5 is stepping away from ‘middle tier’ programming and eyeing a move into comedy.
Describing the ‘middle tier’ as carrying the risk of being ‘missable’, content chief Ben Frow said 5 may do less drama at 9pm – “there’s only so many we can do there” – and said he was looking at pre-watershed scripted shows, including ones that could play at 7pm.
He said there were discussions about following its revival of drama strand Play For Today with a new version of another 1960s/70s anthology, Comedy Playhouse.
Frow said he wanted 5 to offer more ‘chewy’ and ‘really rewarding’ shows, citing Rich House, Poor House [main picture], which is being extended to 90 minutes, as an example.
The broadcaster has also ordered 90-minute factual drama To Nicola, Love Peter [working title] from the Wonderhood Studios team behind Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.
The drama will depict how Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish National Party over 12 years, drawing on police and court evidence, and media interviews with Sturgeon and other key protagonists.
“Everything is about trying to punch through, get recognised and getting viewers to find you,” he said. “If you’re being smart with your money, you want schedule drivers … We’re still going and finding smart ways to spend money to make new content.
“I do believe in change and nothing lasts forever. I think in two to three years TV will find its feet again. The best way I can help is to keep commissioning.”
