The Nutters Club – Return Of The King

The Nutters Club – Return Of The King

Maori Television series THE NUTTERS CLUB returns to the screen this week for a second season where guests share their personal experiences of mental illness with host Mike King and resident psychiatrist Dr David Codyre.

THE NUTTERS CLUB host, and stand-up comedian, Mike King says highlights for the coming season include two one hour specials featuring former All Black John Kirwan and contemporary Maori musician Whirimako Black.

“These are two of the most amazing interviews and you should watch them both,” Mr King says.

He adds that all the interviews in the new season have an impact in their own way. The success of the first season also comes to fruition with the THE NUTTERS CLUB book which will be launched by Random House on 19 May.

“I always call mental illness the selfish disease because only you’re going through it but by sharing your story with other people you’re letting other people know they are not alone in their struggles. A problem shared is a problem halved.”

Mr King enjoys working on the show and says it makes him more content with his own experiences and he finds it rewarding to help other people.

"By helping others I have come to realise that I am helping myself in my recovery and for that I am truly thankful," he says.

In the first episode, Mr King speaks to Paora Sweeney in what seems like a familiar story of broken homes and criminal life, but Mr Sweeney’s early years were spent in a loving family.

His life was dramatically overturned by unbelievable loss which catapulted him into a life on the streets, foster homes and abuse. He turned to drugs and alcohol to escape the hurt and gang life as a place to belong.

As Mr Sweeney’s life spiralled into violence and the years spent in the prison system pushed him to breaking point, he faced his demons and turned his life around. Now a qualified drug and alcohol counsellor he uses his experiences to help others out of the darkness and last year his short story about his life won the Mental Health Foundation short story competition in the Sunday News.

“Rejection is a huge thing, you run from it your whole life and you never fit in,” says Mr Sweeney.

ENDS
Series two of THE NUTTERS CLUB premieres on Maori Television on Friday 13 May at 10.30pm.

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