Paramount’s 5 to launch dedicated original drama channel to replace 5Select

5Drama’s line-up will include All Creatures Great & Small

Paramount-owned UK terrestrial 5 is set to launch a dedicated drama channel replacing its current sister network 5Select.

5Drama debuts on October 21 as a dedicated home to 5’s original UK dramas, as well as a range of US and Australian series. 5Drama will replace 5Select in the line-up of channels available on all major digital platforms and will move up the EPG.

The programme line-up will include All Creatures Great & Small, The Madame Blanc Mysteries and The Hardacres, and detective dramas including Ellis and Dalgliesh. 5Drama will also showcase a range of boxsets from 5Streaming, including Gilmore Girls, A Million Little Things and Waterloo Road.

Soon after launch, 5 will celebrate its long-standing association with Australian soap Home & Away by airing the earliest series from the very first episode on 5Drama.

The schedule will run nostalgic US drama through weekday afternoons, building into more recent boxset hits ahead of peak. Peaktime will open with 5 family favourites at 19.00 and 20.00, followed by classic UK drama at 21.00 and a second chance to catch some of 5’s biggest titles at 22.00, such as The Cuckoo, The Catch, Cold Call, The House Across the Street, The Au Pair, Number One Fan, The Rumour and The Fortune. Each day will close with a double bill of Australian drama.

Weekends bring the channel’s “super sleuths” on Saturdays, from Jessica Fletcher to Inspector Dalgliesh, with Sundays dedicated to UK drama marathons.

5Drama joins flagship 5, 5Action, 5Star and 5USA among 5’s roster of channels.

Period drama The Hardacres

5 is also expanding the range of channels it offers on YouTube, with 5Docs the latest addition to its growing portfolio on the platform. 5Docs is the new home for 5’s factual talent, bringing together travel with Michael Palin, history with Dan Snow and nature with Steve Backshall. 5Docs joins the recently launched 5Sport, live NFL games on the main 5 YouTube channel, as well as 5 News, Jeremy Vine & Daytime on 5 and Milkshake!

Reemah Sakaan, president of 5, said: “Award-winning drama is increasingly at the heart of what 5 offers viewers, so it’s the right time to give it a dedicated home. This, and the expansion of our portfolio across multiple platforms, is about sharpening our channels and giving viewers a clear offer wherever they’re watching – on linear, 5Streaming, Freely or YouTube.”