To promote the third and final season of Ricky Gervais’ After Life, made by blah were tasked by Netflix to create something memorable and special, which  would drive positive conversation about the show and its sensitive portrayal of grief.

Benches play an integral part in some of the most memorable moments in After Life and are often sought upon as a symbol of remembrance when a loved one is lost, as they are the perfect place to take a moment to sit and reflect. 

The ‘Benches of Hope’ campaign draws upon this simple  insight, taking a pivotal setting from a recurring scene from the show and translating it into real life by installing 25 permanent benches across the UK.

“Instead of doing an ad, we wanted to build a lasting and authentic legacy for After Life. Our ambition is to get the nation to talk about the theme of hope by creating inviting places where people can connect with others,” explained Oli Cole, Co-Founder of made by blah.

The benches were created in partnership with suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Those who visit a bench will be able to access resources from CALM via a QR code, promoted by the message; “Life can be tough, but there’s always hope. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is by your side.” 

Each of the ‘Benches of Hope’ is inscribed with the simple yet powerful quote from the show, “Hope is Everything,”. Whilst on the benches people are invited to take a moment to think or connect with someone else around them. 

“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.” explained Simon Gunning, CEO, CALM said.

The benches can be found across the UK in locations including Bath, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Taunton and Surrey Heath. Each bench is also marked with a plaque which reads: “This bench is donated by Netflix to commemorate Ricky Gervais' 'After Life'.”  

“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.” added Ricky Gervais.

CALM and After Life have a dedicated site where you can get support or find out more.