8am

BBC buys more All Saints

Leigh Holmwood
guardian.co.uk, Thursday October 11 2007 11.53 BST

Georgie Parker: All Saints actor, pictured in Fire. Photograph: Channel Five

The BBC has acquired another 43 episodes of Australian medical soap All Saints as it attempts to shore up its daytime schedule in advance of losing Neighbours next year.

BBC1 aired All Saints for the first time this summer in a 2.30pm slot after Neighbours and Doctors as part of its afternoon drama schedule.

The show, which focuses on the working and personal lives of the doctors and nurses of Ward 17 at All Saints Hospital, pulled in around 1.2 million viewers.

BBC1 has now committed to a further 43 one-hour episodes, to be broadcast early next year.

All Saints, which is produced by the Seven Network and features actors Georgie Parker, Erik Thompson and Judith McGrath, was Australia's highest rated drama last year.

The BBC programme acquisitions head of series, Sue Deeks, said: "It's clear that BBC1 viewers have really enjoyed their daily visits to All Saints and we're delighted that the series will be returning next year."

The BBC is under pressure to find new hits for BBC1 daytime with Neighbours moving to Channel Five in April next year.

It is thought to be looking at a number of options, including creating a new version of peak time drama Waterloo Road or transferring Scottish soap River City.

Former ITV executive Liam Keelan has been appointed as the new BBC daytime controller, although he is not due to start until early spring.

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