You can now restart BBC shows on Smart TVs using the green button

Missed the beginning of your favourite show? Well, if you're watching on BBC One / One HD, BBC Two / Two HD or BBC Four (with Four HD coming onstream at some point in the future) you'll be able to instantly restart the show by hitting the green button on your remote.

The update is going out today - an on-screen graphic will appear when you visit the channels, prompting you to try out the new feature.

While you need to have a Smart TV to use the new time-shifting update, it won't work with every Smart TV. Many of the 2017 and 2018 models from the major manufacturers like Philips, Panasonic, LG, Samsung and Sony will receive the update (although Sony's AF8 and XF8 ranges from 2018 gets missed out).

If you're concerned, there's a full list of products receiving the update available here.

Dan Taylor-Watt, head of BBC iPlayer, says “live restart is one of BBC iPlayer’s most valued features, and we’ve now made it even easier to access from our broadcast TV channels. We’re hoping 'pressing the green button to restart' will become a natural part of watching TV, much as pressing the red button has for millions of people each week.”

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Adam was a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?, reviewing consumer gadgets for online and print publication, as well as researching and producing features and advice pieces on new technology in the hi-fi industry. He has since worked for PC Mag as a contributing editor and is now a science and technology reporter for The Independent.