Netflix donates After Life bench to Victoria Park

Posted on 19 January 2022

Ashford is one of the 25 locations around the UK chosen to receive a bench from Netflix to mark the launch of the final series of Ricky Gervais’ After Life.

After Life is renowned for its scenes showing Ricky Gervais’s leading character, Tony, on a bench at his local churchyard, as he continues to grieve for his wife Lisa, played by Kerry Godliman. The bench serves as a place for Tony to reflect, share, listen and, ultimately, to grow and find hope for the future. In turn, the benches are located at points of interest across the UK to create a space for communities to visit.

Ashford is one of the 25 locations chosen to receive a bench from Netflix to mark the launch of the final series of Ricky Gervais’ After Life.
Ashford is one of the 25 locations chosen to receive a bench from Netflix to mark the launch of the final series of Ricky Gervais’ After Life.

The benches have been commissioned alongside suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - who offer help, advice and information to anyone who is struggling or in crisis. Those who visit a bench will be able to access resources from CALM via a unique QR code with the wording “Life can be tough, but there’s always hope. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is by your side”, and online by visiting https://www.thecalmzone.net/afterlife/

The bench in Ashford can be found at Victoria Park, TN23 4QA. Locations including Bath, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Taunton and Surrey Heath have also received benches from Netflix. They are each inscribed with a quote from After Life season 3, “Hope is Everything”, and a plaque with “This bench is donated by Netflix to commemorate Ricky Gervais’ ‘After Life’.”

The bench in Ashford can be found at Victoria Park, TN23 4QA.
The bench in Ashford can be found at Victoria Park, TN23 4QA.

Ricky 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.”

Simon Gunning, CEO, CALM 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.”