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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Maisie Lillywhite

After Life: Netflix donates bench to Bristol park as third series airs

Streaming giant Netflix has given 25 benches to councils across the UK as part of a mental health initiative - and one of them is in Bristol.

The donation was made to mark the release of season three of After Life, the hit dark comedy series by Ricky Gervais.

Suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) commissioned the benches alongside Netflix.

READ MORE: Ricky Gervais gives After Life series 3 'spoiler' - 'they do not die'

The benches feature QR codes which take those struggling to online resources and messages of support.

After Life's third and final series was released on Friday, January 14, and stars Gervais as local journalist Tony, a man plunged into intense grief following the death of his beloved wife, while also becoming a better friend to those around him in his home town of Tambury.

In the show, Tony is often seen sat on a bench in his local churchyard, as he reflects on his loss.

The benches will feature in locations across the country - including at Ashton Court in Bristol. Other West Country locations include Sydney Gardens in Bath, Vivary Park in Taunton, and Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth. They all are inscribed with the same quote 'Hope is everything'.

One of the benches has been donated to Ashton Court (PA / Netflix)

Gervais is pictured on one of the benches with Brandy, the dog that stopped his character from taking his own life.

He 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."

He shared a map of the locations on Twitter, encouraging people to "visit and take a selfie".

CALM chief executive Simon Gunning said: “Park benches provide opportunities to reflect, talk to someone, sit shoulder to shoulder with someone and get things off your chest.

“That is why we’re delighted to team up with Netflix to put benches in parks across the country – inscribed with that crucial line from the show, ‘Hope is everything’ – to help people have those conversations and to show it’s normal to have those feelings.”

Behind fantasy drama The Witcher, After Life was Netflix's second most popular series of 2019.

Gervais writes, directs and executive produces the show, which also stars Penelope Wilton, David Bradley, Ashley Jensen, Tom Basden, Tony Way, Kerry Godliman, Roisin Conaty and Diane Morgan.

Netflix said on Twitter that the bench scenes in After Life are "iconic".

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