Heated Rivalry gets UK release date confirmed as broadcaster revealed for steamy romance series
Adapted from Rachel Reid’s much-loved Game Changers novels, the long-awaited series arrives in the UK this January.
Heated Rivalry, one of the most hotly-anticipated romantic dramas in recent years, will launch in the UK and Ireland early next year.
The series will debut on Friday 10th January, airing on Sky and streaming service NOW.
The series is adapted from Rachel Reid’s critically acclaimed Game Changers books and has already built a fiercely loyal global fanbase online.
At the heart of the drama are rival ice hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, defined by a long-standing rivalry on the ice. Off it, however, they share a secret relationship that begins as a casual fling and slowly deepens over the course of eight years.
Want to see this content?
We're not able to show you this content from YouTube. Please sign out of Contentpass to view this content.
As their careers advance, the pair struggle to reconcile their growing feelings with public scrutiny and the pressures of elite sport.
The official synopsis reads: "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."
The cast also includes François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Heated Rivalry was originally developed for Canadian streaming service Crave by award-winning writer, director and producer Jacob Tierney. In the US, it became Crave's most-watched original series to date and has earned positive reviews from critics, particularly for the lead actors' performances and chemistry.
Six books in Rachel Reid's Game Changers series have been published since 2018, with Heated Rivalry adapting the first two books in the series.
With a devoted fandom ready to tune in and a sizzling reputation already secured online, Heated Rivalry arrives on Sky with serious hype behind it.
Read more: Why everyone's talking about Heated Rivalry
Want to see this content?
We're not able to show you this content from Google reCAPTCHA. Please sign out of Contentpass to view this content.
Heated Rivalry launches on Sky and streaming service NOW on Friday 10th January. Add the series to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025.
Authors
Morgan Jeffery is the Digital Editor for Radio Times, overseeing all editorial output across digital platforms. He was previously TV Editor at Digital Spy and has featured as a TV expert on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky Atlantic.
