OLYMPIC opening ceremony mastermind Danny Boyle is to direct a police drama written by the people behind Peep Show.

Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt told the Edinburgh television festival that work would start on a pilot of the show, called Babylon, this year.

The drama, which will be written by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong who also created Fresh Meat and black comedy Four Lions, will be shown next year and could be followed by a full series.

Danny, from Radcliffe, turned down a knighthood after his work on London's highly praised £27 million Olympic opening ceremony.

The director made his name with Trainspotting which starred Ewan McGregor as an Edinburgh junkie.