Rejoice! ITVX has secured the rights to iconic children’s soap opera Byker Grove, with all episodes streaming from next month.
The smash hit serial, which was set in a Newcastle youth club, originally aired on BBC One and CBBC between 1989 and 2006.
Across 18 series, Byker acted as a platform for a number of North East youngsters to launch their careers including Jill Halfpenny and Donna Air.
Most notably, Ant and Dec played best pals PJ and Duncan in the original episodes and will serve as executive producers and creative consultants on an upcoming reboot, which was announced in 2023.
Other famous names to start their careers at the Grove include Hollyoaks and Doctor Who star Andrew Hayden-Smith – who popped up as newcomer Pete in Coronation Street this week, and Emmerdale’s Chelsea Halfpenny.
Soap fans will also recognise her co-star Charlie Hardwick – who played Val Pollard – as youth worker Sian.
Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam also had a brief part in the series.
So, if you want to relive the Geordie drama, now’s your chance!
How to stream Byker Grove on ITVX
There’s still a little while to wait for ITVX to drop the series.
Unfortunately it won’t land until Sunday, November 16.
Given the show has been off air for the last 19 years, we reckon it’s worth the wait!
Craig Morris, Director of Channels, ITVX & Acquisitions, said: ‘ITV audiences have grown up with Ant & Dec, so we are delighted to whisk viewers all the way back to the moment they first shared the screen together.
‘Enjoy every moment from this iconic coming-of-age series on ITVX this November.’
Ed Sleeman, MD at Mitre Studios added: ‘Byker Grove on ITVX marks the return of a legendary series which made TV history, launching the careers of Ant & Dec and helping shape a generation of viewers.’
Can’t wait until then?
Luckily for you, Scottish streaming service STV Player already has every series available to view.
Soaps fans will of course know the streaming service as the home of Brookside, which has been dropping classic eps weekly since 2023.
Where are the Byker Grove cast now?
- Ant and Dec played PJ and Duncan: After a somewhat questionable music career, the two presented children’s television for the BBC and moved over to ITV in 1998. They’re now hosts of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent.
- Jill Halfpenny played Nicola Dobson: A number of soap roles followed for Jill, including in Coronation Street and EastEnders, and she continues to star in a number of British dramas as well as working in the West End.
- Donna Air played Charlie Charlton: Donna also attempted a music career, before going onto present for MTV. Mixing with high society, she dated the Princess of Wales’ brother James for five years.
- Charlie Hunnam played Jason: Appearing in just a couple of episodes in 1998, Charlie found fame the following year in LGBT drama Queer as Folk, and has gone on to star in Sons of Anarchy and as the titular role in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
- Andrew Hayden-Smith played Ben Carter: Andrew became a CBBC presenter before landing a guest role in Doctor Who. He played DS Armstrong in Hollyoaks and now appears as Pete Lang in Corrie. He’s also an ITV continuity announcer.
- Sammy T Dobson played Sarah Young: After leaving Byker, Sammy continued acting and is currently playing Dr Nicole Piper in Casualty.
Other soap stars who put in appearances include Loose Women icon Denise Welch, Corrie’s Stu Carpenter Bill Fellows and Emmerdale alumni Chelsea Halfpenny and Charlie Hardwick.
They also own the rights to air New Zealand soap Shortland Street.
Although STV is the Scottish ITV franchise, viewers across the country can tune in regardless of where they live.
The Byker Grove brand was bought by Ant and Dec in 2008, with ITVX and STV teaming up with their production company, Mitre, to bring the action to new audiences.
Memorable Byker Grove moments
It goes without saying that the most iconic Byker episode was when PJ was blinded by a paintball gun while on a day out away from the youth club.
The episode has been parodied numerous times, and has cemented itself in the pop culture history books.
Well known for its dark and controversial storylines, young viewers also saw beloved youth leader Geoff (Billy Fane) killed in a gas explosion, while in an earlier series, several Grove members became hooked on drugs.
There was also the first gay kiss on children’s television, when Noddy Fishwick (Brett Adams) packed Gary Hendrix (George Trotter) on the cheek at the back of a cinema.
Shockingly, there were calls for producer Matthew Robinson to be sacked.
