Peter Kay is writing a new sitcom for Channel 4.

The show is likely to be set in his native north-west – but unlike his last comedy, Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere, it won’t be employing any of the characters from Phoenix Nights.

The ensemble piece is likely to air next year, Channel 4 director of programmes, Kevin Lygo has revealed.

However he did not shed much light on what the show was likely to contain,telling MediaGuardian only that ‘it will feature new characters, but he'll never stray very far from Bolton’.

‘Peter Kay is without doubt our biggest comedy talent,’ he added.

Lygo also said he would consider commissioning a second series of Nathan Barley should co-creator Chris Morris want to do it – even though it was dismissed by critics and attracted a paltry 500,000 viewers.

‘We're always talking to Chris,’ Lygo said. ‘He's thinking about whether he wants to do another Nathan Barley.

‘It depends what he wants to do with it. I don't think he'd want to do the same thing again - he'd want to take it on.’