Last Chance Saloon series to air on TV

Posted July 30th 2014

A mental health documentary series filmed in collaboration with NCMH will air on the Community Channel next month.

Last Chance Saloon, was originally conceived by filmmaker Barry Gibb as an 11 part web series for the Wellcome Trust’s Mosaic website.

The series was later edited into a feature length film, which premiered at Cardiff’s Cineworld cinema at a special event hosted by NCMH earlier this year, before receiving nominations and awards at a number of international film festivals as far afield as Toronto and Melbourne.

Last Chance Saloon has now been re-worked once more into a six episode series for broadcast on the Community Channel, which is available on Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. The series will air at 7pm on weekdays from Monday 4th August to Monday 11th August, with a repeat showing at 10:30pm.

Last Chance Saloon follows photographer and musician Neil “Twink” Tinning as he embarks on a year-long journey to understand mental illness while recording an album and performing live for the first time with his own band.

Along the way Twink discusses a whole range of mental health issues with leading experts including NCMH director Professor Ian Jones and former director Professor Nick Craddock.

Several of the centre’s principal investigators Professors Sir Mike Owen, Julie Williams, Mick O’Donovan, Anita Thapar and David Linden also feature in the series.

Professor Ian Jones said:

“This fantastic series was tremendously well received both online and at our screening event earlier this year. It provides a real insight into living with bipolar disorder, and the importance of mental health research. I hope that the television version is equally successful and introduces a whole new audience both to the film and wider mental health issues.”

The Community Channel is available on Freeview channel 63, Freesat channel 651, Sky channel 539 and Virgin Media channel 233.