2026 Guide: Channel 5+1: Schedule, Channel Number & How to Watch

Channel 5+1 Numbers

If Channel 5+1 does not appear on your TV, you may need to retune your Freeview channels. Not all Freeview relay transmitters carry 5+1 — check the Digital UK coverage checker for your area. For the complete channel list, see our Freeview channel numbers guide.

What's On Channel 5+1

Channel 5+1 mirrors the main Channel 5 schedule with a one-hour delay. Whatever is on Channel 5 at 8pm will be on 5+1 at 9pm. This includes all Channel 5 programming: dramas, documentaries, news, entertainment, and films. The channel runs the same advertisements at the same points in each programme.

Channel 5's schedule typically features daytime lifestyle and property shows (including Homes Under the Hammer repeats), afternoon action and thriller films, early evening news and current affairs, and primetime documentaries, dramas, and entertainment from 8pm to 11pm. For tonight's highlights across all channels, see our best TV this week guide.

Other Ways to Watch Channel 5

Beyond 5+1, Channel 5 content is available on catch-up through the My5 app, which is free on Smart TVs, Amazon Firestick, mobile phones, tablets, and web browsers. My5 provides on-demand access to Channel 5, 5Star, 5USA, 5Select, and 5Action content — typically available for 30 days after broadcast.

The Channel 5 family of channels also includes 5Star (Freeview 26), 5USA (Freeview 21), 5Select (Freeview 46), and 5Action (Freeview 42). Each has its own programming focus: 5Star for lifestyle and reality, 5USA for American drama and crime, 5Select for factual content, and 5Action for action movies and adventure shows.

For a broader overview of all free catch-up platforms, see our free streaming services guide. For all UK channels and their numbers across every platform, see our UK TV channels list.

What Are +1 Channels?

+1 channels (also called timeshift channels) broadcast the same content as their parent channel exactly one hour later. Most major UK channels have +1 variants: Channel 4+1 (Freeview 13), E4+1 (Freeview 30), ITV2+1 (Freeview 29), and Channel 5+1 (Freeview 37). They are free on all platforms and exist specifically so viewers who miss the start of a programme can catch it an hour later without waiting for catch-up.

With modern catch-up apps available on every device, +1 channels are less essential than they once were — you can watch any missed programme on demand within minutes of broadcast. However, +1 channels remain popular with viewers who prefer channel surfing and do not want to open a separate app. For the full guide to watching UK TV online, including all catch-up options, see our pillar guide.