Showtime has greenlit a fifth season of The L Word for 2008.

Production on twelve new episodes of the lesbian drama will begin this summer for transmission in the US early next year.

"The L Word is a signature franchise for us and one of our most popular series," said Robert Greenblatt, president of entertainment at Showtime. "Since its launch in 2004, the zeitgeist has never been the same."

The fourth season will air in the UK on Living this summer.