Five has confirmed a new raft of factual commissions, it was announced today (THURS).

Highland Emergency, produced by Granada Factual London, is a 30-part observational documentary series based on unprecedented access to the emergency services in the Highlands of Scotland including The Search and Rescue teams at RAF Lossiemounth and HMS Gannet, the Northern Constabulary, the air and road ambulance, the mountain rescue and ski patrol teams, Raigmore Hospital and NHS Highland, and the Coastguard. The beautiful but inhospitable terrain of the Highlands provides a stunning backdrop for the series which follows the work of the emergency services as they undertake terrifying rescues on land, sea and mountains in all weathers.

My Strange Brain, produced by Granada Factual London, reveals what life is like for people suffering from bizarre and rare brain disorders in a four-part series. From Alien hand syndrome which makes your hand behave independently to Foreign Language Syndrome which makes a person speak a different language, the series reveals a whole variety of debilitating brain malfunctions.

Sue Davidson, Commissioning Editor, Factual, said: "Factual at Five has always performed well and I'm pleased we have a strong slate of new projects as well as the reliable warhorses like Extraordinary People coming through."

Extraordinary People will also return with a new series. Robochick And The Bionic Boy, produced by Nobles Gate explores advances in bionic technology following two patients who receive extraordinary new bionic treatments. The Rainman Twins (working title), produced by Somethin' Else reveals the remarkable lives of the only autistic savant twins in the world, Flo and Kay Lyman, through 15 years worth of footage produced by local TV anchorman, Dave Wagner, who discovered them.

Outlaw Births, produced by Granada Factual London, explores the underground movement of 'freebirthing', the controversial method of childbirth where the mother refuses any medical intervention choosing to give birth at home, alone, with no medical care, no midwife and no pain relief. The documentary follows three women over the course of their pregnancy as they prepare to 'freebirth' and includes dramatic footage of the deliveries themselves.

Finally, The World's Tallest Man, follows experts in Gigantism as they battle to save the life of 36-year-old Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk and stop him growing. A further 12 Extraordinary People films are in production.

Desperately Seeking The Perfect Birth, produced by Betty, is a one-off documentary following three women with three very different birth plans and the lengths they will go to experience the perfect birth.

Climbing The Giants, produced by Leopard Films, follows adventurer Guy Grieve as he travels to Australia to climb one of the world's tallest trees and reveal the story behind a forest which has been locked away from the public for 100 years.

Lifesavers 999 (working title), is a documentary from Fever Media, charting the amazing story behind the logistics and the people who get organs from donor to recipient in the shortest time possible.

Army Chefs, produced by Twenty Twenty, is a three-part series with remarkable access to the unsung heroes who feed Britain's soldiers and royal banquets - from raw recruits learning their craft, to the master-chefs cooking up a storm on the frontline in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.