Channel 4 is bringing TFI Friday back to its original home after acquiring 6 episodes of Virgin Radio UK’s YouTube series TFI Friday Unplugged, fronted by Chris Evans.
The weekly show will debut on Channel 4 on April 17 at 11pm and will also be available free on the broadcaster’s streaming platform and YouTube channel.
The first episode will feature Sam Ryder, Shreya Ghoshal, Jack Savoretti, Sindhu Vee, Gemma Arterton, Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo.
Channel 4 said the deal revives one of the best-known entertainment brands of 1990s British television in a new stripped-back format designed for multi-platform viewing.
Cimran Shah, commissioning editor for reality entertainment at Channel 4, said TFI Friday had pioneered personality-led chat long before the current wave of visualised podcasts, adding that the new version feels suited to a new generation of viewers across Channel 4’s platforms.
Dennie Morris, director of audio at News Broadcasting, News UK, said the format had never left the cultural conversation and that Virgin Radio UK’s TFI Unplugged offered a reimagined version of the show while retaining the appeal of the original.
First launched in the 1990s, TFI Friday became known for its mix of live music, celebrity interviews and unpredictability. Channel 4 said the new Unplugged version keeps that DNA while adopting a more intimate and contemporary approach.
The acquisition comes as Channel 4 continues to push its digital-first strategy, expanding the way its content is distributed across linear, streaming and social platforms.
