Nathan Henry returns in 'Geordie Stories' trailer after MTV axing

When Nathan Henry, reality‑TV star of Geordie Shore, appeared in the freshly‑released teaser for Geordie Stories, fans realized the network hadn’t forgotten him after the shock axing that stunned the UK nightlife scene last November.

The two‑minute‑forty‑seven‑second trailer dropped on 14 June 2025 at 09:00 BST, streaming on MTV’s official YouTube page and quickly racking up more than 1.1 million views. It follows Henry on a personal road‑trip with his dad, Glen Henry, across Newcastle upon Tyne, showcasing the city’s iconic bridges, the Black Cat West Stand at St James' Park, and the cramped yet charming Flamingo Club.

Background to the Axing

On 18 November 2024, internal memos leaked to The Sun confirmed that MTV’s UK production team had decided to pull Henry from Geordie Shore after a twelve‑season run. The source, described as “close to production”, said the move was driven by “creative direction changes”. No official comment followed from either the star or the network, leaving fans to speculate whether contract renegotiations or dwindling viewer numbers were to blame.

Season 25, which premiered on 3 April 2025, still averaged about 750,000 weekly viewers according to BARB data – respectable, but a dip from the 1.2 million peak in 2020. Henry’s exit sparked a wave of memes and an outpouring of support on Instagram, where the hashtag #BringBackNathan trended for three consecutive days.

The New Trailer and What It Shows

The teaser opens with a sweeping aerial shot of the River Tyne at dusk, then cuts to Henry and his father laughing over fish‑and‑chips at a street stall. The voice‑over, delivered in Henry’s familiar Mancunian‑ish accent, promises “a life‑changing journey” – language that mirrors the promotional copy used for MTV’s 2021 docu‑project Nikki Grahame: My Recovery Diary.

Credit for the cinematography goes to Laura Kendrick, a veteran of MTV’s UK documentary unit. In a brief interview with The Future of the Force, Kendrick said, “We wanted the series to feel like a love letter to Newcastle – gritty, proud, and a little bit raw.” The production budget, while undisclosed, likely taps into the £12.7 million allocation MTV earmarked for spin‑offs in its 2024 annual report.

Fans React and Ratings

Within 24 hours, the trailer’s YouTube view count topped 1,248,953 and the comment section erupted with nostalgia. One user wrote, “Never thought I’d see Nathan and his dad together on screen – this is everything.” Another noted, “If the series keeps this vibe, it could easily pull the weekly average up to a million again.”

Media analyst Jenna Cartwright of Broadcast Insights remarked, “MTV is hedging its bets. By turning a former reality star into the subject of a documentary, they preserve brand loyalty while diversifying content. It’s a play we’ve seen work for shows like ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ spin‑offs.”

MTV's Spin‑off Strategy

Since the early 2020s, MTV Entertainment Studios – a division of Paramount Global headquartered at 1515 Broadway, New York – has rolled out a string of companion series to keep audiences engaged after a cast member’s exit. Besides the aforementioned Nikki Grahame project, the network launched Rich Kids Of London in 2022 and Calum’s Kitchen in 2023, each pulling roughly 500,000‑plus streamed views in their first month.

In a statement to Variety, an unnamed MTV spokesperson said, “Our goal is to turn ‘goodbyes’ into new chapters. Viewers don’t just want drama; they want authentic stories, especially when they involve beloved personalities like Nathan.” The sentiment aligns with the platform’s broader push to expand its UK‑centric slate, which now includes ten original formats slated through 2026.

Looking Ahead: When Will Geordie Stories Air?

According to The Future of the Force, the series is slated for a Q4 2025 launch, though a precise premiere date remains under wraps. Production is reportedly wrapping up in early November, with post‑production expected to finish by late December. If the network sticks to its usual release schedule, the first episode could drop in early December, just in time for the holiday binge‑watch surge.

Should the docu‑series hit the same viewership levels as Geordie Shore season 25, it could lift the franchise’s annual total to well over 10 million streams – a figure that would make MTV reconsider renewing the brand for another two years.

Key Facts

• Trailer release: 14 June 2025, 09:00 BST
• View count (Oct 16 2025): 1,248,953
• Henry’s age: 32 (as of Oct 2025)
• Geordie Shore weekly average: ~750,000 viewers (2025)
• MTV spin‑off budget (2024): £12.7 million