TVDRAMA
Channel 5 and My5 have officially relaunched as 5, bringing the U.K. broadcaster’s linear and streaming platforms together under one brand. Last month, the broadcaster revealed a new drama strand under the working title Drama of the Week. The strand will initially comprise commissioning six one-hour stand-alone dramas, the first of which will be produced by Vertigo Films and LA Productions, with a focus on bringing low-income talent into the spotlight behind the scenes in writing, directing and production roles. Sebastian Cardwell, head of drama and 5’s deputy chief content officer, talks to TV Drama about the challenges facing the drama business and the importance of fostering new voices and perspectives.
TV DRAMA: What led to the launch of a Drama of the Week strand?
CARDWELL: It was driven by an ambition to support behind-the-scenes talent from low-income backgrounds in the industry. Through recognizing the challenges that new creators are facing in gaining recognition, here at 5, we’re aiming to provide a platform for fresh voices in writing, directing and production roles. At the same time, by showcasing these single-hour dramas, we can also demonstrate our range and abilities for innovative storytelling, evolving the types of dramas 5 is known for.
TV DRAMA: What will you be looking for in the first six one-hour dramas?
CARDWELL: We’re keeping the brief wide and being open-minded. We’re looking for subject matters that resonate with our audience but are not necessarily issue-based. There could be some genre play and opportunities to experiment with form and structure. The brief is broad to encourage as many ideas as possible.
TV DRAMA: How did the partnership with Vertigo Films and LA Productions for this come about?
CARDWELL: The partnerships came about from an initial idea shared by Allan Niblo (Vertigo Films) over lunch. He mentioned a film he’s worked on where the entire crew was given their first opportunity into the business, which aligned with our vision of providing opportunities in the industry and got the cogs whirring at 5. Meanwhile, Colin McKeown (LA Productions) has an excellent reputation for breaking new talent in this field, and based in Kirkdale, Liverpool, he also provides us with a welcome regional perspective.
We will be looking to open this initiative up to other production companies in the near future, so keep your ears peeled.
TV DRAMA: What are the challenges facing the drama segment, and how will 5’s Drama of the Week strand help to address this?
CARDWELL: There are several challenges, including a reduction in the number of dramas being made and a worrying trend of continuing dramas like Doctors and Holby City being canceled. With the reduction of these soaps, there are fewer opportunities for talent from low-income backgrounds to cut their teeth, gain credit and move into more creative roles. Without initiatives like Drama of the Week, we risk not bringing through the next generation of talent.
The significance of low-budget drama within the broader ecosystem lies in its ability to nurture emerging on-screen talent and writers while also offering valuable opportunities for skill development, particularly in the regions. Given this, we would welcome the government reviewing the audiovisual tax reliefs to assess how they might be used to better support the crucial role that low-budget drama plays.
TV DRAMA: What’s guiding 5’s wider drama strategy?
CARDWELL: 5 invests heavily in original drama, which complements our wider existing content slate and broadens our reach. Our continuously evolving strategy is guided by a desire to resonate with our audiences up and down the U.K. with a focus on returning shows, increasing episode orders and investing in big new talent.
This year, we’ll announce a slew of new shows and are putting more drama on-screen than ever before, surpassing 100 hours, with plans to increase this number in 2026. This investment highlights the importance of drama as we relaunch under a single, streamlined brand of 5, accessible across linear, streaming and digital platforms.
Keep an eye out for some new detectives later this year, a host of exciting new thrillers, some new family dramas, as well as some surprises in the mix that you might not expect to see on 5!
