Michael Socha, Michaela Coel begin filming

Michael Socha (This is England, Being Human) and Michaela Coel (Top Boy, Chewing Gum) are to star in E4’s new six-part sci-fi comedy, Aliens.

Written by Fintan Ryan (Never Better, In the Flesh) and produced by Clerkenwell Films (Misfits, Not Safe For Work), Aliens is set in a world where Aliens have been among us since they crash-landed in the UK 40 years ago. Though they look and behave exactly like us, they are forced to live a segregated life, behind a huge wall in a ghetto called Troy. It’s a hedonistic and ramshackle town, unpoliced and filled with gangs who make a living smuggling alien hair out of Troy to be smoked as a drug by humans.

Mild-mannered Lewis (Michael Socha) is a border guard who mans the checkpoint between Troy and the human side of the wall. In common with most humans, he regards the aliens who pass through the checkpoint to do menial jobs on the human side of town as second class citizens. But when he discovers that he is the world’s first half-alien, he finds himself drawn into a world of divided loyalties and a search for his own identity.

Michaela Coel, will play Lilyhot, an enigmatic and alluring alien who is deeply embroiled in one of Troy’s criminal gangs. When Lewis crosses her path, her fate and his become inextricably entwined.

Joining them are: Michael Smiley (Kill List), Ashley Walters (Top Boy), Holli Dempsey (Derek) and Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge).

Michael Socha says: “I’ve never played anyone like Lewis before – it’s going to be an exciting challenge for me. E4 is the home of some of the coolest dramas in the UK and I can’t wait to take my first steps into the world of Troy.”

Michaela Coel says: “I’ve been a big fan of Fintan Ryan since Never Better and was directed by J Van Tulleken in my first ever television role. They, amongst many other things, make this one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been a part of and I can’t wait to get started.”

Aliens began filming this week for broadcast on E4 in early 2016.