Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2949 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-09
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: PAL, Colour, Closed-captioned, Full Screen, HiFi Sound
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 240 minutes

DVD Description
Takin' Over The Asylum was first broadcast on BBC1 as a six-part series in September 1994. Written by Donna Franceschild, directed by David Blair (Anna Karenina, The Lakes) and starring Ken Stott (Messiah, Rebus) and David Tennant (Doctor Who) in award winning debut performances plus a cameo from Spike Milligan, the acclaimed black comedy Takin' Over The Asylum is available for the first time ever on DVD from 2nd June, priced £19.99.

Stott stars as Eddie McKenna, a double-glazing salesman who moonlights as a DJ for hospital radio in a Scottish mental asylum. He nurtures close friendships with the patients there including Francine (Katy Murphy, Our Mutual Friend, Honest) a self-harmer and Campbell (David Tennant, Doctor Who) a manic depressive, with whom he shares a dream to make it onto the commercial radio scene.

Campbell's inspired antics promise to bring the pair closer to their aim, but the pressures of life outside of the hospital begin to tell on Eddie. A vindictive colleague leads his small-minded boss to ban his activities and his eccentric grandmother returns suddenly to Lithuania leaving him penniless and alone.

Eddie finds himself drawn to the troubled Francine, but when the radio is threatened with closure he turns to Campbell for comfort. As Campbell regains control over his life and courts success, Eddie’s goes into decline and he is finally forced to face his own illness - alcoholism.

Takin’ Over The Asylum provided breakthrough acting roles for both Stott and Tennant. The black comedy went on to win several awards, including a BAFTA for best drama serial in 1995, as well as praise from mental-health groups.

"Everything about this series is perfect…rich in character, it treads a delicate path between tragedy and comedy". Daily Mirror

DVD Special Features

Audio Commentary with David Tennant
Never seen before footage: David Tennant's original audition tape for the role of Campbell.

Customer Reviews

Just what the doctor ordered!
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you may even attempt to fly! This uplifting, well written series will leave you with a lump in your throat while tickling the rib cage all in the one breath!

Takn' over the asylum is a work of brilliance, the type of series that allows you to escape into a world of laughter, pain and mayhem! If you have ever had that feeling your missing out on something? It's quite possible this may be it! Fantastic!

Excellent series and nice DVD
This drama is first class. Franceschild has written realistic, likable characters, which are embodied by brilliant performances. A fine portrayal of mental health, and anyone who has been involved with hospital radio will smile at the outdated equipment and library.

The DVD presentation is a pleasant surprise, with the commentaries on two episodes from Tennant, Franceschild and Katy Murphy entertaining and informative. The copyright issue is solved by using the convincing sound-a-likes that were used for the international broadcast. Purists might wince at this, but realistically the cost of using the originals would have been prohibitive. It's much better to use these adequate versions than to not have this excellent series on DVD at all.

Fabulous
Brilliant,amazing. The script, the characters, the acting and the soundtrack all fabulous. Everyone will enjoy it