UKTV brings back 'Jim'll Fix It'

Jimmy Savile, the much loved 80's children’s TV presenter and former Radio 1 DJ is to return to British television with Jim'll Fix It: Now and Then, one of the highlights of UKTV's schedule for early 2007.

The UKTV Gold show is part of the £15 million investment UKTV has made in new programming for early next year.

Savile will be showcasing classic 'Fix-its' from the show's previous incarnation, which ran on BBC One from 1975 to 1994, as well as making new dreams come true with the help of celebrity guests.

UKTV's chief operating officer, John Keeling, said: "This year we've bucked industry trends by showing strong impact growth in a tough market. We're in a good position to invest more in exclusive acquisitions and commissioning innovative new formats for 2007."

Other well known faces to get new shows on the channel include Les Dennis, who will be fronting a celebrity panel show named TV Now and Then beginning in March. The programme, produced by Tinderbox Television, will look at classic TV from the 70s to the 90s.

Terry Wogan also returns to UKTV Gold, which will get a new look next year, with a third series of Wogan: Now and Then beginning in January.

On UKTV Style, new commissions from channel heads Catherine Catton and Jo Clinton-Davis include Farm of Fussy Eaters, which puts eight people with food fads on a "food rehab" programme; Fantasy Homes by the Sea, and a second series of the Spa of Embarrassing Illnesses, which all premiere in January.

Catton said: "All of these commissions have a strong narrative running through them, so will really appeal to our young female audience who like to feel an emotional connection with what they're watching."