Iain Weatherby (Humans) and Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World) co-created the six-part series, which follows a recently reunited couple’s pursuit of dignified death.

The trailer accompanying the announcement introduces us to ex-senior police chief Phil (Lindsay Duncan, Sherlock) and divorced ex-special forces vet Ken (Clarke Peters, The Wire), who were once teenage sweethearts. When they attend a friend’s funeral years later, the now retirees are reunited.

Phil and Ken join a gang of old friends at the wake, and with booze and nostalgia flowing, talk soon turns meditative. After attempting to answer the question of what an ‘ideal’ death looks like, the gang make a drunken pact to ensure a dignified, not protracted, death. Helping each other in such a situation is, they toast, “true love.”

Among the line up are Sue Johnston (Help), Phil Davis (Silent Witness), Peter Egan (After Life), Karl Johnson (Too Close), Fiona Button (The Split) and Kiran Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror)

Upon first green-lighting the series, Caroline Hollick, Channel 4's Head of Drama, said: “Truelove is a unique, poignant and darkly funny series which deals with big themes around regrets at the paths not taken, quality of life and serious illness.

“Beautifully written and with actors of the calibre of Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters playing the leads, Truelove is an exciting addition to Channel 4’s upcoming portfolio of dramas. I can’t wait to see the series come to life.”

Truelove starts on Channel 4 on 3 January at 9.00pm.