It’d be an understatement to say that the latest HBO show, Heated Rivalry, has caused a stir online. The bestselling adaptation, originally written by Rachel Reid, ticks many boxes. It’s an enemies-to-lovers LGBTQ+ story set against the backdrop of a sports setting – all with plenty of spice, of course. The show follows Canada’s Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russia’s Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two hockey players whose relationship sparks fire both on and off the rink. However, the pair face the pressure of being in the limelight, and the repercussions that come with it. If you’re keen to watch Heated Rivalry in the UK, we have everything you need to know. Is Heated Rivalry available to stream in the UK? At the time of writing, no UK streaming service is airing Heated Rivalry in the UK. However, there is now an official release date beyond… well, never. Sky has confirmed that Heated Rivalry will land on it’s channel and the Now Entertainment Membership on 10 January 2026. If waiting around until next year to watch Heated Rivalry sounds like a nightmare, don’t worry. There is a way you can watch it in the UK. HBO / Warner Bros. How to watch Heated Rivalry on HBO Max in the UK We have found a way to sign up for HBO Max in the UK – you can do this by using a VPN to connect to the US version of the streaming site. But there are additional instructions you should be aware of, so make sure you read this all the way through. The first thing you’ll need is a good VPN. We’ve successfully signed up for HBO Max with NordVPN , which has consistently been ranked as our top recommendation thanks to its affordable pricing, wide range of servers and simple-to-use interface. Get nordvpn for £2.29 per month Once you’ve signed up for your VPN of choice, you’ll need to connect to an American server (any city, it doesn’t matter which) on your phone and take the following steps: 1. Find a US server on your VPN on your smartphone Anyron Copeman / Foundry There is a range of US servers on NordVPN – some may be more successful than others. Ensure you are connected to a US server on your smartphone for the entire process. 2. Create a new Apple ID/Google Play account in your browser that’s tied to the US Hannah Cowton / Foundry Ensure the country is either set to the United States, or left blank. 3. Register your new account on your phone Hannah Cowton/Foundry Sign in on the App Store/Play Store and register your new US account on your device. 4. Download and install the HBO Max app Hannah Cowton / Foundry Verify your purchase if needed. Tap ‘skip’ if the app store asks you to add payment information to your iOS/Google Play account before you’ve installed HBO Max. 5. Create a new account in the HBO Max app with your email address and password Hannah Cowton / Foundry Choose whether you want the ad-supported or ad-free plan and if you want to pay monthly or annually. 6. Use PayPal as your method of payment (this can be a UK account) Hannah Cowton / Foundry Verify PayPal with your phone number if you have two-factor authentication set up. Once your account is verified, you can sign in from any device. Sometimes, the Google Play Store does not change to the US version, even when creating a new account. The way to get around this is by connecting to a VPN on a PC, signing into the Google Play Store US website , searching for the app you need, and sending it to your phone (whilst still connected to the VPN). You can see an example using Peacock below: There have been reports of users not being able to install HBO Max on iOS as the app store forces users to register their payment details and doesn’t accept UK PayPal if you try to register with this account. To get around this, we recommend purchasing US App Store credit via a digital gift card – which can be added as a US payment option. You’ll need a website that allows you to pay with UK bank details. The typical minimum amount you can purchase will be $25 – enough to cover one month’s subscription to HBO Max. When the site asks you to put in the recipient, enter your own email address and the code to redeem the money will be sent to your inbox. Then when you need to add payment information in the app store, select ‘redeem gift card or code’, and you should be able to add the money as credit on your account. With this, you should then be able to sign up for an HBO Max account. Once your account is active, you can change your payment information back to your UK PayPal via the website to avoid having to pay for a new gift card every single time. We’d like to stress that all of these methods are technically against HBO Max’s terms of service, so the company could cancel your account at any time. Proceed at your own risk. NordVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: 3,09 € at NordVPN