DROP DEAD DIVA Season 5 to Premiere on Lifetime in June

Lifetime's fan favorite and critically-acclaimed series Drop Dead Diva, which follows a shallow wannabe model that suddenly dies in an accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-sized recently deceased attorney, is back by popular demand for a fifth season with 13 all-new episodes set to debut on Sunday, June 23, at 9pm ET/PT. Immediately following Drop Dead Diva's return, Lifetime will premiere its new drama Devious Maids.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the one-hour, comedic drama stars Brooke Elliott (Wicked, Taboo), Margaret Cho (Dancing with the Stars, Cho Dependent), Jackson Hurst (Living Proof), Kate Levering (Cashmere Mafia), April Bowlby (Two and a Half Men) and Lex Medlin (Southland).

The series' fifth season opener, entitled "Back from the Dead," picks up from last season's cliff hanger finale with Jane (Elliott) frantically searching for her missing fiance Owen (Medlin), who Disappeared after witnessing her kiss Grayson (Hurst) moments before their wedding. While both Jane and Owen nurse their broken hearts, Jane's friends and co-workers also are confronted with their own life dilemmas. Kim (Levering) goes public with her pregnancy at the firm as Grayson continues to struggle with his feelings for Jane. Meanwhile, Stacy (Bowlby) is left contemplating the future of her business, The Pakery. Newcomer Justin Deely (90210) joins Drop Dead Diva as Jane's new heavenly guide Paul, stepping in for Luke (Carter McIntyre) when he is called back to Heaven just after telling her that Old Jane has returned to earth. Now that Jane and Old Jane are both on earth, the two kindred spirits will finally meet face-to-face, creating one of the most highly anticipated Drop Dead Diva moments ever.

Emmy(R) nominated actor John Ratzenberger returns to Drop Dead Diva this season to reprise his role as Kim's father, while Jamie Ray Newman is back as Grayson's ex-fiance Vanessa, further complicating his heart. Other guest stars for season five will be announced in the coming weeks.

Drop Dead Diva: The Complete Fourth Season arrives on DVD Tuesday, June 18.

In Drop Dead Diva, beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb, suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred, following a fatal car crash. Outraged by her sudden demise, she attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum. An intelligent, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant, Teri, Jane has always lived in the shadow of her colleagues whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. By a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane's curvier frame and learn to reconcile her beauty queen ways with her brilliant, new mind.

Josh Berman (Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is creator and executive producer. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Academy Award winning Chicago, Hairspray, Steel Magnolias) of Storyline Entertainment and Robert J. Wilson are executive producers.

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