5 to replace 5Select with new drama channel
September 24, 2026 11.34 Europe/London By Julian Clover


All Creatures Great and Small
5 is to launch a dedicated drama channel, 5Drama, on October 21, replacing 5Select as the broadcaster reshapes its portfolio across linear television and streaming.

The new channel will carry 5’s original UK drama alongside US and Australian series, with titles including All Creatures Great and Small, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, The Hardacres, Ellis and Dalgliesh.

It will also draw on boxsets available through 5Streaming, including Gilmore Girls, A Million Little Things and Waterloo Road.

Soon after launch, 5Drama will begin showing Australian soap Home and Away from its first episode, originally broadcast in 1988. 5 has had a long association with the series, which moved to Channel 5 from ITV in 2001.

The weekday schedule will feature older US drama during the afternoon, moving into more recent boxsets and 5 programming in peak. Saturdays will concentrate on detective series, while Sundays will feature UK drama marathons.

5Drama will launch on Freeview channel 33, Freesat 132 and Freely 26. On Sky it will be on channel 150, while Sky Stream and Sky Glass will carry 5Drama HD on channel 165.

The changes also involve a reshuffle of 5’s existing channels. 5Drama will take 5Action’s current EPG position on Sky Stream and Sky Glass, with 5Action moving into the slot previously occupied by 5Select.

“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,” said Reemah Sakaan, President of 5.

The launch leaves 5’s main linear portfolio comprising 5, 5Drama, 5Action, 5Star and 5USA.

The broadcaster is simultaneously expanding its channel strategy elsewhere. Its 5Streaming service and other platforms including Freely carry a growing portfolio of FAST channels, while a new 5Docs channel has been added to YouTube alongside 5Sport, 5 News, Jeremy Vine & Daytime on 5 and Milkshake!.

The changes reflect 5’s wider strategy of using its programme brands across linear television, FAST streaming and YouTube rather than treating each distribution platform separately.