Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle is to team up with the writers of the comedy Peep Show to make a drama show for Channel 4 on the subject of modern British policing.

The project, which is at the pilot stage, was announced today by Jay Hunt, chief operating officer of Channel 4, at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, the writers of Peep Show, have a long relationship with the network, having also written for the comedy shows Smack the Pony and Fresh Meat.

Boyle, best known for his work as Artistic Director of Isles of Wonder at the opening ceremony of last year’s Olympic Games, also has strong ties with the broadcaster whose movie arm Film4 made Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won the Academy Award for best director.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Channel 4 today also announced it would be showing The Maudsley, a four-part documentary series on the south London hospital which specialises in treating patients with mental health problems. It will also broadcast Indian Summers, a ten-part epic drama series set in 1932 and based around the Himalayan town of Simla, a summer refuge for British colonialists.