"Neverwhere" (1996) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

12 September 1996 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Richard Mayhew leads an ordinary life in London when one day a girl named Door falls, injured, across his path...

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Cult Favorite | London Underground | TV Mini-Series | Magic

Cast

Gary Bakewell	...	Richard Mayhew (6 episodes, 1996)
Laura Fraser	...	Door (6 episodes, 1996)
Hywel Bennett	...	Mr. Croup (6 episodes, 1996)
Clive Russell	...	Mr. Vandemaar (6 episodes, 1996)
Paterson Joseph	...	Marquis De Carabas (6 episodes, 1996)
Peter Capaldi	...	Islington (5 episodes, 1996)
Tanya Moodie	...	Hunter (5 episodes, 1996)
Trevor Peacock	...	Old Bailey (5 episodes, 1996)
Elizabeth Marmur	...	Jessica (4 episodes, 1996)
Tamsin Greig	...	Lamia (3 episodes, 1996)
Damien Lyne	...	Gary (3 episodes, 1996)

Series Directed by
Dewi Humphreys		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Writing credits
Neil Gaiman		(6 episodes, 1996)
Lenny Henry		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Produced by
Clive Brill	....	producer (6 episodes, 1996)
Jonathan Finn	....	line producer (6 episodes, 1996)
Polly McDonald	....	executive producer: Crucial (6 episodes, 1996)
Chris Parr	....	executive producer: BBC (6 episodes, 1996)
John Whiston	....	executive producer: BBC (6 episodes, 1996)

Series Original Music by
Brian Eno		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Cinematography by
Steve Saunderson		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Film Editing by
Bryan Oates		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Casting by
Alison Chard		(6 episodes, 1996)
Audrey Helps		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Design by
James Dillon		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Direction by
Chris Coldwell		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Costume Design by
Pam Downe		(6 episodes, 1996)

Series Makeup Department
Sheelagh Wells	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1996)
Kevin Alexander	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1996)
Beverly Binda	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Woolfenden	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1996)
Johnny Ludlow	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 1996)
Katrin Strong	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Department
Dave McKean	....	title graphics / title graphics: Artemis (6 episodes, 1996)
Amanda Ackland-Snow	....	set dresser (3 episodes, 1996)
Andy Beales	....	property master (2 episodes, 1996)
Dave Green	....	construction manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Dick Lunn	....	stand-by props (2 episodes, 1996)
Matthew McConnell	....	dressing props (2 episodes, 1996)
Karl Probert	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1996)
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist (2 episodes, 1996)
Andie Vining	....	stand-by props (2 episodes, 1996)
Dennis Wring	....	dressing props (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Sound Department
Mark Holding	....	sound (6 episodes, 1996)
Richard Finney	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1996)
Bruce Gray	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1996)
Robin Green	....	dubbing assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Phil Reed	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Special Effects by
Adam Howarth	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Anderson	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1996)
Raymond Gallard	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 1996)
John Haylen	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1996)
Michael James	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1996)
David King	....	camera trainee (2 episodes, 1996)
Stuart King	....	best boy (2 episodes, 1996)
Steve Murray	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1996)
David Scott	....	grip (2 episodes, 1996)
Julian Blom	....	camera operator: title (unknown episodes)
Ray Gallard	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Foster	....	wardrobe supervisor (2 episodes, 1996)
Susan Mewton	....	dresser (2 episodes, 1996)
Julie Osborne	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Editorial Department
Michael Harrowes	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1996)
Finlay Milne	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 1996)
Julian Blom	....	editor: titles (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Simon Fraser	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1996)
Dee Gregson	....	location manager (6 episodes, 1996)
Nichol Hoye	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 1996)
Sarah Trowse	....	production accountant (6 episodes, 1996)
Naimi Arton	....	production runner (2 episodes, 1996)
Carole Brooks	....	accounting assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Ian Harry	....	production runner (2 episodes, 1996)
Ken Hawkins	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Finn McGough	....	production runner (2 episodes, 1996)
Emily Stillman	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Jim Threapleton	....	production runner (2 episodes, 1996)
Dave McKean	....	director: opening sequence / graphic artist: titles (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Crucial Films

Special Effects

• Artem (episodes 3 and 6)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Artemis Communications  title graphics (episode 3 and 6) (as Artemis)
• Molinare Studio  post-production facilities (episodes 1, 2, 4 and 5)

Runtime:

180 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

London Underground, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The opening sequence was created on a laptop and a 8mm camera on a minimal budget. The hand coming out of the wall at the very end is Mr. Vandemaars; you can see the raven skull rings that look a bit like knuckle-dusters.

Quotes:

Mr. Vandemaar: Best way to scare crows - creep up behind them, put your hand around their crow necks and squeeze till they stop moving. That scares the stuffing out of them.

Movie Connections:

References Dracula (1931)

An absolute crime that this wonderful mini-series appears not to be available in the UK

I was blown away back in 96 when I first watched this TV series. Not only was the story-line way out there compared with most of the rest of the TV output at the time, but also the casting and acting were both superb. I was already a fan of Peter Capaldi, which was one of the reasons I tuned in at the beginning, but I was soon swept up in the whole story and found it one of those strange stories that is completely believable although obviously fantastical. I have always been sorry that it hasn't been repeated on terrestrial TV and was thrilled last summer to find the book freely available. Reading this I found that many of the image from the original broadcast were firmly fixed in my mind and I have been searching websites for information about a DVD. To my amazement the BBC website denies all knowledge of the series at all! What's that all about? I have finally found a supplier in Australia for the DVD - but that's not much use is it? Has anyone else also watched the brilliant Gaiman recent work Mirrormask?