Byker Grove is back: Iconic teen drama returns for streaming generation
The youth club doors are open once more.
Nearly 20 years after its final episode aired, the legendary North East teen drama Byker Grove1 is back - and for the first time ever, every twist, romance, and plot bombshell is available to stream.
Episodes of the ground-breaking series, which originally aired on BBC One from 1989 to 2006, are now streaming for free on STV Player, with ITVX set to follow later this year. The relaunch is part of a co-exclusive deal with Ant & Dec’s Mitre Studios, the production company now holding the rights to the show.
Set in the Byker area of Newcastle, Byker Grove became an after-school staple for millions of British teens throughout the 90s and early 2000s. It made household names of Ant & Dec, who portrayed best mates PJ and Duncan - characters so iconic they launched a parallel pop career, scoring a string of top 20 hits, including 1994’s number one single Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble.
But Byker Grove was never just bubblegum pop and baggy trousers. It was one of the most daring youth series on British television, unafraid to tackle real-life issues facing young people. It was a show that didn’t talk down to its audience - a rare thing at the time.
Its storylines explored themes like homelessness, drug addiction, domestic abuse, disability, teenage pregnancy and sexuality. In 1994, it made television history when Noddy and Gary shared the first gay kiss ever seen on UK children’s TV - a moment that cemented the show’s status as a cultural trailblazer.
Richard Williams, STV’s Managing director for audience, video & technology, said the revival will tap into the current wave of 90s nostalgia while introducing Byker Grove to a new generation.
“Just when you thought the 90s revival might have been slowing down, we’ve only gone and brought back one of the seminal TV shows of the decade,” he said.
“Byker Grove was an integral part of so many British childhoods and we’re delighted that those original viewers – now of a slightly more mature vintage – can relive all the nostalgic action on STV Player. And if any Gen Z viewers want to find out who really started the baggy trousers trend, look no further than Byker Grove!”
The show also served as a launchpad for several other well-known names, including actress Jill Halfpenny (EastEnders, Waterloo Road) and presenter-actress Donna Air, both of whom got their start on the series.
Behind the scenes, the series also nurtured future industry talent. Mamma Mia! screenwriter Catherine Johnson was part of the writing team, and Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) directed episodes in the late 1990s.
Craig Morris, managing editor at ITVX, said: “We are so excited to bring this iconic coming-of-age series to ITVX, marking the first TV appearances of two ITV stalwarts. Relive all the great moments with us later this year.”
It’s a major nostalgia hit for fans of 90s British culture and a rare chance to revisit a show that helped shape the identity of a generation - all set against the unmistakable backdrop of the North East. Whether you're rewatching for the drama, the music, or the memories, Byker Grove is open again.
I remember when my Mum (Andrea Wonfor) told me about her idea to bring a North East ‘Grange Hill’ to the screen over a game of ten pin bowling on the West Road in Newcastle in the late eighties. She had the very good idea of approaching writer Adele Rose to create it with her. A proud moment for the Wonfor archives.