Channel 5 airs a wide variety of programming that covers various genres and themes, with programmes about farming, trains and royalty being popular.
The channel is notable for its travel and holiday shows, whether presented by comedians such as Susan Calman and Alexander Armstrong or whether they are programmes in a fly-on-the-wall reality format like Allo Allo! Brits in France or the Bargain Loving Brits... series. The channel has also become associated with a number of people and programmes from Yorkshire with shows including Jane McDonald, The Yorkshire Vet's Julian Norton and shepherdess Amanda Owen, (the latter two also contributing to episodes of This Week on the Farm, filmed at Cannon Hall Farm in South Yorkshire).
Channel 5 is also notable for securing the rights to Home and Away in 2001, which helped boost early evening viewing figures for the channel,Home and Away boosts ratings BBC News, 17 July 2001 and acquiring Neighbours from the BBC after a bidding war with other broadcasters. However, where once imported drama made up a large part of its schedule, Channel 5 has increased the number of titles released under the banner of Channel 5 Original Dramas, with The Drowning and a new version of All Creatures Great and Small bringing in more than 4 million viewers to the channel, making it one of Channel 5's biggest hits of Autumn 2021 along with Our Yorkshire Farm and The Madame Blanc Mysteries (all with audiences of over 2.5 million viewers).
Public service Channel 5, as a British public service broadcaster, are required to broadcast a wide variety of programming. As opposed to Channel 4, whose programming remit targets the fringes of society and ranges a variety of cultures, Channel 5's remit is more like ITV's. The Channel's remit is laid out in the Communications Act 2003, Section 265 and is regulated by Ofcom. The section states that: (1)The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel, and for the public teletext service, includes a condition requiring the provider of the channel or service to fulfil the public service remit for that channel or service.
(2)The public service remit— (a) for every Channel 3 service, and (b) for Channel 5, is the provision of a range of high quality and diverse programming
As a public service broadcaster, Channel 5 is required to show a quota of news bulletins and educational programmes. Documentaries such as Hidden Lives, Revealed and Extraordinary People are examples of how the channel has met these criteria. In 2005, Channel 5 acquired the right to the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, with the broadcasts occurring on the channel for three years (as they are now on BBC Four). The channel has also featured some short educational documentary series such as Your Sport focusing on sport in local communities.
Early scheduling Upon launch, Channel 5's programming followed a strict schedule with the intention that viewers could tune in and always know what to expect. Major features of Channel 5's early scheduling structure included daily soap opera Family Affairs at 6.30pm, a nightly news broadcast at 8.30pm, presented by Kirsty Young. That was followed by a film at 9pm every night and The Jack Docherty Show, a comedy chat show. Daytime programmes included Sunset Beach, the American soap opera, Leeza Gibbons' chat show, Leeza and 5 News Early. Weekend programming included Night Fever, a panel show presented by Suggs and the fantasy series Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Channel 5's 10th anniversary programming For its 10th birthday on Friday 30 March 2007, the channel (then typeset as Channel 5) scheduled a few special programmes which resulted in the channel achieving its lowest viewing figures on a Friday for nearly 10 years and, for any day, its lowest peak time share performance since 2002.
The birthday schedule started with the 7.30pm programme Gordon Brown Meets the 10-Year-Olds which got 200,000 viewers watching Channel 5, the channel's lowest amount of viewers for that timeslot in two years. Gordon Brown Meets the 10-Year-Olds was followed by The 10 Demandments at 8pm and I Blame the Spice Girls: The Monster Quiz of the Decade an hour later. The latter show, produced by Zeppotron was a comedy quiz presented by Liza Tarbuck, and featuring contestants Trisha Goddard, Johnny Vegas, Ben Miller and Frankie Boyle, which took its name from the fact that the Spice Girls had been the first act to be seen launching the service in 1997. Questions were based on stories from the news between the period 1997 - 2007, as well as shows that had been broadcast on the channel. Unlike Channel 4's The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, which has had numerous editions since December 2004, I Blame the Spice Girls remains a one-off, as only 600,000 viewers tuned in to see the 1 hour 30 minute 9pm quiz.
