Friends reunion ‘delayed until next year’ as coronavirus lockdown casts doubt over rescheduling plans

It's the reunion Friends fans have been waiting almost 16 years for.

Fans were left squealing like Janice when the news broke that Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross were getting back together for our viewing pleasure.

But, it was confirmed fans would have to wait even longer after The One With The Reunion, which was scheduled to air on HBO Max on 23 and 24 March, had been postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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According to reports, it was hoped that Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer would appear on our screens at a later date in May.

However, those plans could also be dashed as, according to reports from The Sun, the live special could be postponed until next year.

An insider said: “It looks like the reunion might have to be scheduled for next year now.

“It was difficult enough getting everyone on board for filming in March and it will be incredibly hard to get them all together at the same time again.

“If the coronavirus restrictions continue until May and June, which is looking very likely at this point, there will be no choice but to postpone until next year because it's proving impossible to find dates when they're all free this year.

“Everyone knows how excited the fans are but realistically it won’t be filmed or airing until 2021 now.”

But, a source close to the show told OK! online that there are ”no plans” to delay production until 2021.

After the reports emerged, Matt, who plays pizza loving Joey in the series, gave a cryptic update on the reunion special in an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

In the pre-recorded clip, which was taken prior to the coronavirus lockdown, Matt said: “We got the band back together without the instruments.”

Discussing how things have changed since the show first aired, he added: “The way things are now with social media and streaming and your ability to binge watch something – that was back before… you know you got VCRs back then and nobody could figure out how to tape a show.

“If you were there, you could hit record but, to programme it you’ve got the news.

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“But, now it feels just as relevant back now as it did back then, and it’s on TV you think: ‘God, look at this so young!’ and it comes on and you’re like: ‘Jesus’.”

Matt also reminisced on the extravagant nature of the fame and attention from the show as he said: “I remember one time, it was during the week. I had been flipping channels and watching the news and for some reason, they had a split-screen on the TV – six quadrants.

“Each was a live shot of each one of our houses. Like a helicopter shot. I was watching it and there was no information or news, it was just showing houses.”

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