Long Live My Happy Head

This Sunday (27 March), a new feature length documentary co-produced by the BBC, The Open University (OU) and Melt the Fly productions will air on the BBC Scotland channel at 9.30pm.

Following its premiere at the British Film Institute’s Flare Festival (London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival), Long Live My Happy Head is the heart-warming story of Scottish comic artist, Gordon Shaw, who has been living with an incurable brain tumour for nine years.

Diagnosed at the age of just 32, Edinburgh-based Gordon communicates his thoughts and reactions to cancer through his humorous illustrations, having nicknamed his tumour, Rick.

Gordon remarks on his autobiographical comics:

“I seriously believe they have helped me come to terms with what has happened…or as close as anyone can get.”

Made over the course of three years, the documentary sees Gordon approaching his 40th birthday – a significant milestone, with brain tumours killing more people under the age of 40 in the UK than any other cancer.

Gordon has also found the love of his life, Shawn – a warm-hearted and protective American who lives in Bath County, Virginia. Their long-distance relationship is underscored not only by the trauma of cancer, but also by the amount of time they’re forced to spend apart due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The couple's daily calls and the bittersweet moments are a thread throughout the film and are an inspiration for Gordon’s latest venture.

Although his previous comics looked at his own personal experiences, for his next book Gordon chooses to focus on the people who look after people with cancer – the carers. With his tumour growing again and on chemotherapy, Gordon meets and interviews people who have cared for and lost loved ones to the very same disease that is killing him.

In creating the comic, Gordon hopes to gain an understanding of what Shawn will have to go through when his condition worsens. Long Live My Happy Head is about the triumph of love and creativity in the face of death.

Academic Consultant on the programme and Nation Manager for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care for the OU in Scotland, Michael Davidson, commented:

“It has been a privilege as an academic to be involved in this moving and inspiring film looking at the life of Gordon and how he is living and coping with his cancer. Gordon’s use of his skill as an artist provides a unique perspective on his experience of cancer via the media of comic and cartoon.

“Listening to the voices of the carers and how they share their experiences of supporting and caring for a loved one with a life limiting disease, provides a real insight into the specific challenges encountered by these people emotionally, physically, psychologically and socially.”

Some of the carers’ stories will be available to view on the OU’s Broadcast & Partnerships site.

Long Live My Happy Head airs on the BBC Scotland channel on Sunday 27 March at 9.30pm and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

This programme was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies with particular relevance to BA (Hons) Health and Social Care, BSc (Hons) Healthcare and Health Sciences and BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult).

Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships, Academic Consultant Michael Davidson, Media Fellow Mathijs Lucassen, Broadcast Project Manager David Bloomfield and Broadcast Platforms and Public Engagement Managers Andrew Hudson and Chris Belson.

Images: © Melt The Fly