The channels best ratings for its birthday night of programming was for The Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the Decade at 10.30pm, a programme which attracted 900,000 viewers from 10.30pm on 30 March 2007, and a format which would be still commissioned by the channel (under various Most Shocking names) 15 years later.
Children and teenagers Channel 5's pre-school programming block Milkshake! is shown from 6 am to 9:15 am each day. The block has a number of presenters and features a range of pre-school programming, including Fifi and the Flowertots, Peppa Pig and Hi-5. Until October 2007, the channel also had a block called Shake! at weekends, which was aimed at an older audience. However, Channel 5 then removed the Shake! block from its schedules, as Neighbours was taking up the Sunday slot. Shake! made a return to the channel on 4 October 2009 every Sunday morning after agreeing a deal with Disney. The block features Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and Snobs. It also saw the return of Channel 5's hit show The Tribe, a futuristic New Zealand teenage drama series which was shown in its entirety from 1999 to 2003.Five revives Shake! with Disney Broadcast, 24 September 2009
Current programmes The Adventures of Paddington Aneeshwar's Outdoor Adventures Animal Care Club Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom Brave Bunnies Circle Square Cooking with The Gills The Creature Cases Daisy and Ollie Floogals Go Green With The Grimwades Jen's Jolly Bakes Kangaroo Beach Kid-E-Cats Let's Go Treasure Seeking Little Princess Magic of Science Meet the Experts Meet the Hedgehogs Milkshake! Badgers Their Secret World Milkshake! Bop Box Boogie (2020–2021) Milkshake! Craft Party Milkshake! Croc Watch Milkshake! Exploring Senses Milkshake! Forest School Milkshake! Grow Your Own Milkshake! Little Helpers Milkshake! Love Nature Milkshake! Make a Change Milkshake! Monkey Milkshake! Movers Milkshake! Music Explorers Milkshake! News Milkshake! Off We Go Milkshake! Secrets of The Forest Milkshake! Space Explorers Milkshake! Story Den Milkshake! Summer Fun Milkshake! Tales From The Zoo Milkshake! Vaisakhi Milkshake! Wesak Milkshake! World Oceans Day Milkshake! World of Dance Mimi's World MixMups Mofy Move It, Milkshakers! Mya Go Odo Oggy Oggy Peppa Pig Pip and Posy Pirata and Capitano Pop Paper City Reu and Harper's Wonder World Roarsome Dinosaurs The Secret Life of Kittens Shane the Chef Show Me How Stan and Gran Sunny Bunnies Tim Rex in Space Treehouse Tweedy & Fluff The Wonderful World of Baby Animals The Woohoos! The World According to Grandpa
Programming from Nickelodeon (U.S.) Baby Shark's Big Show! Blue's Clues and You! (2020-2024) Dora The Patrick Star Show (2025-present) (Not part of Milkshake!) Paw Patrol Rubble and Crew Santiago of the Seas SpongeBob SquarePants (2015; 2019–present)
Other acquired programming Bob the Builder (2015-2021) (now on ITVX) Chip and Potato Fireman Sam Mecha Builders Milo Noddy, Toyland Detective Ricky Zoom The Smurfs Thomas & Friends Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go
