Neverwhere
A six-part BBC urban fantasy set in London Below.
Neverwhere is a six-part urban fantasy television drama created by Neil Gaiman, first broadcast on BBC2 in 1996. The story takes place in "London Below," a hidden magical world that exists alongside the ordinary London known as "London Above." Gaiman developed the series with Lenny Henry, and Dewi Humphreys directed it. Gaiman later turned the series into a novel, published in September 1996. The work was partly inspired by Gene Wolfe's novel *Free Live Free*.
The plot follows Richard Mayhew, a Scottish man living in London, who stops to help an injured girl named Door one night. His fiancée objects, but he helps anyway—and as a result, he vanishes from the ordinary world, becoming visible only to the inhabitants of London Below. These people are normally invisible to those in London Above. Richard loses his apartment, his job, and nearly his sanity as he travels through London Below, trying to understand his situation, find a way back, and help Door survive while assassins hunt her. In this parallel world, familiar London place names take on new meanings: Knightsbridge becomes "Night's Bridge," a dark stone bridge that exacts a toll in human lives, and the Angel, Islington is a literal angel. London Below exists in and beneath the sewers, populated by homeless people, figures from other eras (such as Roman soldiers and medieval monks), and fantastical characters.
The main characters include Richard Mayhew (played by Gary Bakewell), a young businessman who stumbles into London Below after aiding Door. Door (Laura Fraser) is a young woman from that world, whose noble family was murdered just before the story begins. She has the inherited ability to "open" things—not just doors. The assassins hunting her are Mr. Croup (Hywel Bennett), a short, fat, pompous talker who is the brains of the pair and has a taste for fine china, and Mr. Vandemar (Clive Russell), his tall, gangly, dull-witted partner who enjoys killing and destroying, even practicing golf swings with live toads. The Marquis de Carabas (Paterson Joseph) is an arrogant, cunning trickster and loyal friend to Door and her family, inspired by the character Puss in Boots. The Angel Islington (Peter Capaldi) is an angel living in the sewers, tasked with watching over London Below after failing to guard Atlantis. Hunter (Tanya Moodie) is a legendary warrior obsessed with slaying the great Beast of London.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure / Comedy-drama / Urban fantasy
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Creator
- Neil Gaiman / Lenny Henry
- Starring
- Gary Bakewell / Laura Fraser / Hywel Bennett / Clive Russell / Paterson Joseph / Trevor Peacock / Elizabeth Marmur / Tanya Moodie / Peter Capaldi / Earl Cameron
- Composer
- Brian Eno
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Network
- BBC 2
- First Aired
- 1996-09-12
- Last Aired
- 1996-10-17
- Num Episodes
- 6
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story follows Richard Mayhew, a Scottish man living in London, who encounters an injured girl named Door. After helping her, he ceases to exist in the familiar world and becomes real only to the denizens of London Below, a parallel realm beneath the sewers inhabited by the homeless, people from other times, and fantastical characters. He loses his flat, job, and nearly his mind as he travels London Below to help Door survive assassins.
Key characters include Door (Laura Fraser), who can 'open' things; the assassins Mr Croup (Hywel Bennett) and Mr Vandemar (Clive Russell); the trickster Marquis de Carabas (Paterson Joseph); the Angel Islington (Peter Capaldi); and the warrior Hunter (Tanya Moodie). The series was partially inspired by Gene Wolfe's novel Free Live Free.
The production faced criticism for its appearance.
Reader's Guide
Neverwhere has had a lasting impact through its adaptations. Neil Gaiman wrote a novelisation released in 1996 during the TV transmission, later revised for the US market and again as a combined version. A nine-issue graphic novel limited series began in June 2005, written by Mike Carey with art by Glenn Fabry, published by DC Comics's Vertigo imprint. The comic adapted the novelisation rather than the TV series, changing the Marquis de Carabas's appearance.
Stage adaptations have been produced in Savannah, Georgia (2006); Evanston, Illinois (2008); Chicago, Illinois (2010, extended due to success, viewed by Gaiman and Henry); and Calgary, Alberta (2012). The series was released on DVD in the US and Canada in September 2003, and by the BBC in April 2007. The opening theme on the original broadcast was the same as the closing credits; the Region 2 DVD version uses abstract sounds. The series remains a notable entry in urban fantasy, influencing later works and maintaining a cult following.
Did You Know?
- The idea for Neverwhere came from a conversation between Neil Gaiman and Lenny Henry about a story with tribes of homeless people in London.
- The character of the Marquis de Carabas was inspired by Puss in Boots, with Gaiman imagining 'Who would own a cat like this?'
- The scene where Richard meets Old Bailey was filmed on the roof of the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras railway station.
- The graphic novel adaptation changed the Marquis de Carabas from a man of the African diaspora into a creature with a black skin tone not seen in the real world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Neverwhere?
Neverwhere is a six-episode urban fantasy television drama that premiered on BBC Two in September 1996. The story follows an ordinary Londoner who, after helping a mysterious wounded girl named Door on a dark street, is drawn into a hidden magical realm beneath the city.
Who is the main character in Neverwhere?
The protagonist is Richard Mayhew, a Scottish man living in London whose already-strained engagement to Helen is about to end. His chance encounter with the injured girl Door sets him on a journey into the secret world beneath the surface city.
What is London Below?
London Below is a hidden, magical parallel city that coexists alongside the ordinary London known as London Above. It is inhabited by all the lost things, forgotten creatures, and discarded stories that the surface world has overlooked.
How many episodes are in Neverwhere and how long are they?
The series consists of six episodes, each running approximately 30 minutes. It first aired on BBC Two beginning 12 September 1996.
Who created Neverwhere?
The series was developed by Neil Gaiman together with Lenny Henry, and directed by Dewi Humphreys. Gaiman subsequently expanded the story into a novel published in September 1996.
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