Brooker to write E4 horror series

Brooker is well known for his cutting and caustic television criticism

Caustic TV critic Charlie Brooker, host of BBC Four's Screenwipe, is to write a horror series for digital channel E4.

Brooker, who co-wrote Channel 4 comedy Nathan Barley with Chris Morris, said Dead Set would be "very different to anything I've done before".

"I hope the end result will surprise, entertain and appal in equal measure."

The six-part thriller, to be broadcast on E4 in late 2008, will be produced by Zeppotron, a division of Big Brother producers Endemol.

"It's enormously exciting that Charlie Brooker has penned this thriller," said E4 chief Angela Jain.

"He is an exceptional writer and this promises to be something special and unusual."

A new series of Screenwipe - also made by Zeppotron - begins on BBC Four in the autumn.