‘Heated Rivalry’ star Hudson Williams asked if he has feelings for Connor Storrie beyond friendship
Williams was asked the question about Storrie in ‘The Assembly’, shown in the teaser ahead of its November 1 release
Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams has been asked whether he has ever felt something more than friendship for his co-star Connor Storrie in a preview for the Canadian interview series The Assembly.
Williams, who plays Shane Hollander opposite Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov in the hit hockey romance, appears in the upcoming season of the CBC programme, where celebrity guests face direct and often unexpected questions from a panel of autistic and neurodivergent interviewers.
In the trailer, one interviewer tells Williams, “I’m going to ask you about your sex life,” prompting the actor to grin and respond, “Hell yeah!”
Williams is then asked what he likes to fantasise about before the conversation turns to his relationship with Storrie, who plays his on-screen love interest in Heated Rivalry.
“Did you ever feel something for Connor [Storrie] that was more than friendship?” an interviewer asks.
The preview does not reveal Williams’ full response, leaving viewers waiting to see how he addresses the personal question when the episode airs.
The trailer also captures a more emotional moment, with Williams reflecting on the importance of friendship and family during periods of loneliness.
“I feel that when I’m falling down that hole of being lonely, your friends and family are like the climbing pegs that you pull yourself back into life by,” he says.
The candid exchange reflects the format of The Assembly, which gives interviewers the freedom to ask celebrities questions that traditional talk shows might avoid. Its guiding principle is that no subject is off limits, allowing for conversations that can shift quickly from humorous to deeply personal.
Williams and Storrie have attracted considerable attention since Heated Rivalry became a global success, with viewers frequently discussing their chemistry both on and off screen. Their characters, Shane and Ilya, are rival ice hockey players whose secret romance develops over several years.
However, the actors have previously described their real-life relationship as a close friendship. Storrie has called Williams his best friend, while Williams has spoken warmly about their bond and how they supported each other through the sudden attention surrounding the series.
Williams has also made it clear that he and Storrie want to maintain separate identities as actors rather than have their careers defined by their friendship. Their on-screen romance and real-life closeness have nevertheless continued to fuel fan speculation.
The second season of The Assembly will feature several other notable guests, including The Hangover star Zach Galifianakis, This Is the End actor Jay Baruchel, three-time Olympic gold medallist Marie-Philip Poulin, Miss Universe Canada Ashley Callingbull and singer-songwriter Lights.
The programme is scheduled to premiere on CBC TV on November 1. Williams’ appearance promises an unusually direct conversation, although the trailer leaves his response to the question about Storrie unrevealed.
