Psychoville

From the dark and frankly disgusting minds of Jeremy Dyson, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith, the creators of "The League of Gentlemen" series comes this new 6-part dark comedy.

It is indeed nothing short of horrific. David and Maureen Sowerbutts are mother and son serial killers attempting to cover up David's accidental killing at work. Mr Jelly the one-handed grumbling children's entertainer who drives a banged up hearse and who's life is constantly overshadowed by Mr Jolly, another clown. Robert a psychic dwarf in love with Snow White. Oscar Lomax, a blind old man fighting with conjoined twins over a Beanie Baby collection with the aid of a community appointed helper whom he calls Tea Leaf, and last and most disturbingly Joy (Dawn French) a midwife convinced her doll is her son, little Freddie Fruitcake, and her attempts to bring him to life.

The story is sickening, and at some points downright vomit-worthy. AND STILL i laugh out loud at every episode. The amount of humour injected at the most gut-wrenching bloody moments manages to captivate me.

For example, David and Maureen's characters have agreed to meet David's old boss in a waxwork museum of serial killers (David is obsessed with serial killers) As he is deciding how to snuff his old boss the manikins come alive and give him advice. One says acid, one says drowning and eventually they burst into full song and dance over the matter. This is so hauntingly eerie and hilarious at the same time. Its almost perverse humour, you find yourself laughing and yet feel the same feeling one might get for taking delight at an old biddy tumbling down concrete stairs. Its not funny......unless she got paid £200 for the clip by Jeremy Beadle (God rest his soul)

This series is still available on BBCiPlayr, with the finale next Thursday night at 10pm on BBC1, though i would stress you have to be a fan of the old "Edward and Tubbs" characters from The League of Gentlemen and their brand of humour. A Butcher who secretly serves human meat, a transsexual cab driver and a pair of shop keepers who have lock their son in the basement.

It's so far removed from most main stream comedy available at the moment it's brilliant. I must admit i am a slight magpie for the shiny new and different things in life and so i might be a little infatuated with Psychoville but i still think it's worth a watch or at least a try.

"I'm not a dwarf, I'm a lesbian!" - Frankie Boyle, Mock The Week, Thursday 23rd july 2009