Walkers in the Nottingham Arboretum have called benches installed to promote Ricky Gervais' After Life series a ‘beautiful reminder of those who we’ve lost.’
Netflix have donated 25 benches for different areas across the UK - with two of them being in Nottingham at the Arboretum and Highfields Park.
Characters in the show often sit on similar benches to discuss personal matters, especially grief, and many passers-by at the Arboretum had visited just to see the bench there.
Marie Johnson, a 69-year-old carer from Mapperley spoke of how it’s a beautiful thing to have in the city and said: “I’ve only ever seen After Life on the little clips on Gogglebox, I probably should watch it really, I pretty much know the plot. This bench is a beautiful reminder of those we’ve lost I think. I’m off to go and see it now.
In the Arboretum, the After Life bench is located near the bandstand and Mrs Johnson added: "I just hope it doesn’t get vandalised or ruined in any way.”
Marion Smith from Nottingham, doesn’t live too far from the park and comes on the Arboretum regularly to walk her dog.
She said: "I haven’t watched the last series but I loved it. You can relate to it, ‘Hope is Everything’, and that life goes on. I’ll be coming back, I come here most days.
"I was surprised when I heard Nottingham will be getting two benches, but I think it's great.”
Marking the launch After Life season 3, the benches have been commissioned alongside suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - each is inscribed with the quote from the series “Hope is Everything”.
Daniel Hunt, 30, a lorry driver who lives near the city centre said that the bench will mean a lot to many.
He said: “After Life is a great show. This bench was so significant in the series and it will be sentimental to a lot of people - especially to those who have lost people to cancer.
“I’m sure many people will be taking selfies on it and photographs with loved ones.”
Echoing scenes in the show where Ricky Gervais's character Tony sits on a bench at his local churchyard as he continues to grieve for his wife Lisa, played by Kerry Godliman, Gervais said: “We hope the benches will create a lasting legacy for After Life, as well as become a place for people to visit, and we are thrilled to be associated with CALM and the great work they do.”
A golden plaque inscribed on the benches reads: "This bench is donated by Netflix to commemorate Ricky Gervais."
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