Takin' Over the Asylum is a six-part BBC Scotland television drama about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. The show was written by Donna Franceschild, produced by Chris Parr and directed by David Blair.
The show follows a double glazing salesman Eddy McKenna (Ken Stott) who re-establishes a hospital radio station at St Jude's, a psychiatric hospital, with patients as its presenters and volunteers, notably Campbell (David Tennant).
Development
David Blair, a producer at BBC Scotland, suggested to writer Donna Franceschild that she develop a minor character into one of her plays. She says, "The character was a hospital radio DJ called Ready Eddie, and I asked if I could set the drama in a mental hospital... We just thought it would make a great story." Franceschild's motivation for writing the series, Birch notes, "originated from personal experience, her intention to critically challenge accepted views about mental illness."
The working title for the programme was "Making Waves"; the title was changed by the producer and the controller of BBC Two following pre-broadcast research. The new title alludes to the phrase 'lunatics have taken over the asylum', when policy has gone wrong.
The series was filmed in a disused wing of Gartloch Hospital, a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Glasgow. Director David Blair, who had cast David Tennant in a small part in the series Strathblair, recommended that Tennant should audition for the role of Cambbell. Talking of the series in 2003, Tennant says that "probably every job since then has been either directly or indirectly because of that."
Cast
Eddy McKenna (Ken Stott), an alcoholic double glazing salesman and aspiring disc jockey, develops the hospital radio station with the help of several of the patients at the hospital, including: Campbell Bain (David Tennant) – a nineteen-year-old, enthusiastic contributor to the station, who has bipolar disorder (formally known as manic depression). Francine Boyle (Katy Murphy) – a long-term depressive patient who self harms to whom Eddie is attracted. Fergus MacKinnon (Angus Macfadyen) – an electrical engineer, who has schizophrenia and a tendency to escape the hospital and then return. Rosalie Gerrity (Ruth McCabe) – a middle-aged housewife who has OCD regarding cleanliness and is separating from her husband. Jim Gerrity (Jon Morrison) - Husband of Rosalie Gerrity, he refuses to accept her home until she is 'normal'. Campbell's Dad (James Grant) - Is unsupportive of Campbell's dream of being a DJ. Grandma (Elizabeth Spriggs) - Eddie's Lithuanian grandmother who lives with him and is eager for him to find a wife. Isabel (Angela Bruce) - The principal nurse at St Jude's, who is very supportive of the radio station. Mr Gordon Griffin (Roy Hanlon) - Eddie's boss at TwinView windows, who encourages Eddie to give up the radio in order to dedicate more time to his job. John MacAteer (Neil McKinven) - Eddie's work rival at TwinView windows. Paula (Arabella Weir) - Eddie's contact at Radio Scotland, who Eddie and Campbell use to try and get their own radio show. Evelyn McDonald (Sandra Voe) - part of the hospital board, she comes to inspect the station.
Episodes
Each of the episodes is named after a popular song.
Critical reaction and awards
As the transmission date neared, senior BBC executives grew nervous because of the subject matter. Franceschild says the show had the "dubious distinction of being the first ever programme on BBC2 to be subjected to focus groups". Despite the first episode being scheduled against European football on BBC One and Soldier Soldier on ITV, the show attracted positive reviews, including from Time Out and Daily Mirror.
The show won the 1995 BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Serial and Best Editing, RTS Award for Best Writer, Mental Health in the Media Award and the Scottish BAFTA for Best Serial and for Best Writer.
Glasgow Media Group scholar Greg Philo comments that the series was "a fairly radical approach to the portrayal of mental illness", noting that it was praised by mental health service users.
DVD release and repeat showings
Despite its critical success, Franscechild claims that the BBC remained nervous because of its subject matter. It never received the expected BBC One repeat, instead receiving a late-night repeat showing on BBC Two. The series was then ignored for many years. However, in the mid 2000s, the show was illegally uploaded to YouTube, a move which delighted Franceschild as it brought her work to a wider audience.