I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN... THIS LIFE

WHAT’SIT ABOUT?

This 1990s drama is based around a group of fun-loving young lawyers sharing a chaotic house in south London.

WHO’S IN IT?

The show made stars of its young cast. Jason Hughes was lovable Warren, Daniela Nardini played feisty Anna, The Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln was dropout Egg, who was dating ambitious Milly, played by Amita Dhiri, while Pirates Of The Caribbean star Jack Davenport was posh boy Miles, who had a fierce love/hate relationship with Anna.

WHY SHOULD I WATCH IT?

A bold and brilliant drama, this was TV’S Cool Britannia moment. It captured the twentysomething

experience of young Londoners looking to have fun in a decade of boundless possibilities perfectly. Be warned though – that does mean lots of casual sex and drug taking.

WHAT ELSE?

There’s some really fantastic music with Oasis, Suede, Everything But The Girl, Blur, New Order and The Clash all featured on the soundtrack, which was curated by the show’s musical advisor, Ricky Gervais (pre-the Office, right), whose partner, Jane Fallon, was the drama’s producer.

HOW MANY SERIES WERE THERE?

There were two series between 1996 and 1997, and a poignant 2006 special that tied up some of the tangled loose ends left at the abrupt end of the show’s original run.

WAS IT AN INSTANT HIT?

The first series, which was broadcast on BBC2, was neither a critical nor a ratings success. It wasn’t until it was repeated in the run-up to the second series that it became a word-of-mouth cult hit.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2001, NBC broadcast a loosely adapted American remake titled First Years. It attracted scathing reviews and low ratings and was promptly cancelled.

LOOK OUT FOR…

Martin Freeman, future star of Sherlock and

The Office, appears in the first episode of the second series, where he’s seen stealing money from Milly and Egg’s bedroom after a party.

HOW DO I WATCH?

All episodes of This Life – including the sequel–are available for free on BBC iplayer.