Danny Boyle to direct C4 comedy-drama

Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong have written a new Channel 4 comedy-drama, based around both the top brass and the beat coppers at Scotland Yard.

Babylon will be directed by the Oscar-winning Olympic opening ceremony mastermind Danny Boyle, and star Jimmy Nesbitt as the Met commissioner.

Brit Marling plays a high-flyng spin doctor, while the cast also includes Paterson Joseph, best known as Alan Johnson n Peep Show, Jonny Sweet from Chickens, Andrew Brooke from Phone Shop and Bertie Carvel, who won an Olivier award for playing Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of Matilda the Musical.

The pilot episode, described by Channel 4 as ‘razor-sharp and visually audacious’ will shoot in autumn this year, and air early in the new year .

But a full six-part series has already been ordered, which will be made next year.

Armstrong and Bain said: ‘We're excited to be writing about the action-packed yet fiercely political world of modern policing.

‘Crime solving receives a lot of attention on TV, what excited us as we all developed the show with Danny and Robert was looking above and below that level - the comedy and drama of on the street police-public interactions, and life in the upper reaches of the police.’

The show was commissioned by Channel 4’s head of drama, Piers Wenger, who said: ‘There’s talent and originality in every corner of this cast and its going to be a thrill to see this company of actors rising to the challenges of Sam and Jesse’s brilliant script.’

Published: 14 Oct 2013