The iconic and controversial teen drama Gossip Girl is set to make a major comeback on British screens, landing on a free-to-watch streaming platform from next year. The series, which sparked intense debate over its scandalous content during its original run, will be available on ITVX from 25 January 2026.
A Notorious Legacy Returns
Originally airing between 2007 and 2012, Gossip Girl chronicled the extravagant and often scandalous lives of wealthy Manhattan teenagers. Their secrets were relentlessly exposed by an anonymous blogger, a narrative device that drew comparisons to Bridgerton's Lady Whistledown. The show became a cultural phenomenon, launching the careers of stars like Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and Chace Crawford.
Despite peak US viewership of 3.7 million, its global influence was significant, cultivating a dedicated cult following. In the UK, it first found a home on ITV2. Come January 2026, British viewers will have a choice of two free streaming services to binge the series, as it will be available on both BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Capitalising on Controversy
Targeted at older teens with a 15 age rating, the CW series was frequently criticised for its depictions of sexual content and substance use. The producers famously turned this criticism into a marketing strategy, emblazoning posters with quotes like 'mind-blowingly inappropriate', 'a nasty piece of work', and 'every parent's nightmare'.
This tactic proved highly effective. As one Reddit user recalled, the provocative ads directly captured their attention as a preteen, despite a parent's attempts to block the channel. Another viewer noted that capitalising on 'outrage culture' was a 'baller marketing flex'.
A Tamer Show by Modern Standards?
Looking back, many fans now see Gossip Girl as relatively tame compared to contemporary teen dramas like Euphoria or Sex Education. This shift highlights how audience standards and content boundaries have evolved over the past two decades. As one social media commenter observed, the original marketing campaign seemed to suggest the show was 'basically teenage porn', which they now consider misleading but 'genius' promotion.
ITV has hailed the series as a 'defining cultural force' that shaped fashion trends and remains one of the most recognisable teen franchises of the 21st century. While the show is also available on subscription services like Netflix, its arrival on ITVX marks a significant moment for free, accessible streaming of a 2000s classic.
For those seeking similar binge-worthy content, ITVX hosts a range of other teen dramas, including The O.C., Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and The Vampire Diaries.
