Takin' Over the Asylum was about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. It was written by Donna Franceschild and directed by David Blair. It is set in a fictional hospital called St Jude's Asylum. The station is developed by alcoholic double glazing salesman Eddie McKenna (played by Ken Stott) who is an aspiring disc jockey at St. Jude's Hospital which was named after the patron saint of lost causes. He meets a range of people with various mental illnesses: Campbell (David Tennant) – a young, enthusiastic contributor to the station who is a manic depressive (bi-polar). Francine (Katy Murphy) – a long-term depressive patient who self harms and to whom McKenna is strongly attracted. Fergus (Angus Macfadyen) – an electrical engineer who has schizophrenia and a habit of escaping from the hospital then returning. Rosalie (Ruth McCabe) – a middle-aged housewife who has OCD regarding cleanliness and is separating from her husband. The show used many Beatles songs both in its soundtrack and episode titles. The name of the hospital for example is echoed by The Beatles song Hey Jude. The series DVD was released on 9th June 2008 and the show was re-run on BBC Four beginning in August 2008 with two episodes shown back-to-back over three consecutive Saturday evenings. BBC Scotland repeated the series on Saturday evenings starting on 29th June 2019.
Link to posts related to Takin' Over the Asylum on Blogger.com. (Usually with more detail.)
2019
A repeat of the sixth and final episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Let It Be) is on BBC Scotland tonight at 9pm. Updated 3/8
iPlayer link to watch the fifth episode of Takin' Over The Asylum.
A repeat of the fifth episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Rainy Night In Georgia) is on BBC Scotland at 9pm tonight. Updated 27/7
iPlayer link to watch the fourth episode of Takin' Over The Asylum.
A repeat of the fourth episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Fool On The Hill) is on BBC Scotland tonight at 9pm. Updated 20/7
iPlayer link to watch the third episode of Takin' Over The Asylum.
A repeat of the third episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (You Always Hurt The One You Love) is on BBC Scotland at 9pm. Updated 13/7
iPlayer link to watch the second episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Fly Like An Eagle).
A repeat of the second episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Fly Like An Eagle) is on BBC Scotland tonight at 9pm. Updated 6/7
iPlayer link to watch the first episode of Takin' Over The Asylum (Hey Jude).
A rare repeat of Takin' Over The Asylum starts tonight on BBC Scotland. Updated 29/6
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