BBC unveils autumn line-up

Absolutely Fabulous: Moved on in the last five years

A new series of Absolutely Fabulous, stars from ITV's Cold Feet and David Attenborough's sea adventures form the highlights of the BBC's £233m autumn TV schedule.

But Steven Spielberg's World War II blockbuster, Band of Brothers, which was to have led BBC One's autumn offering, is now to be shown on BBC Two.

It was decided the £7m 10-part epic, the most expensive programme ever bought by the BBC, would be better suited to BBC Two.

A BBC spokesman denied the programme had been axed from BBC One for not being mainstream enough.

"It was decided to move it to BBC Two because we would be able to give it an uninterrupted 10-week run on the channel, which may not have been possible on BBC One," he said.

The BBC schedule includes former Cold Feet star James Nesbitt in Murphy's Law, the first TV screenplay by Divorcing Jack author Colin Bateman.

Hugo Speer stars in a new psychological thriller

His former co-star, Fay Ripley, joins Emma Fielding and Hugo Speer in a new psychological thriller, Green Eyed Monster.

Sir David Attenborough has embarked on a major new series, The Blue Planet, which will look at the underwater world.

A follow-up to the hugely successful Walking with Dinosaurs, which used hi-tech graphics to recreate a prehistoric world, will also be shown.

Walking with Beasts is intended to transport viewers to the time between dinosaurs' extinction and humans' dominance.

Walking with Dinosaurs was a big success

The first new series of hit comedy Absolutely Fabulous for five years will also be aired - and will see some changes in the characters' lives.

Edina, played by Jennifer Saunders has moved from PR to television production, while Joanna Lumley's character Patsy has become managing editor of her glossy magazine.

Edina's long-suffering daughter Saffy, played by Julia Sawalha, has become involved with New Labour, and June Whitfield's mother character has taken up salsa dancing and e-mail shopping.

Celebrity guests in the new series include socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, EastEnder Michael Grecco, Boyzone's Stephen Gately and Twiggy.

Sitcom Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, which stars Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus, has been promoted from BBC Two to a new slot on BBC One.