I'm pretty sure that it's almost confirmed for the Sunday slot already (it was mentioned not long after it was first announced last year) so it'll probably be starting in mid-September. If they're going with last year's X Factor schedule then I guess it'll start on Sunday September 19 and run for seven weeks, with a one off (either a drama or a big entertainment show - Cheryl Tweedy on Life Stories?) slotted in the week after it ends before IAC starts.

Mondays will probably be either the short run thrillers or Law & Order.

From SkyNewsBreak twitter:

Daily Express owner Richard Desmond expected to buy Channel 5 on Friday
6 minutes ago via API

Oh my!

He also owns the Daily Star.

If this is true then I guess we can expect loads of cheap celeb documentaries ?

If you thought Five was bad now...

Maybe a multichannel will overtake Five sooner than expected... then.

Here comes trashy celebrity Five.

Maybe with Desmond at the helm they will have more contacts now through his other businesses they can utilise.

Desmond, if you are reading, here are some ideas Sorry if people hate these.


SATURDAY

5.00pm FILM
Grab your popcorn, it's time for the family movie

7.00pm Five Minutes of Fame
All the latest funny videos from the internet. You could be on the show
by uploading your funny video to our YouTube page.

7.30pm In The Zone
Justin Lee Collins and Zoe Ball host this new live gameshow where
contestants have to complete four zones for a chance to win £10k.

8.30pm Police Interceptors
On the road with the police officers

9.30pm CSI : Miami
It's a murky world out there and those crime scene investigators have it tough

SUNDAY

5.00pm FILM
A Sunday film to put you at ease before the work day tomorrow

7.00pm Neighbours
Your weekend has just got better as your favouirte Neighbours are here

7.30pm Chart Show Live
Matt Edmunson with live performances and a re-cap of today's official chart.

8.00pm Friends
Well, C4 and E4 have finally got rid of it, why don't we pick 'em up?

9.00pm ....The Real Story
A look at a celebrity, with interviews and clips.

10.00pm Film
Films for men

Not confirmed yet, but worrying that he seems to be the favourite. We already have ITV2 for that nonsense.

Hmm, maybe FIVE would get more viewers showing the '10 minute freeview' on a continuous loop!

If Desmond takes over Five no doubt we'll see his beloved columnist Vanessa Feltz back on tele

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about Desmond's other "exploits" in the world of TV. Ahem. The less said the better!

On a serious note, if Des gets his wicked way with FIVE and rebrands it as some kind of celebrity tat channel aimed at 40 something women, what will it do about the Europa League rights? Presumably football matches would be a difficult sell on a channel that will be ignoring males most of the time and peddling low calibre programming.

Do they need to show it because if they don't, I don't think they will and if they do, does it have to be shown live? If it doesn't I can see it getting thrown into a 2am slot. I'm guessing we could wave goodbye to the children's programming that they give in mornings as well? If he does get it then I hope he at has enough sense to keep the Wright Stuff.

Oh wait, I didn't know about his other channels, I guess Five could be going back to 1999 then.

"Next on Five, we've a numbskull phone-in complaining about immigrants, followed by a documentary uncovering how Diana was actually murdered by the Royal corgi's. And of course, don't forget to round off your night with a healthy dashing of softcore porn at 11..."

Come back Justin Lee Collins. All is forgiven.

Well I'd imagine it'd be safe but who knows? I've noticed they've been covering a lot more "showbiz" items lately. Cheryl Cole et al.

I'm not sure Des has really thought this one through. What would be the point in wasting a perfectly good football contract when the Europa League delivered big audiences last season and could do even better this year with more English clubs involved. What proof is there that his "vision" for Five (if we can call it that, clearly I'm in a generous kind of mood) would rate any better? Has he not seen the consistently dreadful ratings for Live From Studio Five?

I'm struggling to see a workable business model. Even a return to the 3 F's would be a massively backward step.

May I ask, what's the 3 F's?

Football, Films & F******. See also Channel 5 1997-2000.

nor eason to ditch The Wright Stuff, it would not be hard to turn it into a celebrity gossip fest, or just "Live From Studio Five: AM" with the evening edition becoming "Live From Studio Five: PM"

I guess the question is, how long would Matthew Wright stay for that format, but in reality he is easier enough to replace.

Still it would make a BBC Wright Stuff (as suggested by this forum) an easier sell, heck if Matthew Wright were to do a few months of the dumbed down show, and then quit in a blaze of glory, saying he has been offered the chance to do his show in a more high brow format at the BBC, the BBC could come out of it looking good, dont get me wrong other changes would still need to be made, but poaching him to present a more high brow version of his old show, might play well.

The BBC keep flirting with him. He presents the London edition of Inside Out, filled in on The One Show last year and even files the occasional report for This Week. In addition I understand he has presented programmes for BBC Radio recently.

I wouldn't be surprised if they offered him a more high-profile role soon. And with the looming threat of new owners ruining Five's credibility, it wouldn't exactly be a difficult decision to make the leap.

Bit late for a soap, assuming you would do away with the 5.30/6.00 repeats. Usually at this time the younger audience would be watching something like BB, or the Eastenders repeat, so it might not work.

Five are still required to have news content, so i don't think we should get ahead of ourselfs at the moment.

Naked News on the cards lol ?

glad my point was not lost, but I thought I was writing this in the broadcasting forum (too many threads open) when there is a thread discussing new shows for BBC Daytime, and one suggestion was make a more high brow version of "The Wright Stuff"

The point is not lost on this thread however.

Live From Studio Five is counted as news, so that wont be too much of a problem for Desmond.

I decided to go read the Sky news article -


So I guess CSI and the football are staying. I guess that Charnham is right, they'll just make the Wright stuff into a mindless chat show. I guess it could be a blessing in disguise for the Beeb because if they snatch Matthew after the show has been destroyed then they come out as heroes.

do you think Five will still show the cricket highlights If Desmond takes over?