Question
I have a small garden, but it is mostly woodchip (with a membrane below it) I would love to be able to lay the turf directly on top of the woodchip - Would this work?

Would it be a better idea to spread some compost / soil over the woodchip and rake it through before laying the turf?

Or is it the case that this is never going to work and I should invest my time in clearing the woodchip and membrane and starting from scratch?

All advice accepted.

Answer
Those Woodchips are going to cause a LOT of problems, my friend.

Because as they decompose, they will consume all the Nitrogen in the house, leaving nothing for your new Sod/Grass.

And if they are UNDERground, there will be very little Oxygen for the Wood-consuming Fungi to use when they try to digest Lignin and Cellulose.  The effect would be to make this process one that takes DECADES instead of YEARS.  No exaggeration.

This is not to say they are not very useful.  Left exposed to the elements, with plenty of air, microbes will be able to break down that Wood and turn it into first rate Humus and Organic Matter.

Rake it all up.  Then invest in a thick layer of Compost/Humus and Sand, and rake it smooth.  Make sure that layer is THICK.  Water with a sprinkler to saturate the Soil, then have your Sod rolled out.  If you want to accelerate the recovery, get yourself some Messenger Harpin Protein; it will instantly (within 10 minutes) improve the conditions of the roots and get your Grass on the way to a long, healthy, happy life.  Harpin Protein is a really good, magic bullet with scientific papers written about it.

Remember, Organic Matter is the key to healthy Soil.  The more microbes you have down there, the more beautiful your Grass is going to be.  I'm not kidding.  Thanks for writing,

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER