5 Lines Up Six New Series & Several Renewals

5 has commissioned a raft of new series and returning titles for its drama slate through the end of 2025 and beyond.

Among the new commissions is Number One Fan, a suspenseful thriller set in the world of daytime TV from Clapperboard. It centers on morning show presenter Lucy, who is saved from an attack by a strange woman who claims to be her number one fan.

Lucy’s gratitude sours when the woman’s obsessions turns darker, infiltrating her career, family and friends. Lucy comes to realize the woman has a link to a hidden secret in her past that could derail her career.

The second new addition to the slate is Missed Call, a five-part thriller from Pernel Media. After a worry late-night missed call from her daughter who is on a school exchange, single mother Sarah travels to the French village her daughter is meant to be staying in. When she arrives, she finds the host family and local police to be disturbingly unconcerned about her teenager’s disappearance. Her search quickly spirals into a tense race to uncover the truth before it is too late.

The Family Secret, another new green light, sees an unexpected inheritance disrupt Amanda Wilkins’ seemingly ordinary world, drawing her into a mystery that forces her to question everything she thought she knew. The series is being produced by Lonesome Pine in association with Sphere Abacus, which will handle international distribution.

Starring Kym Marsh and Jackie Woodburne (Neighbours), the new drama Imposter is being produced by Fremantle Australia. In the four-part series, a seaside hotel becomes the center of a bitter family dispute. Matriarch Helen refuses to sell, despite pressure from her three adult children. Unbeknownst to them, she is hiding a secret—a daughter she gave up for adoption decades ago. When Amanda suddenly appears, Helen welcomes her with open arms, but it is unclear if Amanda is who she says she is.

The fifth new commission is the detective mystery Cooper and Fry, based on the best-selling novels by Stephen Booth. Set in Peak District, the series follows two mismatched young detectives, the affable local Ben Cooper and the guarded newcomer Diane Fry. They are thrown together to investigate a string of mysterious deaths as their personal lives begin to intertwine. The series is being adapted from four of Booth’s early novels: Black Dog, Dying to Sin, Blind to the Bones and Dancing with the Virgins. It is set to star Robert James-Collier (The Inheritance, Downton Abbey) and Mandip Gill (Doctor Who, Suspicion). Clapperboard is producing in association with Studio TF1, which will be distributing the series.

Another new series is Death in Benidorm (w.t.), a co-production from Blackbox Multimedia and Clapperboard that follows as former detective Dennis Crown swaps the chaos of the U.K. for a quiet life running a bar in Benidorm. When tourists start turning up dead, he is reluctantly drawn back into detective work, egged on by his barmaid, a crime drama superman.

Additionally, 5 has renewed several of its series, including Playground’s The Hardacres and Clapperboard and Studio TF1’s The Teacher. The Madame Blanc Mysteries will return for a feature-length Christmas special.

“We’re incredibly proud to unveil this new slate of scripted commissions, which showcases the breadth and ambition of 5’s storytelling,” said Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer and head of scripted at Paramount UK. “From brand-new thrillers and character-driven mysteries to the much-anticipated return of audience favorites, we’re continuing to build a rich and distinctive drama offering. These titles reflect our commitment to delivering compelling, accessible British drama that resonates with viewers across the U.K. We look forward to announcing further titles in the coming months.”