First cast photo of Danny Boyle's C4 police comedy drama

Danny Boyle's new TV comedy drama Babylon has released its first cast photo.

The series for Channel 4 stars Brit Marling, James Nesbitt, Paterson Joseph, Jill Halfpenny, Adam Deacon, Daniel Kaluuya and Jonny Sweet, who are shown in character in the publicity snap.

Babylon follows London's police force trying to revamp its image with the help of a new PR visionary from the US, played by Brit, who has been brought in by the Chief Constable, played by James.

The team are also filmed by a fly-on-the-wall documentary maker as they try to uphold law and order on the streets of London.

Babylon has been written by Peep Show, Fresh Meat and Four Lions writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain.

Piers Wenger, Channel 4's head of drama, said: "We're massively indebted to the team for the huge flair with which they have cast this series.

"There's talent and originality in every corner of this cast and it's going to be a thrill to see this company of actors rising to the challenges of Sam and Jesse's brilliant script."

Babylon's pilot will screen early this year with a six-part series following later.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.