Cult Classic ‘Byker Grove’ Now Streaming for the First Time. Relive All the Drama, Dodgy Haircuts and PJ & Duncan Mayhem

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Grab your curtains (the hairstyle, not the home décor), dust off your Kappa trackies, and get ready to shout “Spuggie!” at the telly — because ‘Byker Grove’, the iconic teen drama that defined a generation, is now streaming in the UK for the very first time.

For those who grew up in the 90s and early 00s, ‘Byker Grove’ was essential after-school viewing. It followed a group of teens at a Newcastle youth club and wasn’t afraid to get real. The series tackled everything from friendship dramas and first crushes to tougher topics like drug use, homophobia, and child abuse. It even made history with the first gay kiss on UK children’s TV, all before teatime.

Thanks to a new deal with Ant & Dec’s Mitre Studios, all those unforgettable episodes are finally available to stream on STV Player, with ITVX joining in later this year. That’s right, the show that launched the UK’s most beloved TV duo is finally online.

Before they became Saturday night royalty, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were just PJ & Duncan, messing about at the Grove, dodging (or not…) paintball accidents, and unknowingly laying the groundwork for one of Britain’s most enduring double acts. They even managed to turn their on-screen friendship into a real-life pop career (who could forget Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble?).

And they weren’t the only stars born at the Grove. Jill Halfpenny (EastEnders, Waterloo Road) and Donna Air (The Split, Hotel Babylon) also got their start on the show. Even behind the scenes, it was a creative goldmine. Mamma Mia! writer Catherine Johnson and Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) both cut their teeth on the series.

Richard Williams from STV summed up the nostalgia nicely:

“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. Byker Grove was an integral part of so many British childhoods.”

Craig Morris from ITVX added:

“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.”

Ed Sleeman, MD at Mitre Studios, said:

“We’re delighted to be teaming up with ITVX and STV Player to give a new generation of viewers the opportunity to watch this iconic series from the start and to see where it all began for Ant & Dec.”

Stream ‘Byker Grove’ for free now on STV Player. It’s heading to ITVX later this year.