Channel 4's new programmes made in Leeds will target youth market with focus on homelessness and mental health in young people

The new digital content hub 4Studio, which is based in Channel Four's new HQ at The Majestic in Leeds city centre, will create short form films to be distributed via social media.

The team will work on 'social shorts' across a number of genres for Facebook and Instagram audiences.

Their output will include Mission Accessible, a travelogue series presented by comedian Rosie Jones. Producers will work with tourism agencies Visit England, Visit Scotland and Visit Wales to film Rosie and guest stars taking part in activities around Britain from the perspective of a disabled traveller with accessibility requirements.

Documentary series Unseen Kingdoms will tell the stories of young women who have experienced homelessness.

The E4 lockdown hit Remote Comedy has inspired a new animated short series called Rap Therapy, with features the UK's leading grime stars discussing mental health and how to cope with it.

Channel Four's director of programmes Ian Katz said the broadcaster aims to drive digital viewing as part of their Future4 strategy, with a target of doubling its audience over the next five years.

There will also be a focus on content that performs stronglyon All4, such as factual entertainment for younger demographics, box set documentaries, reality TV, comedy, bingeable drama and scripted comedy. All4 streaming service subscriptions grew 27 per cent this year.

“To ensure that Channel Four remains a relevant and vibrant voice in a digital world we know we must now bring all the passion, originality and disruptive flair that we brought to the world of terrestrial TV 38 years ago, to the world of streaming and social media," said Mr Katz.

"Over the coming year we’ll do our best to offer viewers an escape from the grimness of a Covid-ravaged world with a schedule packed with fun and joy including sparkling new scripted comedy, fabulous new formats like Living Wild and more of viewers’ favourites from The Dog House and Snackmasters to uproariously funny entertainment like Taskmaster. I’m determined that however miserable the news is outside our living rooms, Channel Four will be an oasis of joy in a joyless age.”

Other commissions announced for which there is no confirmed Leeds involvement as yet include care home crisis drama Help, which will star Jodie Comer and will be filmed in Liverpool, and comedy Big Boys, featuring Derry Girls star Dylan Llewelyn.

There will be a new travel series fronted by Sandi Toksvig and other celebrities called Extraordinary Escapes, and Kathy Burke will explore the wealth gap in modern Britain in hard-hitting documentary All Money.

A programme about the rise and fall of disgraced celebrity publicist Max Clifford will also be broadcast.