CHANNEL 5 UPCOMING DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS, NEW AND RETURNING TITLES REVEALED

A look at the new and returning drama titles coming to Channel 5 this year.

 ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

All Creatures Great and Small remains 5’s most successful drama series to date, having reached over 14 million individuals across the first 5 series, and it continues to be the top programme across the channel year after year. 

 FOREVER HOME

An adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by award-winning broadcaster, comedian, writer and actor Graham Norton. The six-part series follows the story of a second wife dealing with the memories of the woman who went before her.

When Carol discovers a long-dead body hidden in the basement of her home, the horrific realization is undeniable – she's living with a killer. The story that her husband's first wife ran away never to be seen again now looks like a lie, and the fact he’s insisted on never selling the house suddenly makes sense. But one dark family secret is soon to be replaced by another…

 PLAY FOR TODAY

Each drama will feature familiar faces and deliver a distinctive, unexpected story, exploring a wide range of themes including pressing societal issues.

 THE GAME

In the first series, former detective Huw (Watkins) settles into retirement alongside his wife Alice (Sarker) but never far from his mind is the case he failed to solve – The Ripton Stalker. And when new neighbour, Patrick (Green) moves in and utters the chilling phrase ‘catch you later’ – the sign off the stalker used to taunt Huw, he’s determined he’s finally got his man.

 THE HEIGHTS

Ellen, played by Anna Friel (Marcella, Broken) is happily living in London, a working mum, devoted to her family and fiercely protective of her children. But when her teenage son Lucas, played by newcomer Kit Redding, brings new friend Kieran, played by Conrad Khan (County Lines, Peaky Blinders) home, cracks began to appear in Ellen’s family life. Kieran is rude, reckless and manipulative – leading Lucas astray, wasting his promise.

As Lucas falls deeper under Kieran’s influence, Ellen becomes increasingly desperate to protect him — but a devastating tragedy leaves her consumed by grief, rage and a growing obsession with the truth. Jumping between the past and present day, family secrets and lies unravel in this thrilling new series.

THE FORSYTES

Series 2 is coming soon to 5 with actors Richard Rankin (Outlander, Rebus), Sarah Alexander (Pennyworth, Jonathan Creek) and Nia Ashi (Bob Marley: One Love) joining the cast which includes Danny Griffin as Jo Forsyte, Tuppence Middleton and Frances Forsyte, Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne, Joshua Orpin as Soames Forsyte, Millie Gibson as Irene Forsyte, Francesca Annis as Ann Forsyte, Stephen Moyer as Jolyon Forsyte Sr. and Jack Davenport as James Forsyte. 

 DEATH IN BENIDORM

BAFTA nominated actor John Hannah (The Last of Us, Black Mirror, Four Weddings and a Funeral) stars as Dennis who has swapped the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm. But when tourists start turning up dead, he’s reluctantly drawn back into detective work- egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan.

With Dennis’s real-world experience and Rosa’s encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops. Further roles casted include Carolina Bécquer as Rosa, Ariadna Cabrol as Maria and Damian Schedler Cruz as Jesús.

Transmission details will be announced in due course.