James R | On 08, Jun 2019

The Handmaid’s Tale was the must-see show of 2017, a shockingly relevant, harrowingly bleak and relentlessly gripping adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s all-too-prescient book (read our reviews of Season 1 here, Season 2 here and Season 3 here). With Season 4 now upon us, the question on everyone’s lips was the same: where can I watch The Handmaid’s Tale online legally in the UK?

The answer primarily comes in the form of Channel 4, which finally stepped in to snap up the exclusive rights to the programme several years. Season 4 has a confirmed UK air date and will again premiere on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday 20th June 2021, with episodes airing weekly – and available to catch up with on-demand for free after its broadcast. Season 1 to 3 are also all available to catch up with on All 4 for free.

What is The Handmaid’s Tale?

The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopian Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly part of the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birth rate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s (Joseph Fiennes) household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world. In this terrifying society where one wrong word could end her life, Offred navigates between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.

“This may not seem ordinary to you now. But it will. After time, this will become ordinary.” It’s hard to believe the words of Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), as she introduces new recruits to Gilead, but this is a reality that’s depressingly, disturbingly ordinary, and the terror lies in just how quickly you do get immersed in such a grim existence.

Where can I watch it online legally in the UK?

A Hulu production, The Handmaid’s Tale is available to stream in the UK on Channel 4. On the plus side, the broadcaster’s ad-supported catch-up platform All 4 is free, so you can watch Season 4 weekly from Sunday 20th June without paying a penny, either live at 9pm or anytime you like on-demand.

Season 1 to 3 are also available to catch up with for free – but again, you’ll have to put up with the ads.

Looking for an ad-free binge? Amazon Prime Video has the rights to the show as well, which means that Season 1 to 3 are also available with an Amazon Prime membership or Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Hit the button below to start streaming – or read on below for a breakdown of how to watch each season online.

 

Season 1

Amazon Prime Video (£5.99 a month / £7.99 a month)

All 4 (Free)

iTunes (buy and download)

Prime Video (buy and download)

 

Season 2

Amazon Prime Video (£5.99 a month / £7.99 a month)

All 4 (Free)

iTunes (buy and download)

Prime Video (buy and download)

Season 3

Amazon Prime Video (£5.99 a month / £7.99 a month)

All 4 (Free)

iTunes (buy and download)

Prime Video (buy and download)

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