Comedy, drama, Les Dennis for Five's Autumn

New comedy, dramas and a primetime gameshow fronted by Les Dennis headline Five's autumn schedule, unveiled at the weekend by director of programmes Dan Chambers.

Leadin the pack is Tripping Over, a six-part drama from the writer of Cold Feet and with a cast including Paul McGann, Simon Shepherd, Daniel Macpherson and Ramon Tikaram. The plot follows a group of twentysomething strangers whose lives collide on a one-night stopover in Thailand.

Perfect Day - first shown last year - returns for two final editions, while Kitchen is a two-parter with Eddie Izzard as a charismatic chef trying to stay at the top of his game.

Les Dennis fronts Speculation, a 30-minute, Deal Or No Deal-style format - also from Endemol - where contestants battle each other psychologically to win cash prizes.

The new comedy is Respectable, a six-parter starring Jodi Albert about girls working in a brothel. Swinging also returns for a second series.

Reality efforts include Asbo Teen To Beauty Queen, along the lines of ITV's Ladette To Lady, which returns for its second series this autumn.

"This is a rich and varied schedule," said Chambers, who is also launching two new digital channels this autumn. "I'm delighted that we are now seeing originated comedy, drama and entertainment firmly established on Five. They sit neatly alongside our acclaimed arts, documentary, factual, acquired and children’s programming."