Who is America: Sacha Baron Cohen returns with force

'This third rate character named Sacha Baron Cohen. I only wish he'd been punched in the face so many times he'd be in a hospital' – a message from Donald J Trump.

Happy Independence Day America! This small clip of Donald Trump threatening violence against a comedian (please, don't pretend you're surprised) was posted by Baron Cohen on the 4th of a July alongside the ominous promise that Baron Cohen, who Trump says needs to go to 'school, learn about being funny', would shortly be 'graduating'. Baron Cohen is back in business.

Graduate he surely will – onto our TV screens as early as this Monday with a brand new series asking the question 'who is America' and tricking leading American politicians into showing their true colours.

Five days after Baron Cohen's Independence Day announcement, another clip landed on Twitter: Dick Cheney, the now sweet looking, grandfatherly figure, but once a divisive figure in America, signing a 'waterboard kit'. And finally the news of a new TV show hit the headlines.

'Imagine if Sacha Baron Cohen had been secretly filming a new show for a year', read Baron Cohen's Tweet. 'Yup – we were duped. Ya' got me, Sacha. Feel better?' wrote Sarah Palin on Facebook. 'I join a long list of American public personalities who have fallen victim to the evil, exploitive, sick 'humour' of the British 'comedian' Sacha Baron Cohen, enabled and sponsored by CBS/Showtime.'

What exactly the new series will look like is a closely guarded secret. No leaks you see – unlike the Trump White House. But we do know it involves an awful lot of pranks by the Borat and Bruno star on Trump supporters. Rightwing commentator Matt Drudge suggested in a Tweet that this might include (as well as Sarah Palin), Howard Dean, Ted Koppel and Bernie Sanders.

This is likely to be the biggest talking point of the year – and will hopefully mark a return to form for Baron Cohen whose scripted dramas haven't been a scratch on his pervious prank work.

Here's a longer quote from Sarah Palin to whet your appetite: 'Baron Cohen (I presume) had heavily disguised himself as a disabled US Veteran, fake wheelchair and all. Out of respect for what I was led to believe would be a thoughtful discussion with someone who had served in uniform, I sat through a long 'interview' full of Hollywoodism's disrespect and sarcasm – but finally had enough and literally, physically removed my mic and walked out, much to Cohen's chagrin... Mock politicians and innocent public personalities all you want, if that lets you sleep at night, but HOW DARE YOU mock those who have fought and served our country.'

Who is America airs in the UK on Monday 16 July on Channel 4 at 10pm