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Afterlife (TV series): Difference between revisions

Created page with "{{ShowInfobox |name=Afterlife |type=Supernatural mystery drama |network=ITV |presenter=Lesley Sharp, Andrew Lincoln |first_aired=24 September 2005 |status=Ended }} '''Afterlife''' (stylised as ''afterlife'') is a British supernatural mystery drama created by Stephen Volk — the writer also behind the BBC's ''Ghostwatch'' — broadcast on ITV across two series from 24 September 2005 to 11 November 2006.<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |title=Afterlife (TV series) |u..."
 
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{{ShowInfobox
{{InfoboxTV
|name=Afterlife
|name=Afterlife
|type=Supernatural mystery drama
|type=Supernatural mystery drama
|network=ITV
|network=ITV
|presenter=Lesley Sharp, Andrew Lincoln
|starring=Lesley Sharp, Andrew Lincoln, Kate Duchêne, Anna Wilson-Jones
|first_aired=24 September 2005
|first_aired=24 September 2005
|status=Ended
|status=Ended
}}
}}
 
{{tick}}
'''Afterlife''' (stylised as ''afterlife'') is a British supernatural mystery drama created by Stephen Volk — the writer also behind the BBC's ''[[Ghostwatch]]'' — broadcast on ITV across two series from 24 September 2005 to 11 November 2006.<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |title=Afterlife (TV series) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterlife_(TV_series) |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>
'''Afterlife''' is a British supernatural mystery drama created by [[Stephen Volk]], broadcast on ITV across two series from 24 September 2005 to 11 November 2006.<ref name="stephenvolk">{{cite web |title=Afterlife S2 |url=https://www.stephenvolk.net/afterlife-s2.html |publisher=Stephen Volk}}</ref> Set in Bristol, the series follows Robert Bridge (Andrew Lincoln), a university lecturer whose committed scepticism toward the paranormal is challenged by his growing involvement with Alison Mundy (Lesley Sharp), a woman with a genuine and unwanted ability to see and communicate with the dead.<ref name="tvtropes">{{cite web |title=Afterlife (2005) |url=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Afterlife2005 |publisher=TV Tropes}}</ref>


== Premise ==
== Premise ==
Set in Bristol, the series follows psychic medium Alison Mundy (Lesley Sharp), cursed with the genuine ability to see and communicate with the dead, and university lecturer Robert Bridge (Andrew Lincoln), a committed sceptic whose scientific interest in Alison's claimed abilities draws him steadily deeper into her world. The two are further bound together by shared grief: Robert's young son, Josh, died before the series begins, and Alison's own claimed ability first appeared in childhood, beginning with the ghost of her grandfather.<ref name="tvtropes">{{cite web |title=Afterlife (2005) (Series) |url=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Afterlife2005 |website=TV Tropes}}</ref><ref name="wikipedia" /> Across its 14 episodes, the series follows the pair's difficult, evolving relationship as Robert attempts to write an academic study of Alison while his own scientific certainty is gradually shaken, addressing themes of faith, death, and grief throughout.<ref name="denofgeek">{{cite web |title=Looking back at ITV's Afterlife |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/looking-back-at-itvs-afterlife/ |website=Den of Geek |date=2015}}</ref>
The two leads represent opposing positions familiar to The Vault's own subject matter directly within the drama: Bridge investigates Mundy's claims from a position of academic scepticism, while Mundy experiences her ability as an involuntary, often distressing burden rather than a gift she has sought or profits from.<ref name="tvtropes"/> The first series builds toward a train crash whose survivors seek Mundy out to contact lost loved ones; the second series establishes that her ability manifested in childhood, beginning with the appearance of her late grandfather.<ref name="tvtropes"/>


