Doc Martin star Caroline Quentin’s “emotional” British drama Life Begins has found a new home on Netflix UK.
Caroline stars alongside Alexander Armstrong as married couple Maggie and Phil, whose lives change dramatically when Phil announces he is leaving Maggie for someone else.
The drama follows the couple and their children as they try to rebuild their lives, with Maggie getting a job and getting back into dating again, while Phil finds out his new relationship might not be all he imagined.
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Created by Cold Feet’s Mike Bullen, the show ran for three series between 2004 and 2009. It also stars veteran Coronation Street actor Anne Reid, Outnumbered’s Claire Skinner and the late Frank Finlay.
The series generally received positive reviews on its release, with The Times praising both lead performances in the “emotional” drama, saying that Quentin “manages to lighten the tone of the drama without making light of the situation”.
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It also struck a chord with audiences, with one viewer writing: “The storyline has everything; laughter, tears, anger, jealousy, love and fear. Heartwarming and realistic, the stories revolve around Maggie, Phil, their children, families and friends. Every viewer will find something that strikes a chord within.”
Another viewer wrote: “I would recommend it to anyone looking for something to cheer them up but also it is surprisingly thought provoking and you may find similarities in your own family.”
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Elsewhere in Netflix dramas, David Tennant’s crime drama The Escape Artist is set to hit the streamer later this weekend.
The limited series, which was created and written by David Wolstencroft, sees the actor portray Will Burton, a barrister who develops a reputation for getting criminals out of tight corners during trials.
Originally airing on BBC One in 2013, the series will be added to the Netflix catalogue on 20 September. “You might love or hate this piece, however one thing is absolutely sure: David Tennant has given us some brilliant acting in this show, and even if it is for that only it deserves 10/10,” wrote one user on IMDb.
Life Begins is available now on Netflix.
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Rachel Finn is a freelance sub-editor at Digital Spy.