Five finally lands on Freesat

For all its fancy boasts about having more than a hundred channels, including two HD ones, and being receivable by just about every home in the UK, Freesat has up to now been living with a dirty little secret: no Channel Five.

Yes, despite being a staple of even the old analogue broadcasting system, Five – as we’re supposed to call it – has to date failed to find a berth on the UK’s shiny new no-subs satellite broadcasting service.

So it will doubtless come as a major relief to the Freesat powers that be that Five will finally be joining its service on Tuesday November 18th. As Freesat MD Emma Scott coyly puts it in today’s official Freesat press release: 'We've been looking forward to welcoming Five onto Freesat since we launched – and we know viewers have too.'

Cynics might argue that the arrival of Five's 'eclectic' range of programming is actually likely to be of more relief to embarrassed Freesat 'suits' than TV viewers. But the Freesat press release shoots down such cynicism in no uncertain terms by revealing that Five's Autumn schedule will include Paul Merton in India, 1968 Unseen, Dangerous Adventures for Boys, Unbreakable and Axe Men. Like, woo.

Five will automatically be added to Freesat receivers and integrated TVs in channel slot 105, so you don’t need to do anything yourself other than be patient for just a little bit longer.