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TAKIN' OVER THE ASYLUM

BBC DVD  / Region 4 / Released February 2009

Featuring Ken Stott, David Tennant, Katy Murphy and a cameo from Spike Milligan

Donna Franceschild's superb 1994 6 parter Takin' Over The Asylum gets a welcome chance to be seen by a new audience when it gets a DVD release this month by BBC-2 Entertain.

Having never really been repeated (apart from an almost immediate re-run not long after its first broadcast) it looked like TOTA was destined to be one of those shows remembered with great affection by those who were lucky enough to see at the time but never to be seen again. Luckily though, through a combination of a canny you tuber uploading the series in 10 minute chunks and the fact that it features in major roles two now highly prominent actors in the shape of Ken Stott and current Doctor Who David Tennent, means that we can.

Stott headlines (in one of his first big roles) as Eddie McKenna, a late 30 something double glazing salesman whose real love is DJing, when he is let go from his local hospital radio job (to be replaced by a very young Ashley Jenson) he takes on a post at St Judes mental asylum where he actually discovers a new lease of life. McKenna befriends a young manic depressive, Campbell (David Tennant) who not only fixes up the ailing radio room at St Judes but also looks like getting the name of the radio station known on a national basis.

It's brilliant stuff, cracking dialogue and wonderful performances, from Stotts world weary alcoholic McKenna to Tennant all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Mental institutions are still a contentious subject for drama these days but back in 1994 it was a real no no but Franceschild and director David Blair tackle the subject with sensitivity and some liberal splashes of humour.

Highly deserving of its BAFTA for best drama serial and absolutely not to be missed. Extras include an audio commentary from Tennant as well a look at his original auditon tape.

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