MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC's commercial arm BBC Worldwide has sold several shows to Seven Network in Australia.

The shows that the Australian network has purchased include The Whistleblowers, Mistresses, Judge John Deed, Gavin and Stacey and In India with Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Starring Richard Coyle (Coupling) and Indira Varma (Bride and Prejudice, Rome), The Whistleblowers is a thriller in which two former lawyers expose political and corporate mismanagement, negligence and greed. It looks at the cost of integrity, and the risks of speaking out.

Mistresses offers a take on modern life and love from Ecosse Television. Starring Sarah Parish and Sharon Small, this part-drama, part-thriller follows a group of girlfriends whose lives have taken very different turns.

Meanwhile, perennial ladies' man but all-round good chap Judge John Deed returns for a fifth series.

The comedy slate is led by Gavin and Stacey, the new comedy from Baby Cow Productions. It tells the story of an ordinary boy and an ordinary girl (Joanna Page) and how their brand new love affair proves that there is no such thing as ordinary after all.

In India with Sanjeev Bhaskar attempts to get under the skin of modern India and to explore the legacy of the Raj.

BBC Worldwide's senior sales manager (Australasia) Amber Knight says, "From sexy contemporary drama to brand new comedy to Sanjeev Bhaskar's very personal journey to modern India, there is certainly something for everyone. It's a superb collection and we are thrilled to have concluded this deal with the Seven Network."

Seven's head of programming (strategy and acquisitions) John Stephens says, "The product will definitely enhance Seven's already strong 2008 schedule, and certainly be more than useful in attracting larger audiences, particularly to our Saturday night lineup, where for the past couple of years the Network has achieved good returns with a purposeful slant towards British content."