Everything you need to know about Doctor Foster spin-off 'LIFE'

BBC One has teamed up with Mike Bartlett for new drama LIFE, which will be set in the same universe as Doctor Foster.

Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Adrian Lester (Trauma), Rachael Stirling (The Bletchley Circle) will all star in the series, written by Doctor Foster creator Bartlett.

The six-part series follows the stories of the residents in a large house in Manchester divided into flats, which will include GP Gemma Foster's neighbour Anna, played by The Crown's Victoria Hamilton.

Victoria Hamilton as Anna in Doctor Foster

Anna is now going by the name of ‘Belle’ and seeking to rebuild her life anew.

Adam James will appear later on in the series, reprising his Doctor Foster role as Belle’s now ex-husband Neil, who cheated with Suranne Jones' Gemma in season 1 of Doctor Foster.

Victoria Hamilton as Belle in LIFE

“As each of the four separate, relatable yet surprising strands unfold, they tell a larger story about what happens when we decide to step out of our own personal space and take a closer look into other people’s lives. LIFE explores love, loss, birth, death, the ordinary, the extraordinary and everything in between,” the BBC said.

Bartlett added: "In the last series of Doctor Foster, Anna split up with Neil and moved away. But I loved her as a character and suspected that was really the start of her story, rather than the end. In Life we find her living alone, under a different name, in a new city.

"It's one of four story strands that make up the series, the other three being new, completely different interconnected stories that explore the epic and extraordinary in our everyday lives. It might share a universe with Doctor Foster but Life is a whole world of its own."

Adrian Lester as David and Saira Choudhry as Saira

LIFE: What’s it about?

Gail (Alison Steadman), married to Henry (Peter Davison), is about to celebrate her 70th birthday when a chance encounter throws her whole life into question.

Speaking about the role, Alison said: “Mike Bartlett is a brilliant writer and has created an extraordinary character in Gail. I’m delighted to be playing her in LIFE.”

Hamilton plays Pilates teacher Belle (formerly known as Anna), whose neatly ordered life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of her chaotic 15 year old niece Maya (Erin Kellyman).

Alison Steadman as Gail and Peter Davidson as Henry

David (Adrian Lester) is happily married to Kelly (Rachael Stirling), but is conflicted by temptation when he meets the impulsive Saira (Saira Choudhry) on holiday.

Heavily pregnant Hannah (Melissa Johns) – who is happily coupled up with safe and stable Liam (Joshua James) – has her plans upended by the return of Andy (Calvin Demba), with whom she had a passionate one-night stand nine months previously….

The cast also includes Elaine Paige (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Susannah Fielding (This Time with Alan Partridge).

LIFE: Is there a trailer?

View full post on YouTube

LIFE: When’s it on TV?

It's not yet known when the six-part drama is hitting screens, but expect it to be fairly soon.

LIFE will air on BBC One.

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