Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb TIFF Portrait StudioHispanic Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
The Singing Detective
S1.E1
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Skin

  • Episode aired Nov 16, 1986
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
180
YOUR RATING
Joanne Whalley in The Singing Detective (1986)
DramaMusicalMysteryThriller

Writer Philip Marlow is in hospital being treated for a severe skin affliction, something he has suffered from for 25 years but is now worse than it has ever been. He finds himself in a gene... Read allWriter Philip Marlow is in hospital being treated for a severe skin affliction, something he has suffered from for 25 years but is now worse than it has ever been. He finds himself in a general ward with a group of other men being treated for a variety of ailments. Marlow's psori... Read allWriter Philip Marlow is in hospital being treated for a severe skin affliction, something he has suffered from for 25 years but is now worse than it has ever been. He finds himself in a general ward with a group of other men being treated for a variety of ailments. Marlow's psoriasis covers him from head to toe and even the slightest movement proves extremely painful.... Read all

  • Director
    • Jon Amiel
  • Writer
    • Dennis Potter
  • Stars
    • Michael Gambon
    • Patrick Malahide
    • Joanne Whalley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    180
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jon Amiel
    • Writer
      • Dennis Potter
    • Stars
      • Michael Gambon
      • Patrick Malahide
      • Joanne Whalley
    • 3User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast24

    Edit
    Michael Gambon
    Michael Gambon
    • Philip Marlow
    Patrick Malahide
    Patrick Malahide
    • Mark Binney
    Joanne Whalley
    Joanne Whalley
    • Nurse Mills
    David Ryall
    David Ryall
    • Mr. Hall
    Gerard Horan
    Gerard Horan
    • Reginald
    Leslie French
    • Mr. Tomkey
    Ron Cook
    Ron Cook
    • First Mysterious Man
    George Rossi
    • Second Mysterious Man
    Imelda Staunton
    Imelda Staunton
    • Staff Nurse White
    Sharon D. Clarke
    Sharon D. Clarke
    • Night Nurse
    • (as Sharon Clarke)
    Geff Francis
    Geff Francis
    • Porter
    Mary MacLeod
    Mary MacLeod
    • Sister Malone
    Kate McKenzie
    • Sonia
    Charon Bourke
    • Amanda
    Badi Uzzaman
    Badi Uzzaman
    • Ali
    Simon Chandler
    Simon Chandler
    • Dr. Finlay
    Lyndon Davies
    Lyndon Davies
    • Philip (aged 10)
    Richard Pescud
    • Consultant
    • Director
      • Jon Amiel
    • Writer
      • Dennis Potter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    8.0180
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8safenoe

    Guest starring Badi Uzzaman as Ali

    I watched this ages ago and it still sticks i the mind! One subplot was Marlow's growing relationship with a patient played by Ali (Badi Uzzaman) which ended in a bittersweet way.
    10Sleepin_Dragon

    A great start to this wonderful series.

    Writer Philip Marlow is hospitalised when his psoriasis flares up to unimaginable levels, placed on a General men's ward, he uses his time to plot his next mystery, his Detective Mark Binney is on hand when a girl is pulled out of the Thames.

    The Singing Detective is hailed by many as of of The BBC's finest ever dramas, and after watching episode one once again (it's been many years,) it's easy to see why. The hour flew by, that's the sign of a Great drama.

    Michael Gambon's performance is nothing short of incredible, considering the makeup he's plastered in, and his ability to move, it really is a master class from him. I loved Imelda Staunton's strict and bossy nurse too.

    The makeup team did an incredible job with Gambon, his psoriasis looks totally authentic.

    This is a remarkably good first episode, it deserves a perfect score.

    10/10.

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene where a delusional old patient climbs into bed with Philip Marlow, thinking that he is his wife, actually happened for real to Dennis Potter during one of his innumerable stays in the hospital.
    • Quotes

      Philip E. Marlow: Why?... Why is it when you lose your health the entire medical profession takes it as axiomatic you also lost your mind!

    • Connections
      References Blue Peter (1958)
    • Soundtracks
      Peg o' My Heart
      Written by Al Bryan and Fred Fisher

      Performed by the Harmonica Man

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 1986 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • Russian
      • English
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 8m(68 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.