The wait is over for fans. The viral Canadian series Heated Rivalry has its official UK and Ireland release date. All episodes of the hit sports romance drama will premiere on Sky and streaming service NOW on Saturday, 10 January 2026.
The show quickly became a major success in North America after its debut on the Canadian service Crave in late November 2025. Its popularity, driven by strong word-of-mouth and social media buzz, led to a swift renewal for a second season even before its first season finished airing. Sky secured the UK rights after reported interest from multiple broadcasters.
What is Heated Rivalry About?
Heated Rivalry is a LGBTQ+ sports romance series based on Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers book series. The story follows two professional ice hockey stars: Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov.
To the public and the press, Shane and Ilya are fierce rivals competing at the top of Major League Hockey. Behind the scenes, however, they have been involved in a secret romantic and sexual relationship that begins when they are teenage rookies and evolves over eight years. The series tracks their journey as they navigate the intense pressures of elite sport, public scrutiny, and their deepening feelings for each other.
The official synopsis frames their central conflict: “Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile and as powerful as real love”.
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How to Watch Heated Rivalry in the UK
For UK and Irish viewers, the path to watching is straightforward. The series will be available through two platforms:
- Sky TV on its linear channels and on-demand service.
- The streaming service NOW, through its Entertainment Membership.
A NOW Entertainment Membership typically costs £9.99 per month, and new subscribers often have access to a free trial period. Unlike its weekly release in other regions, all six episodes of the first season will be available at once for UK audiences to stream from 10 January.
Sky announced the news on social media, writing, “Your winter just got a steamy upgrade. You can thank us later”. The announcement was met with excitement from fans who had been eagerly awaiting UK access.
The Stars and Creative Team
The series features a cast led by two rising stars. Hudson Williams plays the role of Shane Hollander, while Connor Storrie portrays Ilya Rozanov. Their chemistry has been a major point of praise from critics and audiences alike and has contributed significantly to the show’s viral status.
The supporting cast includes Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets) as Rose Landry, an actress Shane dates, alongside François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
The show was created, written, and directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Jacob Tierney, known for series like Letterkenny and Shoresy. It is produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Crave. In an interview, Tierney praised his lead actors’ commitment, stating they worked hard to make the story “feel authentic and as real as possible”.
Critical and Audience Reception
Since its debut, Heated Rivalry has achieved impressive acclaim. It holds a near-perfect score of 98% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes from over 50 critic reviews. Critics have highlighted the show’s effective blend of romance, drama, and humor.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that while the show is both horny and humorous, it’s also “a sincere, steamy love story for grown-ups”.
The series also became a record-breaking hit for Crave, growing its viewership by nearly 400% in its first week and becoming the service’s most-watched original series to date. Its success translated to HBO Max in the United States, where it also performed strongly. The show’s popularity on social media platforms has been substantial, propelling its lead actors to new levels of fame.
Season 2 Renewal and Future
The show’s future is already secured. In mid-December 2025, it was officially renewed for a second season. The renewal was announced before the first season’s finale aired on 26 December 2025.
While specific plot details are under wraps, the second season is expected to adapt the sixth book in Reid’s series, The Long Game, which continues Shane and Ilya’s story. In this next chapter, narrative tension arises as Ilya grows tired of secrecy while Shane remains cautious about the risks of going public.
Showrunner Jacob Tierney has indicated that fans should not expect the second season as soon as next year, noting the time needed to write and produce new episodes, but confirmed the team is “getting back to work”. Reports suggest the aim is to release season 2 before November 2027, and that the lead actors have signed on for multiple seasons.
