Channel 4 has ordered a full series of the sitcom Raised By Wolves, following the success of a pilot episode last year.

The channel has ordered six more episodes of the comedy, which is written by Times columnist Caitlin Moran and her sister Caroline.

The show is partly based on the sisters' upbringing in Wolverhampton, but with storylines updated to the present day. The programme stars young actors Helen Monks and Alexa Davies, with Rebekah Staton playing their single mother and Philip Jackson as their wayward grandfather.

However, it may be a while until viewers can see the new series. Channel 4 comedy boss Phil Clarke told the Radio Times: "Caitlin's so busy and she's got to write it. We are expecting the scripts to arrive at the end of this year and it will probably air next year."

He added: "We think this is a tale worth telling and we hope it resonates with people. There is a sense of her character being quite precious but also isolated as well. She sees children coming back from school and feels a bit lonely. Having said that, Caitlin is also one of the funniest women in the country."

Speaking today, Caitlin Moran said: "It was foretold in ancient legend that when two sisters from a council-estate in Wolverhampton - one brunette and over-sharey, one ginger and angry - would, one day, write a sitcom for Channel 4, and finally popularise the local sayings of 'To be fair,' 'I don't reckon', 'Alright babba' and 'Ahhhhhh, binners'." That day has now come. We now go and eat faggots and peas, to celebrate."

Kenton Allen, from production company Big Talk, adds: "Caitlin and Caroline have a truly original comic voice and I'm delighted Channel 4 are giving them the chance to entertain the world with the joys of unconventional life in Wolverhampton. As a boy from Birmingham I predict the long overdue Midlands renaissance starts as soon as we've all had a nice cup of tea."

In an article describing the series, Moran explained the reason for creating the show as follows: "Raised By Wolves is modern day reimagining of us, when we were growing up - loads of kids, no money, home-schooled, and educating ourselves on mankind's great bounty of books, films, TV and pop music. Do you remember when people used to go on about the notion of a progressive working class? When admitting you were on benefits didn't immediately mean that you were morally incontinent scrounger scum? Yeah, neither could we. It's been ages. Telly never has any smart, amusing intellectuals living on a council estate. That's why we wrote the sitcom. Well, that and the chance to make a load of jokes about vaginas."

Caitlin Moran is also currently developing a film adaptation of her best-selling book How To Be A Woman for Big Talk and Film4.

Below is a clip from the pilot episode, in which Grampy takes the kids for a ride in his car:

Channel 4 has also given Scrotal Recall a series today. Talking about the two commissions, Phil Clarke says: "I am delighted to announce two new comedy series commissions. Scrotal Recall is a clever, witty story about love, commitment and sexually transmitted disease and Raised By Wolves is the charming and funny story of Caitlin Moran's unique childhood, a tale of self-taught girls growing up on a council estate in Wolverhampton, a sort of Benefits Street meets Anne Of Green Gables."