...this (is) despite

[Tan Elaine]

'Crime watch' is this year's highest rated series on Channel 5 and this despite the fact the episodes air only once a month.

Should it be '...this is despite" instead of 'this despite'?

Thanks.

[SoothingDave]

It's not necessary.

[iKitty]

NOT A TEACHER

In British English, the sentence would be more likely to read:

'Crimewatch' is this year's highest rated series on Channel 5, despite the fact that the episodes only air once a month.

The words and this would be considered superfluous, even though in US English they are there for a purpose, namely to add emphasis to 'despite'.

To answer your question about this is despite – the most comfortable use of this wording is to start a new sentence, as follows:

'Crimewatch' is this year's highest rated series on Channel 5. This is despite the fact that the episodes only air once a month.

The main reason for splitting it into two sentences like this in British English would be to add emphasis to 'despite', in the same way as and this in the US.

Just to confuse you completely, though, all three versions are perfectly correct English usage!

...Channel 5, and this despite the fact...
...Channel 5, despite the fact that...
...Channel 5. This is despite...

Just use the first one in the US and the last two in the UK!