Where the cast of This Life are now – from Hollywood stardom to hospital dashes and lesbian weddings

WE all love a trip down memory lane and when it comes to nostalgic TV shows, This Life is up there for many telly fans.

The BBC Two series – which is returning for a reboot – began in 1996 and followed the lives of five law graduates in their 20s who lived together in a house share.



This Life aired from 1996 to 1997 for two series

The show ran for just two series until 1997 before a reunion special in 2006.

But, despite it’s short back catalogue, it was included in the British Film Institutes list of the top 100 greatest British TV shows of all time.

It also helped launch the careers of many – with some, like Andrew Lincoln, going on to Hollywood stardom, and others, like Luisa Bradshaw-White, going into soaps.

Here’s what the cast has been up to since.

US TV star

Andrew Lincoln



Andrew Lincoln played Egg and has since gone on to star in Love Actually and The Walking Dead

Andrew, 47, landed his first major role as Egg in This Life.

He then went on to star in Channel 4 series Teachers before making a memorable appearance in hit Christmas film, Love Actually.

He reached further stardom across the pond when he signed up to play Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead in 2010, a role he played until 2018 but is set to return to in a trilogy of Walking Dead films.

Most recently, he starred as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

On 10 June 2006, Lincoln married Gael Anderson, the daughter of Jethro Tull vocalist Ian Anderson.

They have two children together, Matilda, 14, and Arthur, 11.

Hollywood stardom

Jack Davenport



Jack Davenport’s best known role since the show is as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean films

Jack played Miles Stewart, a man unlucky in love until he met Francesca.

Jack has also starred in Coupling but is probably best known for his role as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

He has also appeared in American TV shows including FlashForward, Smash and The Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

In 2000, Jack got married to Scottish actress Michelle Gomez, best known for portraying Missy in Doctor Who.

They are parents to Harry, 11.

Sexism row

Daniela Nardini



Daniela won a BAFTA for her role as Anna Forbes

Daniela played Anna Forbes in the show, and was quite a troubled character.

The role won her a BAFTA for Best Actress in 1998 and she has gone on to appear in a number of other TV shows since, including Reckless, Sirens and Gunpowder, Treason & Plot.

However, Daniela has hit out at sexism in the industry and told the Telegraph: “Women are seen to be off the market when they are 35.”

Daniela currently lives in Glasgow with her partner, Ivan Stein, a former civil servant-turned-chef, and their daughter. 

Hospital dash

Steve John Shepherd



Steve John Shephered has starred as Michael Moon in EastEnders since This Life

Despite starring in This Life as Jo, Steve John Shepherd is now probably best known as Alfie Moon‘s evil cousin Michael Moon.

Steve played the EastEnders villain from 2010 to 2013 – and his character was even mentioned in the soap recently when his ex-wife Janine Butcher returned with their daughter Scarlett.

Most recently, the actor was seen as Ambrose in children’s TV show, Hetty Feather.

He is married to actor Anna Wilson-Jones and they have three children, Agatha, 16, Cosima, 14, and a nine-year-old son together.

In 2014,  Steve suddenly suffered a serious internal haemorrhage; losing nearly seven units of blood, and was wheeled into an ambulance in front of his three then-young children.

He had a blood transfusion and was told to cut down on drinking by doctors, and now focuses on his theatre work.

Lesbian wedding

Luisa Bradshaw-White



Luisa Bradshaw-White married her wife as soon as she legally could

Luisa Bradshaw-White is another one from This Life who went on to star in EastEnders.

The actor – who played Kira in the 90s show – played Mick and Shirley Carter’s sister Tina in EastEnders from November 2013, until the character was brutally murdered by Gray Atkins last year.

On top of that, Luisa has appeared in everything from The Bill to Bad Girls, and she took part in All Star Musicals earlier this year.

When it comes to her homelife, Luisa has been married to her wife Annette Yeo since 2015, when same-sex marriage became legal in the UK.

The smitten pair previously had a civil partnership in 2006, but they finally managed to get married.

Their daughters – two sisters they adopted when they were three and four years old – were bridesmaids on their big day.

Luisa has also bravely spoken out about living with bipolar disorder – and published an inspiring essay on the subject to mark Mental Health Awareness Week earlier this year.

She told The Metro: “I have Bipolar Disorder, which luckily I have been stable from for years, although I look back and am shocked I didn’t get diagnosed earlier as I see patterns of it throughout my whole life,

“Bipolar took me to a land of hell, that I just couldn’t seem to get back from.

“My highs were so out of control and left me extremely vulnerable and my life was full of fear and anxiety.”

TV drama star

Amita Dhiri



Amita played Milly, the girlfiend of Egg and has since starred in The Bill and Holby City

Amita played Milly Nassim in the show and was in a relationship with Egg.

She also memorably punched Rachel in the face in the final episode.

Since the show ended she has starred in the likes of Holby City and Silent Witness and The Bill – which also recently announced it’s returning.

Crime drama regular

Jason Hughes



Jason played Warren and appeared in Midsomer Murders for eight years

Jason played Warren Jones, who struggled to come out to his friends and family during the show’s run.

Jason will be a familiar face to crime drama fans, having appeared in Marcella and Midsomer Murders as DS Ben Jones from 2005 until 2013.

Most recently, he played Max Price in The Pact.

Varied TV career

Ramon Tikaram



Ramon played Ferdy and has appeared in a whole of host of shows including Man Down, Game of Thrones and Pennyworth

Ramon played bisexual Ferdinand ‘Ferdy’ Garcia, who sadly died during the show’s reunion episode.

Since then, he has had a varied career appearing in EastEnders, Greg Davies comedy Man Down, Game of Thrones and most recently, Pennyworth.

This Life really has been a rocky one for some of these stars.