James Corden is returning to UK television screens, starring alongside Sally Hawkins in a comedy drama series for Amazon Prime.

Shooting this month in London, Mammals sees him collaborating with Spectre co-writer and Britannia co-creator Jez Butterworth.

Amazon has ordered six 30-minute episodes, to co-star Colin Morgan, star of Simon Amstell's 2018 film Benjamin, Meilia Kreiling (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The Inbetweeners) and Samuel Anderson, who appeared alongside Corden in 2006 film The History Boys.

Plot details are scarce, but Butterworth, who has also co-written the next Indiana Jones film, hints that it's about the challenges of marriage.

"A good marriage is the most magical thing. In a world of eight billion, you've found the one who gets you, ignites your body and soul" he said. "Who allows you to grow and flourish. Who gives you the spark, the confidence to become you. You're also never going to have sex with anyone else, ever, and then you're going to die, and be dead forever."

However, death might also be an important aspect, as British Comedy Guide understands that the series was previously known as Dignity.

Veep's Stephanie Laing is directing, with Corden executive producing for Amazon Studios and his company Fulwell 73, Butterworth for his company Street Hassle and James Richardson for Vertigo Films.

Paddington star Hawkins, who was Oscar-nominated for Blue Jasmine in 2013 and The Shape Of Water in 2017, previously worked with The Late Late Show host Corden on Mike Leigh's 2002 drama All Or Nothing, with the pair supposedly having a marriage pact if they were still single at 35.

Butterworth says: "James Corden is the only ten-time Emmy winning chat show host to also win the Tony Award for Best Actor. His performance in One Man Two Guvnors was like seeing Mickey Rooney, Terry-Thomas and The Marx Brothers rolled into one."

Corden's last scripted television appearance in the UK was 2019's Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, which became the highest rated non-sport show on television since 2010. Butterworth added:

"His Smithy in Gavin & Stacey is for the ages - he took a needy, big-hearted mess of a supporting character and made it iconic. But neither is a patch on his Sea Monster in The Late Late Show "Shape of Water" sketch with Sally Hawkins. Google it."

"I am jubilant to be working with Sally again, and Colin Morgan too," he said. "Alongside the astonishingly talented Melia Kreiling, they make a team of world class story-tellers."

Dan Grabiner, head of UK Originals for Amazon Studios, says: "This fantastic cast will bring Jez's compelling scripts to life, and we are delighted to be sharing Mammals with Prime Video audiences globally."