The Security Men for ITV1

Caroline Aherne has written a new comedy series for ITV1, based around overnight security guards.

The Security Men will feature comics Bobby Ball, Paddy McGuinness and Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll, as well as Ashes to Ashes actor Dean Andrews.

The four-part series is based around the time-wasting antics of the night shift at a Manchester shopping centre. An hour-long pilot has already been filmed with the rest of the series to be shot this summer.

The premise appears similar to the cult Nineties Channel 4 sitcom Nightingales, starring Robert Lindsay.

Aherne co-wrote the series with Jeff Pope. They previously collaborated on the one-off The Fattest Man in Britain, which starred Timothy Spall and aired on ITV1 in December 2009.

ITV comedy boss Elaine Bedell said: ‘We're absolutely delighted to be working with Caroline and Jeff - two writers at the top of their game.

‘I believe together they have created some of the best comedy scripts for television. Combined with the talent and wit of our cast, The Security Men is a very fresh and exciting project for ITV.’

Aherne is not expected to appear on-screen in the new programme.

Published: 7 Apr 2011