Asylum (1996 TV series)

{{Short description|British comedy television series}}{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Asylum title.JPG

| caption = Asylum title screen

| runtime = 30 minutes

| creator = Edgar Wright

| starring = {{Plainlist|

• Julian Barratt
• Simon Pegg
• Jessica Stevenson
• Norman Lovett

}}

| writer = {{Plainlist|

• Edgar Wright
• David Walliams
• Julian Barratt
• Simon Pegg
• Jessica Stevenson
• Norman Lovett

}}

| director = Edgar Wright

| channel = Paramount Comedy Channel

| first_aired =

| last_aired =

| num_series = 1

| num_episodes = 6

| producer =

| related =

}}

Asylum is a British comedy series which was shown on Paramount Comedy Channel in 1997.{{Cite journal |last=McDonnell |first=Jenny |date=2013 |title=The World's End |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1834034424/fulltext/AE6535E52DA6491BPQ/3 |journal=The Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies |issue=12 |pages=149–154 |via=ProQuest}} Set in a mental asylum, it was directed and written by Edgar Wright and co-written by David Walliams.

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 of whom went on to work on some of the most successful comedy programmes of the 2000s. It marked the first collaboration of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, who would go on to make cult sitcom Spaced and Shaun of the Dead. 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.