Five & Fiver Highlight Fall Slate

LONDON: Five is set to air a host of new original commissions in its fall schedule, while Fiver has stocked a raft of U.S. acquisitions in its upcoming grid.

Highlights of Five’s fall schedule include FlashForward, the highly anticipated U.S. drama starring British actors Joseph Fiennes and Jack Davenport; Live From Studio Five, a nightly hour-long magazine show hosted by Ian Wright, Melinda Messenger and Kate Walsh; and Heads or Tails, hosted by Justin Lee Collins, who has signed an exclusive two-year deal with Five. Also set to air on Five is the eight-part prime-time series Britain’s Best Brain, which reunites legendary presenters Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston on screen for the first time in nearly ten years. Farmer Wants a Wife, fronted by Louise Redknapp, is a brand-new six-part series that follows single farmers looking to find a mate.

Five’s channel controller, Richard Woolfe, said: “This is the most exciting season ever on Five. The combination of the very best in U.S. drama and great new original series presented by some of the hottest talent in the business is utterly irresistible.”

Fiver acquired a slew of new shows for its fall slate, including the hit U.S. shows Knight Rider from NBC Universal International Television Distribution, the ABC Family original series 10 Things I Hate About You and The City from MTV Networks International. Bridezilla, a reality series that takes us inside the hectic wedding preparations of temperamental brides-to-be, is also on the schedule. As is The Sexy Ad Show, which returns for a second season, with comedian Spencer Brown showcasing some of the raciest and most politically incorrect advertisements.

Fiver’s managing director of digital channels and acquisitions, Jeff Ford, added: “I am delighted that this autumn we will have an exciting and fun line up of new and exclusive shows for our Fiver audience that truly reflects the change in attitude and energy of the chiannel.”