Club Benefits
Nearly 10 years after Peter Foott's original film introduced Conor MacSweeney and Jock O'Keeffe, "The Young Offenders" is back for season 5, and this time the real draw is the reunion. The TV series launched in 2018 as an adaptation of the 2016 film, following the coming-of-age adventures of Cork's most lovable, accident-prone rogues.
You can watch "The Young Offenders" online from anywhere with a VPN (try risk-free) – and potentially for free.
Season 5 premieres on Friday, April 3, 2026. All six episodes will be available to stream on launch day in the UK and Ireland.
• WATCH FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Ireland — RTÉ Player
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
Season 4 split the central duo apart, with Conor trying to move forward in Cork while Jock remained stuck in a Colombian prison, so the new episodes have some real emotional and comic ground to make up.
That is exactly what season 5 promises. Jock makes a "lucky escape" and returns to Cork as a stowaway, putting him back on a collision course with Conor, Linda, Mairéad, Sergeant Healy and the rest of the show's core cast.
This is also being framed as a milestone season, arriving in the 10th anniversary window of the original film and restoring Chris Walley to a full lead role after Jock's more limited presence in season 4.
If you're planning to watch live, the rollout is straightforward in the UK and Ireland.
Watch 'The Young Offenders' season 5 from anywhere
If you're abroad when "The Young Offenders" returns and your usual streaming app is geo-blocked, a VPN can help. A virtual private network lets your device appear to be back in your home country, so you can sign in to the same service you normally use.
Tom's Guide's standard pick for streaming is NordVPN, which is as fast, reliable and broadly compatible across devices, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Using a VPN is simple.
1. Install the VPN app on the device you’ll watch on. NordVPN is our pick.
2. Connect to a server in your home country. For example, choose a UK server to access BBC iPlayer while abroad.
3. Open your streaming app and play as normal.
How to watch 'The Young Offenders' season 5 in the U.K. and Ireland
In the U.K., season 5 streams on BBC iPlayer from Friday, April 3, with all six episodes available at once. Episode 1 also airs on BBC One at 9:30 p.m. that night, with the rest of the season rolling out weekly on linear TV.
In Ireland, you can stream season 5 on RTÉ Player from 7 a.m. on Friday, April 3. RTÉ One then begins its weekly broadcast run on Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 p.m.
If you need a refresher first, earlier episodes of "The Young Offenders" are available on BBC iPlayer in the U.K.
RTÉ Player is the catch-up service for previous seasons in Ireland, making it the easiest place to get up to speed before the new episodes land.
If you are overseas when the show premieres, use a VPN service such as NordVPN to access BBC iPlayer or RTÉ Player from anywhere.
Can I watch 'The Young Offenders' season 5 in the US?
Unfortunately, "The Young Offenders" season 5 will not initially be streaming in the US.
Visiting the States from Britain? Use NordVPN to unlock your free stream on BBC iPlayer from anywhere.
'The Young Offenders' season 5 cast
Season 5 brings back the core ensemble, led by Alex Murphy as Conor MacSweeney and Chris Walley as Jock O'Keeffe. Hilary Rose also returns as Mairéad MacSweeney, with Dominic MacHale back as Sergeant Tony Healy.
The supporting cast includes Shane Casey as Billy Murphy, Demi Isaac Oviawe as Linda Walsh, Jennifer Barry as Siobhán Walsh, P.J. Gallagher as Principal Barry Walsh and Rylee Hosford as Star Walsh.
'The Young Offenders' season 5 episode guide
Season 5 is a six-part run, with each episode running at roughly 30 minutes.
Episode 1: Conor and Jock are finally reunited and somehow end up accidentally taking an older couple hostage.
Episode 2: The pair decide to expand their "empire" and start taking younger kids under their wing in Cork city.
Episode 3: Things get messier when Conor's "one true love," Linda, is set to marry somebody else.
Episode 4: The lads try to navigate the Cork dating scene after two visitors catch their attention.
Episode 5: Mairéad joins them on a road trip to collect her unpredictable mother, which goes about as badly as you'd expect.
Episode 6: Chasing a life in the sun, the lads team up with Billy Murphy for a whiskey heist.
Is Chris Walley back as Jock full-time?
Yes. Season 5 restores Chris Walley to the center of the show, with Jock returning to Cork after escaping from a Colombian prison.
Is there a U.S., Canada or Australia date yet?
Not at the time of writing. No official season 5 launch date has been confirmed for the U.S., Canada or Australia, although BritBox is the likeliest option in North America and Stan or SBS On Demand are the platforms to watch in Australia.
Where can I catch up on older seasons?
In the UK, previous seasons are available on BBC iPlayer. In Ireland, they are available on RTÉ Player.
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