Ken Stott

Takin’ Over the Asylum is a six-part BBC Scotland television drama about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. It was written by Donna Franceschild, produced by Chris Parr and directed by David Blair.

The station is developed by alcoholic double glazing salesperson Eddie McKenna, who is an aspiring disc jockey at St. Jude’s Hospital, named after the patron saint of lost causes. He meets a range of people with various mental illnesses:

⁕Campbell – a young, enthusiastic contributor to the station, who is a manic depressive.

⁕Francine – a long-term depressive patient who self harms and to whom McKenna is strongly attracted.

⁕Fergus – an electrical engineer, who has schizophrenia and a habit of escaping from the hospital then returning.

⁕Rosalie – a middle-aged housewife who has OCD regarding cleanliness and is separating from her husband.

The show uses many Beatles songs both in its soundtrack and episode titles. The name of the hospital, for example, is echoed by the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. The show is also notable for its sound editing with popular music tracks seamlessly blended between soundtrack theme and live foreground action.