Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

FavoritedFavorite 1
Channel 4 (ended 2004)
EDIT

Show Summary

  • Ended
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is the brainchild of celebrated horror writer and self-styled "fabulist" Garth Marenghi, author of such genre classics as Afterbirth (a mutated placenta attacks Bristol) and Crab! ("One of the three best horror books about crabs I've ever read" - Hard Gore Magazine). Back in the 1980s, he branched out into television production, writing and starring in a series so radical, so scary and so downright crazy that when the bosses of Channel 4 saw what they had on their hands, they ran away screaming, like little girls. Only now, twenty years on and amid the worst programming drought in television history, have the station finally allowed the show on the air. Intercut with new interviews with Marenghi himself and his co-stars Dean Learner and Todd Rivers, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is perhaps the most disturbing vision of hospital life ever broadcast.moreless
8.7
out of 10
Average Rating: Great
205 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Episode Guide

See All
S 1 :  Ep 6 Aired 3/4/04
S 1 :  Ep 5 Aired 2/26/04
go
S 1 :  Ep 4 Aired 2/19/04
go
S 1 :  Ep 3 Aired 2/12/04
go
Adult Swim
Free
S 1 :  Ep 2 Aired 2/5/04
go
Adult Swim
Free

Watch Garth Marenghi's Darkplace Full Episodes

See All

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Reviews (14)

See All

  • Despite its rather short life, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace remains a comedy classic.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By Calfkiller, Jun 10, 2011 Report Abuse
    It's really hard to describe why Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is so good. Yes, it is incredibly funny. It is inteligently written and perfectedly performed. It shows astonishing attention to detail and a pitch perfect understanding of the material it is lampooning. But really, I think the biggest success of Darkplace is its wonderful collection of characters and a exceptionaly talented group of actors who brought them to life.

    At only 6 episodes long, it's surprising just how varied the episode are. From the opener which features the doors to hell opening up in a hospital in Romford, through to the finale with its infection of cosmic broccoli, you simply know that Darkplace is something different.

    The real strength of Darkplace is Garth Marenghi himself. Not merely content to be a successful writer, he has seen to the need to spread his genius via the medium of television. The sheer egotism of Garth Marenghi is hilarious enough, but his all round brilliance in everything he touches is even more so. Really, Darkplace is the biggest ego trip of any actor/writer/producer/director/etc, in the history of mankind.

    But what really makes Darkplace such a joy to watch is the wonderful one liners that pepper the scripts and elevate ordinary scenes into the absurd. From Garth's publisher Dean Learner, possibly one of the greatest comedic creations since Alan Partridge, through to the ditzy Dr. Liz Asher suffering the un-PC world of Garth, and onto the trigger happy Dr. Lucien Sanchez, Darkplace pokes fun in a way that makes you realise that it is only a few edited cuts from complete seriousness.

    Garth Marenghi's Darkplace may not have set the world alight as Garth himself predicted, but its lasting lecagy is 6 of the finest pieces of episodic comedy to come out of the UK in years. I could feel bitter and annoyed that it was never allowed to continue, but knowing that we have at least been giving the opportunity to step into the mind of Garth Marenghi himself for even a brief tour is simply more than enough to last a lifetime.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • Darkplace is superb!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By stephenage, Dec 12, 2007 Report Abuse
    So manty people hate this programme and I don't know why, the immagination is brillaint and the spoof horror has had me crying with laughter. The way the show makes it self look bad is genius but some people just don't get it come on guys it's a comedy just sit back and enjoy. Actors playing actors playing characters is highly amusing and theres such a good cast including many of boosh fame, the ammount of cameos is brilliant Stephen Merchant turning up in episode two was a hilarious surprise and Jullien Barret popping up every now and then you have to love it. And to top it off the one and only Noel Fielding playing a monkey man!!moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • A stylised comedy masterpiece that deserves more attention.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By scott_naylor, Jul 30, 2007 Report Abuse
    For anyone that is not sure of the premise of this series, its a show that was supposed to originally have been filmed in the 1980s and has since earned a cult reputation as one of the most terrifying and radical television programmes ever made. In-fact it wasn't but that is the premise. Instead it was made in 2004, so you really need to buy into the fact that the series has been made to look the way it looks on purpose, this is where most of the none verbal comedy comes from. You will notice props disapearing, actors stumbling lines & some of the most bizzare plot lines that you can imagine. This is a very underrated modern classic, try it out you wont be disappointed.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • hhhmmm....

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Cool_cutedude, May 05, 2007 Report Abuse
    Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is the brainchild of celebrated horror writer and self-styled "fabulist" Garth Marenghi, author of such genre classics as Afterbirth (a mutated placenta attacks Bristol) and Crab! ("One of the three best horror books about crabs I've ever read" - Hard Gore Magazine). Back in the 1980s, he branched out into television production, writing and starring in a series so radical, so scary and so downright crazy that when the bosses of Channel 4 saw what they had on their hands, they ran away screaming, like little girls. Only now, twenty years on and amid the worst programming drought in television history, have the station finally allowed the show on the air. Intercut with new interviews with Marenghi himself and his co-stars Dean Learner and Todd Rivers, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is perhaps the most disturbing vision of hospital life ever broadcast.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • "Garth Marenghi's what?"

    8.3
    "Great"
    By shashi_, Mar 09, 2007 Report Abuse
    This is one of those TV shows that just confuse you from the beginning, making you want to turn it off thinking "Is this real?"
    But you continue watching it.
    And realise that it is actually genius.
    They've made it so bad that it's actually funny, on purpose.
    Everyone should know Richard Ayodade from Channel 4's "The IT crowd". He's incredible with his alter ego "Dean Learner" i'd never heard of this until i was browsing Teleport TV, and it was above "Green Wing" in comedy. My friend and I decided to watch it.. 4 episodes later we're both splitting our sides with laughter.
    It's pure comedy and fun.
    R.I.P Skipper, Killed by wasps.
    Any more series?moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0
 

Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Related Shows

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings

Categories

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

Themes

Campy, Cheap Special Effects, Demonic Resurrection, Dry Humor, Ensemble Cast

BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use