BBC2 checks in on Slattery

The UK’s BBC2 is teaming up with London-based indie Sundog Pictures for a one-off documentary on the mental health problems suffered by comedic actor Tony Slattery.

Tony Slattery. Photo: Noelle Vaughn

The 1×60’ programme Whatever Happened to Tony Slattery? (working title) will form part of the UK pubcaster’s Horizon documentary strand.

Slattery, who became a comedy star in the 1990s, was a regular guest on Channel 4’s Whose Line Is It Anyway, before suffering a breakdown and disappearing from public life.

The doc will see Slattery search for a better understanding of the mental health problems he has had for the last 25 years.

Tony and his partner of 35 years, Mark Hutchinson, will visit the UK’s leading experts on mood disorders and addiction in the hope of getting some clarity on the problems that have dogged his life.

Executive producer is Katie Buchanan and director is Clare Richards (A World Without Down’s Syndrome, BBC2). The doc was commissioned by Patrick Holland, controller of BBC2 and Abigail Priddle, commissioning editor for specialist factual. It is distributed globally by BBC Studios Distribution.