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Greetings traveller.

Sit back, dim the lights (or switch them off if you don’t have dimmers), put conventional logic to oneside and prepare yourself to enter the world of Garth Marenghi. This short series, originally broadcast on Channel 4 in 2004, is in my opinion THE televisual event of the decade. It was so radical, so risky, so goddamn dangerous that MI-8 (that’s three levels better than MI-5) cancelled it before it had a chance to subvert the national consciousness. That or it didn’t get very good viewing figures. One of the two.

Created by British actor/comedians Matthew Holness (The Office) and Richard Ayoade (Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd) after their stage version Garth Marenghi’s Netherhead won the Perrier award, the show was broadcast late at night with little fanfare. Unfortunately it didn't do very well, which is a crying shame because it is without doubt one the funniest and most original comedy shows ever.

The premise is a spoof of 1980’s television drama; it depicts Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace as a real low-budget 80’s show that was never aired. Now, in “the worst televisual drought in broadcast history” it finally has its chance and is presented with short introductions from horror writer, actor, director, dreamweaver and visionary Garth Marenghi himself.   

Set in Darkplace hospital (foolishly located over the very gates of Hell itself) in Romford, East London, the show follows the exploits of Dr. Rick Dagless M.D. and colleagues as they grapple with nightmares from netherworld. Its quite simply brilliant portrayal of the cheesy lines, poor acting and budget special effects that were stalwarts of 80s TV is hilarious, and the character creating and performances from Holness and Matt Berry (Dr. Todd Sanchez) are masterful.

Now available in its entirety on YouTube, I vehemently suggest you tune your mind in and enjoy Darkplace. Well, I say enjoy...