This is for the benefit of the – we’re just guessing here – very few of you who don’t know what Heated Rivalry is: do not watch any clips at work. Or, you know, do if they’re a dead cool office like heat Towers, then go for it.
Why? It’s very spicy and very NSFW. And we’re obviously obsessed.
Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry ©Sabrina Lantos
If you’re a fan, then you won’t need us to tell you Heated Rivalry is the hottest LGBTQ+ show out there right now and it’s still making us – and social media – blush all over (in the best way). As a gay journo, I can tell you right now that the London gays have officially lost it over this show and I, too, am a lost boy; wondering what to do with my life now I have no more episodes yet to watch.
For those still blessed with the luxury of having the first series to binge, Heated Rivalry is a Canadian TV series which premiered across the pond late last year, only recently arriving to Sky/Now TV over here. It adapts Rachel Reid’s novel, and follows rival Major League Hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who meet as young players in 2008 and develop a secret romantic relationship over eight years amid intense competition. And it’s steamy. STEAMY, we say.
François Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady in Heated Rivalry ©Sabrina Lantos
If you’ve seen it already, you already get the hype and general ferality over the show and if you’ve binged the series and are looking for an, erm, release, we’re thrilled to let you know that the Clapham Grand is hosting a Heated Rivalry club night over the next few weeks – because that venue is always here for queer people in their time of NEED.
The first one is tomorrow (Saturday 24 January) because the gays know these things faster than we can publish them. BUT, tickets are still available for Saturday 31 January, Saturday 7 February and Saturday 14 February. Name a better, hotter way to spend Valentine’s Day – we’ll wait. You can buy your tickets here, babs.
©Photograph by Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max
Here’s what the venue has to say about its new club night: ‘Club90s viral Heated Rivalry Night is coming to The Clapham Grand ❤️🔥.
‘Dance to the epic soundtrack from Heated Rivalry with incredible edits & all the biggest queer and pop anthems!
‘With huge montage edits playing on our massive screen plus DJs, photobooths, themed drinks & a dance floor packed with Heated Rivalry lovers 🪩.’
Puckin’ hell. We’ll see you there.
©Clapham Grand
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer and producer at Bauer Media, creating content for Closer online and heatworld. Beyond his journalism, he is a presenter, singer and podcaster, co-hosting the Spill the Fizz podcast with Traitors series 2 star Diane Carson
