Scotland’s mental health services are not the most explored theme, but it makes for a delightful setting in Taking over the Asylum – an early 90s BBC Scotland dark comedy set in a St. Jude's, a psychiatric hospital in Glasgow. The story centres on Eddie (Ken Stott) – double glazing salesman by day and Hospital radio DJ by night –in his efforts to restore the hospital's radio station.

The show’s cast is strong; including a break-out effort from David Tennant who plays the manic and exciting Campbell and a notably sombre performance by Angus MacFayden as the gentle and kind Fergus. Ken Stott's performance is the highlight: he plays Eddie as a broken and unhappy man – suffering in his monotonous job, where he is imposed upon by over-zealous management – extracting happiness from his sole hobby.

Stott’s acting is almost impeccable at times, highlighted by his facial expressions, beautifully expressing a glum and helpless but hopeful disposition and his well-timed pauses and stutters, which reflect the lack of self-confidence and awkwardness that drive his character’s interactions.

The show itself is such a break from the usual treatment of the mentally ill: instead of the illnesses being played for laughs, the absurdity of the situation and the oddness of the interactions are used to generate humour.

But this is done without disconnecting the audience from the characters; they are rendered absurdly real, and their doubts and plights are cast to connect the audience to them.

This refreshingly humanising take on the mentally ill is especially delightful given how they treated in most modern media, from the insane, ravenous killers of Batman’s Arkham Asylum to the psychopathic Patrick Bateman of American Psycho.

Taking over the Asylum is an endearing exemplar of Scottish television: dark and glum, but sweetly comical and enjoyable – a sterling piece of television.