Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star in the new series (Picture: HBO Max/Planet Photos)

The Last of Us finally hits the small screen today with a TV adaptation of the beloved video game franchise.

Former Game of Thrones stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal lead the way in the post-apocalyptic series, which airs on HBO in the US and Sky and NOW for fans in the UK.

The first episode is available now, and it promises to be an emotional rollercoaster for fans.

The show, just like the game it’s based on, follows lead characters Joel (Pedro) and Ellie (Bella) as they navigate a world ravaged by the Cordyceps infection, which can impact insects in real life.

Here, it’s infiltrated the human population, and while it’s caused widespread devastation, Ellie seems to be immune to the parasitic fungal infection.

This all leads to Joel being tasked with getting her across the US with people hoping she might be able to help create a cure.

Here’s how to tune into The Last of Us in the UK.

How to watch The Last of Us for free in the UK

The buildup to The Last of Us and its launch has gripped fans of the video game franchise and newcomers alike with people around the world intrigued by the horrifying premise.

In the US, episodes air on HBO on Sunday evenings, with and the first episode dropped on Sunday January 15.

Following on from other HBO programmes like House of the Dragon, episodes of The Last of Us will air on Sky Atlantic and streaming platform NOW the following day, with instalments first being made available from 2am GMT before a repeat at 9pm.

In order to be able to watch, you need to be either a Sky customer or a NOW subscriber, with NOW membership costing £9.99 a month for a subscription that allows people access to a variety of TV shows and the option to cancel at any time they’d like.

People who are interested in subscribing to NOW also have the option to buy a bundle membership to NOW Entertainment and NOW cinema for £12 a month for the first six months, before costing £19.98 a month from that point on.

There is also the option for a seven-day free trial, so you could always see how you feel with the first episode – and then inevitably get hooked and subscribe to watch the rest.

The Last of Us premieres on Monday January 16 on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

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