PUBLICITY RELEASE THURSDAY JULY 29 2010
Already a popular radio show and Facebook site, now for the television series! Mike King’s ground-breaking show for mental illness sufferers THE NUTTERS CLUB premieres on Maori Television on Friday August 6 at 10.00 PM.

THE NUTTERS CLUB is a 13-part series based on King’s national talkback radio show on RadioLive (Sundays from 8.00PM to midnight), which was nominated for a Radio Award this year.

The television series features King and resident psychiatrist Dr David Codyre in the radio studio. Each week a special guest is invited in to share their personal stories and talk about their challenges with mental health. They are frank and emotionally compelling stories from across a broad spectrum of mental illness.

Featured guests include a mix of well-known screen personalities, and ordinary people who have led extraordinary lives. Among them are former Shortland Street stars Nicola Kawana and Peter Elliott, fashion designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and Carterton mayor Gary McPhee.

Host Mike King says the radio listeners and growing Facebook community membership show the programme resonates with many people.

“It’s about life as it really is,” says King. “When you actually hear a real person sharing their story and they openly admit to having problems and being flawed, you have a lightbulb moment. You start realising, hmmm, that sounds just like me.

“This series deals with what conventional thinkers consider tough subject matter in a caring, kind and entertaining way. The stories will touch hearts and move people.” 

Made for television by Top Shelf Productions, producer Brian Holland says a large number of New Zealanders are affected by mental illness, personally or through association with others.

“Some of my best friends are nuts, and that’s what drew me to the project,” he says.

A Ministry of Health survey in 2006 found that around 47 per cent of New Zealanders will experience a mental illness or an addiction at some time in their lives.

Holland says the series is fearless in dealing with issues once considered taboo.

“THE NUTTERS CLUB is a place where like-minded people can openly share their thoughts, feelings and experiences and in doing so help themselves and others, and even have a few laughs along the way. The show appeals to people with open minds and an appetite for frank, honest discussion. The support we’ve seen and heard people get from the experience is incredible, and we hope the television series will spread the positivity even further.”

Fearless, compelling and original, tune in to THE NUTTERS CLUB on Maori Television from Friday August 6 at 10.00 PM.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Merilee Andrews
Publicist
Maori Television
DDI: (09) 539 7092
MOB: 021 274 0495
merilee.andrews@maoritelevision.com

PO Box 113-017, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand
9-15 Davis Crescent, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
http://www.maoritelevision.com/