Psychoville (BBC-2 2009-2011, Reece Shearmith, Steve Pemberton)

In Pyschoville, five people, ranging from the blind Mr Lomax, a panto dwarf with strange powers, the very creepy David Sowerbutts (obessed with serial killers and has more than a little odd relationship with his mother), Joy, a midwife who has developed an unhealthy obsession with the doll she uses in her pre-natal talks and the scary children’s clown entertainer, Mr Jelly, who has a hook for a hand and a serious hatred for rival entertainer Mr Jolly, have apparently nothing in common bar the fact that they have all received a card with a single phrase printed upon it “I know what you did”.

The first season builds up to a very scary denouement inside the abandoned Ravenhill Hospital, an asylum for the insane. It turns out that some of the five had spent time there and had been involved in the death of the evil Nurse Kenchington there. Mr Jolly ends up blowing up the asylum.

The second season focused on the aftermath of the explosion and the five main characters being hunted down and killed by a sinister detective who has been hired to retrive a locket owned by Nurse Kenchington. It seems that Kenchington had discovered the secret to bringing people back to life via cryogenesis and had engraved the instructions on the locket!

It’s basically a continuation of The League of Gentlemen vibe, in fact the series is named after the name given to that series by Japanese and Korean TV stations. There is a very creepy and often seedy atmosphere that hangs over everything. Sometimes you get the impression that it is just cranking up the weirdness for the sake of it but it is fantastically well realised.

classic quote
“I know what you did”

production details
UK / BBC Two / 14×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 18 June 2009 – 6 June 2011

Writers and Associate Producers: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton / Costumes: Yves Barre / Production Design: Brian Sykes / Theme Music: Joby Talbot / Executive Producer: Jon Plowman / Producer: Justin Davies / Director: Matt Lipsey

cast
REECE SHEARSMITH as Mr Jelly
STEVE PEMBERTON as George Aston, David Sowerbutts
DAWN FRENCH as Joy Aston
EILEEN ATKINS as Nurse Kenchington
JASON TOMPKINS as Robert
FREDDY FRUITCAKE as Himself
JANET McTEER
NICHOLAS LE PROVOST
DAVID BAMBER
CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS
DAISY HAGGARD as Debbie
LISA HAMMOND as Kerry
BIG MICK as Grumbly
MAXWELL LAIRD as Snoozy
DANIEL KALUUYA as Michael Fry
DEBBIE CHAZEN as Kelly-Su Crabtree
ALISON LINTOTT as Chelsea Crabtree
ELIZABETH BERRINGTON as Nicola
VILMA HOLLINGBERY as Mrs Wren
ADRIAN SCARBOROUGH as Mr Jolly