This Life cast now as star of iconic '90s drama Andrew Lincoln lands ITV Coldwater role

The television drama about fresh-faced twenty-something solicitors who balanced their demanding work life with a vibrant nightlife took the audience by storm.

The BBC's This Life, which premiered in 1996 and ran for only two series until its final episode in August 1997 (excluding the reunion episode a decade later), catapulted several of today's beloved stars into the limelight, including Jack Davenport and The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln, who will be seen in ITV's latest prime-time drama Coldwater.

When This Life first aired on BBC 2 in March 1996, it didn't immediately capture a large audience. However, through word-of-mouth, its popularity surged, and a re-run of the first series prior to the second one solidified its status as a cult classic.

By the time the second series concluded in August 1997, it had become a critical success, making headlines with its impactful storylines.

The drama followed the ups and downs of law graduates embarking on their new careers while cohabiting in a house in South London. It featured music from some of the top Britpop bands of the era and even included a then-unknown Ricky Gervais as a music advisor.

But what has become of the main cast?, reports Wales Online.

Andrew Lincoln portrayed Egg, who was romantically involved with Milly, another housemate.

Egg grappled with his position at the law firm where he was employed and, over the course of the show, came to realise that law wasn't his true calling, though this revelation strained his relationship with Milly.

Since then Andrew has become a huge star and is about to be seen on our screens in ITV's new prime-time drama Coldwater, which starts on September 14 and is a darkly funny thriller set in the Highliands.

Following the conclusion of This Life, Andrew went on to feature in Channel 4's Teachers and then made a memorable appearance in the Christmas favourite Love, Actually in 2003 - he's the one in the iconic card scene with Keira Knightley. He also reprised his role as Egg for the reunion special This Life +10 in 2007.

For many, his most significant role was as Rick Grimes in the television adaptation of The Walking Dead.

Amita Dhiri portrayed the diligent Milly. In the first series, she became the sole earner in her relationship with Egg and started seeking elsewhere for the affection and attention she craved, leading her into an affair with her rather unscrupulous boss.

Amita has continued to grace our screens with roles in The Last Train, Judge John Deed and Silent Witness. However, her most notable role came in 2007 when she joined The Bill as DC Grace Desari.

Amita also starred in Sky's Talking To The Dead in 2013.

Jack Davenport played the role of junior barrister Miles, who hailed from a wealthy and privileged background. Throughout the show, Miles reconciled with his ex-girlfriend and fellow barrister Anna, who became a housemate, and he had to grapple with the ethical dilemmas presented by various court cases.

After This Life, Jack featured in Channel 4's vampire horror show Ultraviolent, penned by This Life writer Joe Aherne and starring a budding Idris Elba alongside True Blood's Stephen Moyer.

You'll likely recognise him as James Norrington from the Pirates Of The Caribbean series, or as Lancelot in Kingsman: The Secret Service. He played Jennifer Aniston's husband in The Morning Show.

He appears in new Amazon Prime Video crime series The Assassin starring Keeley Hawes.

Daniela Nardini portrayed barrister Anna, known for taking on riskier and less desirable cases. Upon moving into the shared house, she rekindled an on-again-off-again relationship with her ex, Miles.

Daniela received a Scottish BAFTA for best actress for her portrayal of Anna, and another for her role as Meredith McIlvanney in Annie Griffin's New Town in 2009. She also joined BBC One's Waterloo Road in 2012, playing science teacher Esther Fairclough.

In recent years, Daniela has stepped back from the spotlight following a breast cancer diagnosis. In a recent interview, she revealed that spending lockdown at home with her teenage daughter allowed her to focus on two new pursuits - painting and training as a mental health counsellor.

Jason Hughes played Warren, a solicitor from Wales who was striving for a better life in London. Throughout the show, we saw Warren coming to terms with his sexuality as a gay man, and his therapy sessions helped him gain the courage to live his life openly.

The Porthcawl actor is a familiar face on our television screens through various roles such as Walking The Dead and Mine All Mine. Most will recognise Jason as Sergeant Ben Jones in ITV's Midsomer Murders, a role he played from 2005 until 2013.

More recent roles include TV series The Pact and McDonald & Dodds. Earlier this year, fans saw Jason in BBC's Death In Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise, in the role of Polly's father, Hugo.

Ramon Tikaram, who portrayed Ferdy, joined the show towards the end of the first series and became a housemate in the second series. Initially, Ferdy's presence irked Miles, but they managed to reconcile by the end of the second series.

Post-show, Ramon has had a diverse career, with stints in EastEnders from 2009 to 2012, Game Of Thrones in 2013, and Pennyworth in 2019.

Most recently he starred as baddie Jai Pawa in BBC thriller Virdee.

This Life is now available to stream on Amazon Prime