be available in the UK and Ireland from a mere £4.99.

In addition to Friends, the streaming service will showcase programmes produced by HBO, Warner Bros, DC Studios and Max Originals.

Fans can look forward to the return of Euphoria, House of the Dragon and The Comeback, as well as the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, and DC Studios series Lanterns, all of which will be accessible on the platform.

Oscar-nominated films Sinners and One Battle Another, which graced cinema screens last year, will also be included. HBO-produced shows have previously been available to stream in the UK via Sky and NOW - However, from 26 March onwards, content produced by HBO will be exclusive to HBO Max subscribers.

A deal has been struck between the two companies allowing members to bundle both NOW and HBO Max subscriptions together, a shift that all NOW Entertainment subscribers will be automatically transitioned to.

This agreement ensures that HBO Max will be available for streaming in over 10 million households on its launch day.

Friends will be available to stream on HBO Max on its launch on March 26

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