The cast of the hit US TV show Friends are reuniting for a two-hour special, it has been confirmed. The stars behind Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler have all signed up to pay tribute to director James Burrows, who helmed a number of episodes on the show and has just celebrated directing his 1,000th TV programme.Fans of the show have been hoping for more than a decade to see Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry back on screen together. But before they get their hopes up, NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt has suggested that the six Friends may not appear at the same time.
"I'm hoping all six will be in the same room at the same time," he told reporters. But, he added: "I'm not sure we can logistically can pull it off."
Nevertheless, Matt seemed optimistic on Twitter, writing: "Should be a good time!" – which was later retweeted by cast mate Lisa. Friends came to an end in 2004, 10 series and a decade after it first premiered in America.
The special – which is scheduled to air on 21 February on NBC - will be part of the network's tribute to veteran director James, who shot 15 episodes of the much-loved sitcom. The two-hour show is expected to feature cameos, sketches and appearance connected to the many series the 75-year-old has directed over the years, including Cheers, Frasier, Will and Grace, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
Fans should probably make the most of this mini Friends reunion. The show's co-creator Marta Kaufman has been adamant that the sitcom won't be making a return at any time in the future, telling E! News in 2015 that fans "have to let it go. It'll never happen – not happening!"
