The added investment takes the Channel 4 programme budget to £469m –- the highest amount to date for the commercial broadcaster.
The extra £20m will make a huge difference to the autumn schedule by bringing forward programmes that would otherwise have aired in 2005 and investing in long-running drama, current affairs and comedy shows.
A fourth run of the hit series 'Teachers' is planned alongside 'Not Only But Always', a feature-length drama based on comedy duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
Channel 4's current affairs department will step up its coverage of the US elections in November with documentaries presented by Jon Snow and Peter Oborne. International current affairs strand 'Unreported World' and investigative documentary 'Dispatches' will also return in the autumn.
A new series from comedian Peter Kay called 'Max and Paddy' will be at the forefront of the comedy line-up, which also includes a second series 'The Peep Show' and hospital comedy 'The Green Wing'.
Kevin Lygo, the director of television at Channel 4, said: "The public service purpose of Channel 4 is to maximise investment in innovative programmes and original creative talent.
"This is proving to be a great year for Channel 4 with a lot of fresh programmes like 'Shameless' and 'Brat Camp', which have been critically well-received and commercially successful."
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