'Friends' co-creator says reunion 'needs a live audience' in update on delayed special

Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman has said the reunion special won't be made "until it is safe" to do so as the project continues to be delayed.

It was due to be filmed in March and air on 27 May to coincide with the release of HBO Max but the unscripted reunion of all six main cast members had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kauffman has said the presence of a live studio audience is a vital element of the special and that it won't be done without one.

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“We all want it to happen; we just have to wait until it is safe,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “This is a show that is not scripted, but this is the way the show works – we are going to need a live audience.

“Even if we socially distance that live audience, it really is a huge part of what Friends is… We can not do it without them. Everyone is all in and we are just waiting for that time when it feels connected to bring in a live audience.”

It comes following reports two weeks ago that stated the special had be rescheduled for 17 August but had once again been postponed.

Just last month Ross Geller star David Schwimmer raised hopes after stating the shoot was due to take place in the "middle of August", although remarked it would only be going ahead if it was "really safe enough".

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Kauffman created the original series with friend David Crane. Friends ran for 10 seasons across 10 years between 1994 to 2004.