Channel 5 delves into Secret Italy, Underground Britain

Channel 5 has ordered a raft of new factual programming, including a new series about psychopaths, a new Alex Polizzi show featuring Italy and its first drama doc.

The commercial broadcaster, which is in the throes of being acquired by Viacom, has commissioned six new doc series.

GroupM Entertainment, the production arm of the media agency will make two of the shows: Meet the Psychopaths and Britain’s Biggest Primary School.

The first show will be a three-parter that uses cutting-edge research to reveal the true nature of the psychopath. UK indie Wildfire will make the show in association with GroupM. Century Films is working with GroupM on Britain’s Biggest Primary School, about life inside the 1,100 pupil school.

The drama-doc is historical series Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty: The Plantagenets, which Channel 5 is billing as the ‘real-life Game of Thrones’. Fronted by historian Dan Jones, the four-parter will be produced by 5Production.

There will also be a new Twofour-produced and distributed series from Alex Polizzi (The Hotel Inspector). Alex Polizzi’s Secret Italy will see the eponymous host explore the country, taking in Venice, Milan and Rome along the way.

Closer to Channel 5’s UK home Underground Britain will look at what goes on below the surface in Britain’s biggest cities. All3Media’s Lion Television will make the six-part series.

The new doc orders are rounded out by Special Needs Hotel, a doc about life inside a Somerset hotel that is staffed by young people with learning disabilities. The three-parter will be produced by UK indie Lambent Productions.