Further Details of Friends Reunion Revealed

Friends star David Schwimmer has revealed details of the highly anticipated Friends reunion special, which has suffered repeated delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fans of the hit show will not have to wait much longer, with Schwimmer revealing filming may take place as early as April.

The one-off Friends reunion show was originally set to air in the US on the HBO Max streaming platform in May 2020 but was postponed repeatedly as the Covid-19 situation worsened.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, Schwimmer said: “It’s happening. Actually, in a little over a month I’m heading out to LA.”

Schwimmer, who starred in the hugely popular sitcom alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry, has now revealed there might not be too much longer to wait.

“So, finally, I mean, we figured out a way to film it safely and there’s going to be a portion of it that we filmed outside because of, you know, for safety protocols.”

54-year-old Schwimmer played whacky paleontologist Ross Geller in the hit show, which ran for 10 years from 1994 to 2004 and still has a cult following unlike any other in television history.

The star also addressed speculation over who would be hosting the special – something fans have been debating for months – and confirmed some names it will definitely not be.

“I can tell you it’s not Ellen (DeGeneres) and it’s not Billy Crystal,” Schwimmer said. “I can tell you who it’s not, but that’ll take a while, probably.”

Lisa Kudrow, who played the role of masseuse Phoebe Buffay, previously shared information about the special, detailing how they would not be in character.

“It is not a reboot, it is not like a scripted thing, we are not portraying our characters,” she said.

“It is us getting together, which just doesn’t happen and has never happened in front of other people since 2004 when we stopped.”

She added the program will feature the cast “talking in a coffee house room” and “some sets will be up”.

In other entertainment news, Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan hit out at a podcast host on social media after they criticized her weight and fashion choice.

Big Calf podcast host Amanda Richards wrote: “The fat girl from Bridgerton is wearing a black cardigan at the Golden Globes [because] no matter how hot and stylish you are, if you’re a fat girl there will always be a black cardigan you think about wearing, then decide against, but ultimately wear [because] you feel like you have to.”

Coughlan replied to the tweet: “I thought the cardigan looked ace, Molly Goddard used them on her runway with the dresses that’s where the idea came from, also I have a name.”

Fans of the Derry Girls actress were quick to support her choice of clothing, with one tweeting: “Good for you! you looked fab! and I love a black cardigan any day.”

Another wrote: “Just popped in to tell you how gorgeous you are. I’m sorry you have to read such drivel about yourself. You looked amazing.”

The podcast host later responded to the backlash, acknowledging Coughlan’s reply to her original post: “Agree, her style is killer and it was a choice! She replied and said so, and correctly called me out for not using her name. I definitely projected my own feelings about the requisite fat girl cover up cardigan onto that look.”

Despite Ms Richards apologizing for being disrespectful and not using the actress’s name, she said she is not prepared to say sorry for using the word ‘fat’ while describing Coughlan. As a reason, Richards drew attention to her podcast which she says is “about being the fat kid… and what it’s like to grow up in an environment where your weight is under constant scrutiny”.

Meanwhile, Coughlan has used the opportunity to share messages on Twitter, asking journalists to “judge actors for their work and not their bodies” and “to stop asking women about their weight in interviews”.

She said being asked about her own body makes her “deeply uncomfortable”, adding: “It’s 2021, it would be nice if we didn’t have to keep having this conversation.”

“Also, and I mean this in the nicest way ah possible, I’m not a body positivity activist, I’m an actor I would lose or gain weight if an important role requirement. My body is the tool I use to tell stories, not what I define myself by,” Coughlan tweeted.

“So yeah, it’s 2021 it would be nice if we didn’t have to keep having this conversation. It would really love to never be asked about it in an interview again, also I have so many other things I love to talk about, I’m Irish so I can talk till the cows come home,” she continued.