Garth Marenghi's Darkplace 

This parody series is an unearthed 80s horror/drama, complete with poor production values, awful dialogue and hilarious violence. The series is set in a Hospital in Romford, which is situated over the gates of Hell.

Stars:

Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Matthew Holness

Top Rated TV #223 | 1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Richard Ayoade	...	Dean Learner / ... 6 episodes, 2004
Matt Berry	...	Dr. Lucien Sanchez / ... 6 episodes, 2004
Matthew Holness	...	Dr. Rick Dagless M.D. / ... 6 episodes, 2004
Alice Lowe	...	Madeleine Wool / ... 6 episodes, 2004
Kim Noble	...	Jim 4 episodes, 2004
Julian Barratt	...	Padre 3 episodes, 2004
Matt Green	...	Chef's Assistant / ... 2 episodes, 2004
Sarah Kants	...	Larry's Mother 2 episodes, 2004
Graham Linehan	...	Security Guard 2 episodes, 2004
Stephen Merchant	...	The Chef 2 episodes, 2004

Storyline

In the 1980s horror writer Garth Marenghi wrote, produced, directed and starred in Darkplace, a groundbreaking series set in a hospital and exploring the depths of the author's imagination. At least that's what Marenghi and his publicist/co-star, Dean Learner, claim in modern-day interviews which both bookend and interrupt the episodes. In fact the show is cheap, chiché'd, full of gaping plot holes and startlingly misogynist. Garth Marenghi is a creation of comedian Matthew Holness, who won a Perrier award with the character at the 2001 Edinburgh festival.

---

Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | hospital | interview | 1980s | tv producer | 

---

Taglines:

From the best-selling master of darkness

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Avalon Television Channel 4 [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 2004 (UK)

Also Known As:

Darkplace

Filming Locations:

Romford, Essex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avalon Television, Channel 4 Television Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series was shown in 2004 on the UK's Channel 4 network, but a second series was never commissioned due to low ratings. However over the next few years the series gained a considerable cult following via word-of-mouth and the Internet. Renewed interest in the show led to it being released on DVD and subsequent airings in the US on the Sci-Fi and Adult Swim networks. Currently fans are petitioning for a second season of the show.

---

Quotes

[repeated line]
Dr. Rick Dagless: My name is Doctor Rick Dagless, M.D.

---

Crazy Credits

During the closing credits of each episode the music featured in that particular episode plays, most notably in episode six "The Creeping Moss from the Shores of Shuggoth" when the song "One Track Lover" plays during the credits.

---

Connections

Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Cult British Sitcoms (2017)

User Reviews

A different, inventive and, most importantly, hilarious comedy. Shows there is still hope for TV.

Hospital horror Dark Place is the creation of awful writer Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness), who wrote, directed and starred. He claims it is deep and inspirational, when in fact it is just shoddy and awful.

Darkplace isn't joke orientated, its the terrible production and acting that provides all the laughs, that mainly come from Garth's publisher, Dean Learner (Richard Ayocade) who plays the hospital boss Thornton Reed. His inability to do two things at once when it comes to acting (for example deliver a line and hang up a phone) is hilarious to watch.

Some of the highlights include a "dirt bike" chase through a forest (using tiny children's bicycles), a doctor being attacked by a steam iron and another being chased by a possessed stapler, a woman turning into broccoli and Dean Learner trying to justify how he punched a child actor. However, you have to see it to realize how funny it really is, my words can't do enough.

Darkplace won't appeal to everyone's tastes, but still it looks like it will probably be a cult hit. If its ever repeated, its worth a look just to see what you think. It provides a refreshing change from awful reality TV and soap operas.

I, for one, can't wait for the DVD and/or a second batch of episodes "from the Channel 4 vaults". I give it a solid 10/10.