The Handmaid’s Tale: when is season 4 available to watch - and can you get Hulu in the UK?

The latest season of The Handmaid’s Tale dropped hours earlier than expected, when Hulu released the first three episodes on 27 April, one day early.

However, the season is only available on US streaming service Hulu, meaning UK fans will need to wait to get their fix of the handmaids in Gilead.

Based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, the dystopian drama has been a hit in the UK and US since it first appeared onscreen in 2017.

So, where can you watch season four what is the storyline and where can you watch previous seasons? This is what you need to know.

When is season four available in the UK?

While fans in the US have been treated to the early release of the first three episodes, titled “Pigs”, “Nightshade” and “The Crossing”, UK viewers have not yet been given a release date.

The other seven episodes will be released weekly on Hulu, on Mondays at 12pm.

Hulu is not available in the UK, and channel 4 has yet to announce when the fourth season will debut.

This article will be updated when a release date has been announced.

What happens in season four?

**Spoiler alert**

Speaking about the return of the hit drama, leading actress Elizabeth Moss told Deadline: “I think this season is about fulfilling a lot of the things we’ve hinted at.

“By that I mean, I know you want it to go in this direction, but it’s not going to go there yet.”

Moss plays the role of June Offred, who lives as one of hundreds of handmaids in the fictional town of Gilhead.

Almost two years after season three left fans on a cliffhanger with June and squad of Mathas smuggling nearly 100 children to safety in Canada, before she was shot.

Now, June is the most wanted fugitive in all of Gilead, making her a target once again for Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd). She continues to come under attack while leading a rebellion against the state of Gilead.

Introducing season four, Hulu described the upcoming season as "Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships."

Series creator Bruce Miller revealed more about the June and Aunt Lydia feud, earlier this year.

He said: "We’ve got Lydia in this season in a Javert kind of position where she is just obsessed with June and has so much of her personal worth tied up in what June is doing, and how much damage June is wreaking out in the world that she feels responsible for.”

Miller teased: “This season, we weren’t waiting around. It was time for s--t to happen.”

Where can I catch up on seasons one, two and three?

Seasons one to three are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video UK.

Is there a trailer for season four?

Watch the official trailer for the highly anticipated season four of Handmaid’s Tale here.

Will there be a season 5?

The Handmaid's Tale was renewed for season 5 in December 2020.

Announcing the fifth season, Moss took to Instagram to share her excitement.

She wrote: “Season 4 coming to you in 2021 and... we have been renewed for a season 5!!! Thank you to all of the fans of the show who make it possible for us to keep working on this show that we love so dearly.

“We’re hard at work now bringing you season 4, literally I’m on set as we speak... just can’t tell you WHAT set you’ll have to tune in for that”

Though no release date has been confirmed, it is expected that fans will need to wait until 2022 for a fifth season.