"This Life" (1996) TV series 1996-1997

Creator:

Amy Jenkins
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

17 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A series following the lives of Miles, Milly, Warren, Egg and Anna, five young professionals.

Plot Keywords:

Sexual Tension | Twenty Something | Professional Rivalry | Ambition | Homophobia

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jack Davenport	...	Miles Stewart (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Amita Dhiri	...	Milly Nassim (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andrew Lincoln	...	Edgar 'Egg' Cook (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Daniela Nardini	...	Anna Forbes (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Luisa Bradshaw-White	...	Kira (31 episodes, 1996-1997)
David Mallinson	...	Michael O'Donnell / ... (31 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steve John Shepherd	...	Jo (31 episodes, 1996-1997)
Cyril Nri	...	Graham (22 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ramon Tikaram	...	Ferdinand 'Ferdy' Garcia / ... (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Gillian McCutcheon	...	Therapist (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Natasha Little	...	Rachel (20 episodes, 1997)
Jason Hughes	...	Warren Jones (19 episodes, 1996-1997)
Geoffrey Bateman	...	Hooperman / ... (17 episodes, 1996-1997)
Juliet Cowan	...	Nicki (15 episodes, 1997)
Sacha Craise	...	Kelly (13 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Directed by
Sallie Aprahamian		(6 episodes, 1997)
Audrey Cooke		(4 episodes, 1996)
Nigel Douglas		(4 episodes, 1996)
Sam Miller		(3 episodes, 1996)
Joe Ahearne		(3 episodes, 1997)
Harry Bradbeer		(3 episodes, 1997)
Morag Fullarton		(3 episodes, 1997)
Dominic Lees		(3 episodes, 1997)
Joy Perino		(3 episodes, 1997)

Series Writing credits
Amy Jenkins		(32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Richard Zajdlic		(6 episodes, 1996-1997)
Matthew Graham		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Patrick Wilde		(2 episodes, 1996)
Joe Ahearne		(2 episodes, 1997)
Amelia Bullmore		(2 episodes, 1997)
Annie Caulfield		(2 episodes, 1997)
William Gaminara		(2 episodes, 1997)
Jimmy Gardner		(2 episodes, 1997)
Mark Davies Markham		(2 episodes, 1997)
Ian Iqbal Rashid		(2 episodes, 1997)

Series Produced by
Edwina Craze	....	associate producer (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jane Fallon	....	producer (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tony Garnett	....	executive producer (32 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Film Editing by
Luke Dunkley		(10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Fiona Colbeck		(6 episodes, 1997)
Nigel Cattle		(4 episodes, 1996)
Elen Pierce Lewis		(3 episodes, 1996)
Mary Finlay		(3 episodes, 1997)
David Gibson		(3 episodes, 1997)
Xavier Russell		(3 episodes, 1997)

Series Casting by
Di Carling		(27 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Production Design by
Anna Higginson		(32 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Art Direction by
Adam Marshall		(2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Costume Design by
Linda Alderson		(32 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Makeup Department
Sian Turner	....	make-up designer (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Sue Beswick	....	make-up assistant (2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Alexander	....	first assistant director (19 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tony Aherne	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1997)
Deborah Saban	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
David Masters	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Celia Willett	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Art Department
Dempsey Cook	....	properties (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Mark Earles	....	properties (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Danny Euston	....	property master (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Chris Eytle	....	properties (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ian Newton	....	properties (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Trevor Singfield	....	carpenter (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Karl J. Martin	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Keith Marriner	....	dubbing mixer (29 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steve Phillips	....	sound recordist (21 episodes, 1997)
Mike Reardon	....	sound recordist (11 episodes, 1996)
Piers Lawrance	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1997)
Dominic Weaver	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Andreas Petrides	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Handley	....	lighting director (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Grant Cameron	....	camera operator (14 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steven Smith	....	focus puller (9 episodes, 1997)
Francis Todd	....	focus puller (8 episodes, 1996)
Philip Astbury	....	focus puller (6 episodes, 1997)
Terry McDonough	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1997)
Dave Roman	....	focus puller (6 episodes, 1997)
Alan Stewart	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1996)
Lorna Will	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 1996)
Ian Adrian	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1997)
John Hembrough	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1997)
Ross Oglethorpe	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1997)
Matthew Crowder	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Stefan Lissner	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jim Russell	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Greg Mayer	....	set electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Di Carling	....	casting adviser (5 episodes, 1997)
Anji Carroll	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Penny Beard	....	costume design assistant (2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Editorial Department
Mark Neale	....	assistant editor: avid (4 episodes, 1996)
Lisa Clifford-Owen	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 1997)

