'Captivating' 90s TV drama with a 'rich cast' is available to stream and fans are loving it

Wales Online

4 days ago

'Captivating' 90s TV drama with a 'rich cast' is available to stream and fans are loving it
The BBC drama This Life was first broadcast in 1996 and ran for two series and 33 episodes, but it is still considered a classic by fans and has been hailed as the 'best British TV drama ever'
Fans are hailing This Life 'the best British TV drama ever'
(Image: BBC)
Iconic 90s TV drama This Life that had everyone talking around the office water cooler at the time has made a comeback on Amazon Prime.
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This Life, which first aired in 1996 and spanned 33 episodes over just two series, was included in BFI's list of the 100 greatest British television programmes and has been lauded by fans as the 'best British TV drama ever'.
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The hard-hitting BBC drama revolves around a group of law graduates in their twenties, embarking on their professional journeys whilst cohabiting in a house in south London. There are no courtroom scenes and instead the drama focuses on their personal lives, encompassing everything from infidelity to addiction.
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Among the cast members is Andrew Lincoln, who has since enjoyed a successful career in Teachers, Afterlife, The Walking Dead and the film Love, Actually. He will soon be appearing in the new ITV series Coldwater alongside Welsh star Eve Myles.
The housemates were embroiled in plenty of drama
(Image: BBC)
His co-star Jack Davenport has also found success in the Matt Damon film The Talented Mr Ripley, Pirates of the Caribbean and TV series like Coupling and Smash, reports the Mirror.
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This Life centres on five main characters sharing a home - Edgar 'Egg' Cooke (Lincoln) and his girlfriend Milly (Amita Dhiri), alongside party girl Anna Forbes (Daniela Nardini), her university ex Myles Stewart (Davenport) and Welshman Warren Jones (Jason Hughes), who was grappling with his sexuality.
The cast also features Ramon Tikaram (Virdie) as Ferdy, Natasha Little as Rachel, Steven John Shepherd (Karen Pirie) as Jo and Luisa Bradshaw-White (EastEnders) ad Kira.
The programme, conceived by Amy Jenkins, evolved into a beloved word-of-mouth sensation and secured its place on the BFI's list of the 100 greatest British television programmes.
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This Life started in 1996 and spanned 33 episodes
(Image: BBC)
In 2007 there was a special episode, This Life: 10 Years On, which reunited the main cast and explored their lives a decade after the series ended. The reunion special, centring on Ferdy's death and the resulting gathering of former housemates, attracted 3.5 million viewers.
Despite being three decades old and originating from an era long before social media existed, fans are now discovering episodes through streaming platforms and have been flocking to IMDb to share their reactions.
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One viewer commented: "I still hold firmly to the belief that the last episode of this landmark show is the best 40 mins of British TV drama ever. Any number of storylines coming sharply to a head, the terrific wedding reception with its toilet sex and terrible dancing, darkest secrets coming horrifyingly to light and the legendary punch.
"But how sad! If we'd known then that there would never be another series we would have stormed the BBC ourselves. But think positive. The show is endlessly rewatchable, and its influence has lived on in Queer as Folk, Attachments, Teachers, Metropolis, Tinsel Town and most contemporary drama since. Just please, please publish the damn scripts!"
The BBC series aired from 1996 to 1997
(Image: BBC)
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Another said: "Move over Friends this is your more intelligent English big brother. A perfect picture of 90s London through the eyes of young professionals and ordinary blokes and girls. A few cheesy performances by Tikarum but it sort of worked at the time much like the Fonz worked in Happy days at the time. Not a poor performance from a rich cast that all went in to achieve memorable careers. This is a collectors piece for those who lived through and experienced the era in London. Nostalgic and immersive TV."
A third added: "Watching This Life almost 30 years after its release is an interesting experience. Although its format has been much copied since the late 90s, it still retains the same freshness and vitality that made it such a captivating watch first time round.
"The success of the series stems from the fact that it feels so real. Each of the characters is impressively three-dimensional, with both strengths and weaknesses. They're at that interesting stage of their lives where they're finding their way in the world while also trying to find themselves, and each of them makes some understandable mistakes along the way."
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This Life is now streaming on Amazon Prime