This Life

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.