Series Music Department
Mark Anderson	....	title music composed by (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Cliff Freeborn	....	title music composed by (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
The Way Out	....	title music performed by (32 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Other crew
Jane Houston	....	continuity (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Katie Steiner	....	legal advisor (32 episodes, 1996-1997)
Helena Pope	....	script editor (26 episodes, 1996-1997)
Dan Oudkerk	....	legal advisor (21 episodes, 1997)
Thomas Elgood	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1997)
Paul Stallebrass	....	legal advisor (11 episodes, 1996)
Emma Turner	....	location manager (11 episodes, 1996)
Barry Smith	....	location manager (9 episodes, 1997)
Maggie Boden	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1997)
Jon Duncan	....	assistant production accountant (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Richard McNeill	....	production accountant (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Joanne O'Sullivan	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1996-1997)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• World Productions

Other Companies

• Compuhire  computer and video playback
• Liquid TV Graphics Ltd.  graphics
• Martyr Television  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA (some episodes) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Chancery Lane, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Anna:There have been nights when I've lost it. I always seem to find it again in the morning.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Screenwipe: Episode #1.2" (2006)

Soundtrack:

This Life Theme

Postscript: This Life +10

Part of what made This Life such a landmark television series was its uncompromising trendiness – its utter refusal to comply with standard dramatic devices. The shaky camera, the rough cuts, the sex and the swearing were genuinely ground-breaking, which is why Amy Jenkins' decision to make a one-off comeback 10 years on has just a tinge of sell-out about it. I suppose this is how die-hard Beatles fans felt when Paul McCartney released the Frog Chorus.

Still, getting a glimpse of the whole "what happened next?" thing is always intriguing. In This Life +10 the group of law graduates reunite for gay biker Ferdy's funeral. The cause of his demise remains unexplained (maybe Ramon Tikaram was busy that day) though we do learn that he got it together with Welsh milksop Warren (Jason Hughes) in the years following the end of the series.

It is swiftly apparent however that the five original housemates have drifted apart: Anna (Daniella Nardini) is the only practising lawyer and has quickly motored up the ranks of high-class defence attorneys; Miles (Jack Davenport) has acquired a country mansion, a hotel business and a Vietnamese bride; Egg (Andrew Lincoln) has written a best-selling novel based on the gang's experiences and is still with Milly (Amita Dhiri) who has popped a sprog; and Warren is dealing with Ferdy's death admirably thanks to his burgeoning career as a life coach/self help guru.

Egg's status as a celebrity author prompts a sexy young filmmaker to organise a reunion between the flatmates at Miles's stately pile as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, and this is where the faintly absurd amateur psychology and pent-up tension begins to emerge.

But, hey, this is a study in recent social history after all and Jenkins just about gets away with the clichéd set-up largely thanks to the edginess of the group dynamic (which is still as well observed as ever) and the chemistry between Lincoln and Davenport whose old buddy routine provides just about the only realistic friendship of the whole lot of them.

Frankly the whole project is little more than an excuse to drum up the old neuroses and insecurities that plague those trying to come to terms with lost youth: Career woman versus housewife? Playboy versus responsible adult? Clapham Common cottager versus weird, over-analysing sperm donor? They are the identity crises that face us all…

Still – there is much to enjoy. The soundtrack to Egg's ostentatious cooking routines and the group's booze-fuelled slanging matches has shifted from Massive Attack and Portishead to The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs – the use of contemporary music once again proving integral to This Life's success - but, in a nice conceit, as the action comes to a climax, the whole gang dance around like middle-aged loons to the Manic Street Preachers. Clearly these are nineties children at heart.

Whether intentional or not, there is a spooky symmetry between the fates of the characters and their real life alter egos. Miles's success in industry and Egg's fame mirror the career paths of Davenport and Lincoln who clearly didn't need this nostalgic trip down memory lane as much as the others and it is a tribute to their evident respect for Jenkins and the original series that they agreed to the reunion at all.

The biggest problem with the show has always been empathy. These people are egotistical, hopelessly unstable and borderline unlikeable - but they perfectly bring out the screwed-up wretch in all of us. One can easily forgive Jenkins her indulgence, for This Life +10 is a triumph of reminiscence and guilty pleasures.