Asylum (TV series)

Infobox British television
show_name = Asylum


size =
caption = Asylum title screen
format = sitcom/sketch comedy
picture_format = 4:3
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Edgar Wright
starring = Julian Barratt
Simon Pegg
Jessica Stevenson
Norman Lovett
channel = Paramount Comedy Channel
first_aired =
last_aired =
num_series = 1
num_episodes = 6
producer =
related =
imdb_id = 0123341

"Asylum" was a British comedy series shown on Paramount Comedy Channel in 1996. Set in a mental asylum, it ran for one series of six episodes. Unlike traditional sitcoms or comedy television shows, it was to some extent an opportunity for stand-up routines by various comedians, mixed with an overall story involving much black humour. It is significant for involving a large number of British comedians, many who have gone on to work on some of the most successful comedy programmes of the last decade. It marked the first collaboration of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, who would go on to make cult sitcom "Spaced". Many of the characters names were the same as those of the actors who portrayed them.

David Devant & His Spirit Wife were the "house band" for the series, performing segments in every episode, from their first album, "Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous". The lead-in track "Ginger" served as the programme's title music.

The series has yet to be released on DVD; however, the full episodes are viewable on Norman Lovett's website and it has been available to download via various BitTorrent websites.Fact|date=December 2007

Cast and crew

;Written by the cast and:
* Co-writer & director - Edgar Wright
* Co-writer - David Walliams

;Principal cast and characters
* Norman Lovett as Dr Lovett
* Simon Pegg as Simon
* Jessica Stevenson as Martha & Nurse McFadden
* Julian Barratt as Victor Munro
* Paul Morocco as Paul
* Adam Bloom as Adam
* Mick O'Connor as Nobby Shanks

;Guest stars
* Paul Tonkinson
* John Moloney
* Bill Bailey
* Howard Haigh
* Andy Parsons
* Henry Naylor
* David Walliams

External links

*imdb title|id=0123341|title=Asylum
* [http://www.normanlovett.co.uk/ Norman Lovetts homepage] Including the full series of Asylum.