Channel 4 to air new series of 'Rick and Morty' in 2020

British Rick and Morty fans waiting for the new series to land will have to wait until next year to watch it legally in the UK.

Channel 4 has obtained the exclusive rights to show the fourth series of the award-winning animated show, which it will air in January 2020.

The first episodes of the new series will launch in North America on Adult Swim on Sunday, 10 November.

Previous seasons of the show were exclusive to Netflix UK until Channel 4 struck a deal with Adult Swim earlier this year. The first three seasons of Rick and Morty are available to stream in the UK on Netflix and All4, Channel 4’s streaming service.

Read more: The 10 best Rick and Morty Easter eggs

Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the award-winning sci-fi cartoon follows a crazed genius and his reluctant grandson through their space and time-hopping misadventures.

Ian Katz, director of programmes at Channel 4, said: "Millions of fans have been waiting for more than two years for a new series of Rick And Morty, the most brilliantly bonkers show on television.

"We're thrilled that it will be aired exclusively on Channel 4 and I promise it will be worth the wait."

The upcoming fourth series of Rick And Morty will be split into two parts of five episodes each, and will air on Channel 4 in the UK with repeats on E4.

Broadcast rights for the show are part of a partnership with Adult Swim.

Following mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty Smith, the show first aired in 2014. The comedy series makes use of science fiction concepts, and is pervaded with a nihilistic world view.

It has won an Emmy Award for outstanding animated programme.

The show was renewed for 70 new episodes in 2018.