Picture shows - (l-r) Jack Davenport as Miles, Daniela Nardini as Anna, Jason Hughes as Warren, Amita Dhiri as Milly and Andrew Lincoln as Egg in the first series of This Life.
The quintessential British 90s drama series This Life started on 18 March 1996. It followed the lives of six young lawyers, sharing a house in Southwark, working and living London life to the full. The Radio Times promised "drink, drugs and tangled relationships". First going out at 9.45 on a Monday night, it quickly picked up a cult following as viewers got to know Miles, Milly, Egg, Anna and Warren.
This Life was created by Tony Warren and Amy Jenkins – who wrote it. They cast unknown actors for the main roles - Jack Davenport (Miles), Amita Dhiri (Milly), Andrew Lincoln (Egg), Daniela Nardini (Anna), Jason Hughes (Warren) – but all quickly became well known when the show took off. Using hand held cameras – as seen on US shows like NYPD Blue – and filming in a real house rather than on set made the action seem more immediate and real.
This Life ended at its peak popularity after two series. It set the style for other showsand its influence can be detected in programmes as diverse as Cutting It, Queer as Folk, Spooks, The Sopranos and Fleabag. In 2007 the cast reunited for a feature length special This Life 10+ that brought the characters up to date.
March anniversaries
-
´óÏó´«Ã½ Producer Guidelines published
1 March 1989 -
Truly Madly Deeply
1 March 1992 -
Launch of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four
2 March 2002 -
Housewives' Choice
4 March 1946 -
Round the Horne
7 March 1965 -
Pennies From Heaven
7 March 1978 -
The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
8 March 1978 -
French and Saunders
9 March 1987 -
The Frost Report
10 March 1966 -
World Service Television News
11 March 1991 -
First broadcast by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Dance Orchestra
12 March 1928 -
Launch of the Latin American Service
14 March 1938 -
I’d Do Anything
15 March 2008 -
This Life
18 March 1996 -
First televised Budget speech
20 March 1990 -
Up Pompeii
23 March 1970 -
Letter From America
24 March 1946 -
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
25 March 2009 -
The return of Doctor Who
26 March 2005 -
Grand National televised
26 March 1960 -
Troubleshooter
27 March 1990 -
Opening of new Crystal Palace transmitter
28 March 1956 -
Going for a Song
31 March 1965 -
Teletubbies begins
31 March 1997