One of the ‘greatest British TV dramas of all time’ returns to BBC this week

Thirty years after it first aired, This Life will return to the BBC for a whole new generation to enjoy this 90s cult classic.

The era-defining British series – created by Amy Jenkins – starred an early-career Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) as well as Daniela Nardini, Jack Davenport, Amita Dhiri and Jason Hughes.

The quintet played a group of twenty-something lawyers sharing a house in south London ‘as they navigated friendship, ambition and the complexities of their twenties.’

Or, as the synopsis dubbing it ‘raw, real and revolutionary’ reads: ‘The 90s’ most famous houseshare. Five aspiring lawyers are aiming for the top – but behind the scenes, they’re a mess of love, drugs and excess.’

Hailed a ‘landmark drama’ with ‘fresh, raw and unfiltered performances’, it became the ‘defining series of the decade’ and a time capsule of London life during this time.

Behind the scenes, the show was also a fertile training ground for Britain’s up-and-coming directors, such as I May Destroy You’s Bafta-winning director Sam Miller and Harry Bradbeer (director behind hits like Fleabag and Enola Holmes).

The 32-episode rerun, offering a trip down memory lane, will be introduced by Daniela.

Fans and critics alike have praised its impact as a cultural touchstone and enduring legacy – despite its short time on screens.

Metro called it ‘the greatest drama of the 90s’, adding ‘no other TV series managed to capture the Cool Britannia zeitgeist as brilliantly as This Life’.

In a 2021 review, The Guardian wrote: ‘It was the sort of television where you wanted to contact all your friends immediately after watching an episode to recap it. It was funny but it also broke your heart.

‘It felt freakishly true to life. It depicted all the messiness and glory of being in your 20s in a way that you never usually see on commercial television.’

And in a review fresh after its release in 1996, The Independent shared: ‘What keeps you watching, in the absence of much discernible forward motion, is a quality of observation – the dialogue, apart from the odd passage here and there, continues to have an eavesdropped quality.’

The show has been praised for its diverse storylines, such as gay character Warren, who is grappling with his identity and discussions around interracial couples.

Over on IMDB, user shootingstar82 wrote: ‘While there are a couple of moments where This Life feels a little dated, overall, it holds up very well and is still immensely watchable.

‘This is one of the truly great British TV shows which I look forward to viewing again at some point in the future.’

‘A near-perfect study of life’s transitional period between careless partying and responsible adulthood,’ ideorio shared.

Discussing its unexpected popularity, and what drew him to the show in 2020, Miles actor Jack shared with The Guardian: ‘The writing was really different from most television. If you took a load of drugs, you didn’t necessarily die immediately.

‘If you had unprotected sex, you didn’t automatically become HIV positive. People liked it because there was no moralising. If you’re 22, you’re going to make some really bad decisions, but that’s OK. Relax.’

This Life returns to BBC Four at 10pm on Wednesday, March 18. Seasons one and two, as well as the 10-year reunion, will be available from iPlayer from 6am.

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