Former programmes The Adventures of Sinbad The Adventures of the Bush Patrol Angels of Jarm (2007–2017) Anytime Tales Atlantis High Audrey and Friends (2000–2002) Aussie Antics Bamboo Bears Batman: The Brave and the Bold Beachcomber Bay The Beeps (2007–2015) The Beginner's Bible Beyblade Big School (2007–2013) Bird Bath Blue Water High Boyz and Girlz Braceface Castle Farm (2010–2014) City of Friends (2011–2014) Collecting Things Cowboyz and Cowgirlz Cybersix Daigunder Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future Dappledown Farm (1998–2005) The Day Henry Met (2018–2020) Deepwater Black Demolition Dad Dig & Dug with Daisy Donkey Kong Country Don't Blame the Koalas Dragon Booster Duel Masters Enchanted Tales The Enid Blyton Adventure Series Eric Carle Stories Family! Fat Dog Mendoza Funky Town Funky Valley Gadget and the Gadgetinis Gerald McBoing-Boing (2005–2016) Gigglebug Groundling Marsh Hana's Helpline (2007–2014) Havakazoo Igam Ogam (2009–2015) Insect Antics James the Cat (1998 series) Klootz Land of the Lost Lassie Lily's Driftwood Bay (2015–2017) The Littl' Bits Little Antics Little Lodgers (2007–2016) Loggerheads Looney Tunes Luo Bao Bei (2018) Max Steel MechaNick (2003-2008) Mega Babies Milkshake! Bop Box (2009–2020) Milkshake! Bopping About (2017–2024) A Milkshake! Christmas Milkshake! Festive Fun Milkshake! Music Box (2008–2022) The Milkshake! Show (2007–2016) Milkshake! Show Songs A Milkshake! Summer The Milky and Shake Show (2008–2011) Mirror, Mirror Mist: Sheepdog Tales (2007–2015) Monkey Makes The Secret Life of Puppies Slugterra Snobs The Softies Stickin' Around Strange Dawn ThunderCats TooMuchTV (2000) Trex The Tribe USA High Wanda and the Alien (2014–2018) What-a-Mess What Makes Me Happy When I Grow Up Why! Wil Cwac Cwac The Wind in the Willows Wissper (2015–2021) Wizards of Waverly Place The Wonder Years Woolamaloo The WotWots (2009–2017)
Programming from Cartoon Network (U.S.) The Powerpuff Girls
Programming from Playhouse Disney (U.S.) Bear in the Big Blue House (2000–2007) The Book of Pooh (2002–2008)
Programming from Nickelodeon (U.S.) Abby Hatcher (2020–2021) Blaze and the Monster Machines (2015–2018) Bubble Guppies (2013–2016) Butterbean's Café (2019–2021) Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2015–2016) The Fairly OddParents (2016–2017) iCarly KaBlam! The Loud House (2020–2021) Nella the Princess Knight (2017–2020) Olivia (2009–2012) Oswald (2002–2009) Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018–2019) Rusty Rivets (2017–2019) Ryan's Mystery Playdate (2020) Shimmer and Shine (2016–2020) Sunny Day (2019–2020) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2013–2018; 2023) Top Wing True Jackson, VP
Programming originally produced for or aired on PBS Kids Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps (2011–2017) Barney and Friends (2002–2007) Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures (2008–2015) Elmo's World (2002–2012) Franny's Feet (2003–2009) George Shrinks Jay Jay the Jet Plane (2002–2009) Make Way for Noddy (2002–2016) Wimzie's House
Other acquired programming A House That's Just Like Yours Abby's Flying Fairy School (2010–2015) Adventures from the Book of Virtues The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky The Adventures of Dodo Alvin and the Chipmunks Animal Antics Animal Express Animal Families Animal Xtremes Babar Bananas in Pyjamas (2012–2017) Beast Wars: Transformers Becca's Bunch Chiro and Friends (2008–2013) Chloe's Closet (2012–2017) Digby Dragon (2017–2022) Ebb and Flo (2005–2011) Fifi and the Flowertots (2005–2014) Franklin (2002–2009) Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (2005–2014) Havakazoo Hi-5 (2002–2008) James the Cat Jane and the Dragon Jelly Jamm (2012–2016) LazyTown (2013–2016) Maple Town Mio Mao (2004–2017) Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends The Mr. Men Show (2008–2018) Mr. Men and Little Miss Muppet Babies Noddy in Toyland (2009–2017 2020–2021)