== Production ==
== Production ==
The series was produced by Clerkenwell Films, with Tammy Chopling and Murray Ferguson serving as executive producers.<ref name="wikipedia" /> To research the role, Andrew Lincoln consulted parapsychologist [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]] about the day-to-day working life of a real paranormal investigator.<ref name="gold">{{cite web |title=Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe: "I see what the killer sees" |url=https://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=11828 |website=Goldsmiths, University of London |date=5 March 2019}}</ref>
The series was produced by Clerkenwell Films for ITV, running to 14 episodes across its two series.<ref name="stephenvolk"/> To prepare for playing a character built around scepticism toward paranormal claims, Andrew Lincoln consulted parapsychologist [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]] about the everyday realities of paranormal investigation.<ref name="gold">{{cite web |title=Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe: "I see what the killer sees" |url=https://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=11828 |publisher=Goldsmiths, University of London |date=5 March 2019}}</ref> Lincoln won the Golden Nymph for Best Actor in a Drama at the 2007 Monte Carlo TV Festival for his performance in the second series.<ref name="stephenvolk"/>
 
The role came during the period between Lincoln's earlier work on ''Teachers'' and ''This Life'' and his later, far larger international profile playing Rick Grimes in ''The Walking Dead''.<ref name="denofgeek">{{cite web |title=Looking back at ITV's Afterlife |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/looking-back-at-itvs-afterlife/ |publisher=Den of Geek |date=2015}}</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
The series was well received critically, particularly for the performances of its two leads, with reviewers praising its refusal to tip into "abject silliness" despite its supernatural premise, and its unusually brutal, unflinching tone from its very first episode.<ref name="clowns">{{cite web |title=TV Review: Afterlife (Series 1) |url=https://oughttobeclowns.com/2023/09/tv-review-afterlife-series-1.html/ |website=There Ought To Be Clowns |date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
Contemporary reviews were positive: the ''Radio Times'' praised Sharp's "masterly, understated performance" as Mundy, while ''The Guardian'' called the series "abundantly watchable," and the ''New York Times'' likened Bridge to "a hero out of an Ian McEwan novel."<ref name="stephenvolk"/>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Ghostwatch]]
* [[Andrew Lincoln]]
* [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]]
* [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]]
* [[Mediumship]]
* [[Mediumship]]
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/looking-back-at-itvs-afterlife/ Den of Geek — Looking back at ITV's Afterlife]
* [https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/looking-back-at-itvs-afterlife/ Den of Geek — Looking back at ITV's Afterlife]
* [https://www.stephenvolk.net/afterlife-s2.html Stephen Volk — Afterlife Series 2]


[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Supernatural Fiction]]

Latest revision as of 01:21, 4 August 2026

Afterlife
TYPESupernatural mystery drama
NETWORKITV
STARRINGLesley Sharp, Andrew Lincoln, Kate Duchêne, Anna Wilson-Jones
FIRST AIRED24 September 2005
STATUSEnded

Afterlife is a British supernatural mystery drama created by Stephen Volk, broadcast on ITV across two series from 24 September 2005 to 11 November 2006.[1] Set in Bristol, the series follows Robert Bridge (Andrew Lincoln), a university lecturer whose committed scepticism toward the paranormal is challenged by his growing involvement with Alison Mundy (Lesley Sharp), a woman with a genuine and unwanted ability to see and communicate with the dead.[2]

Premise

The two leads represent opposing positions familiar to The Vault's own subject matter directly within the drama: Bridge investigates Mundy's claims from a position of academic scepticism, while Mundy experiences her ability as an involuntary, often distressing burden rather than a gift she has sought or profits from.[2] The first series builds toward a train crash whose survivors seek Mundy out to contact lost loved ones; the second series establishes that her ability manifested in childhood, beginning with the appearance of her late grandfather.[2]

Production

The series was produced by Clerkenwell Films for ITV, running to 14 episodes across its two series.[1] To prepare for playing a character built around scepticism toward paranormal claims, Andrew Lincoln consulted parapsychologist Ciarán O'Keeffe about the everyday realities of paranormal investigation.[3] Lincoln won the Golden Nymph for Best Actor in a Drama at the 2007 Monte Carlo TV Festival for his performance in the second series.[1]

The role came during the period between Lincoln's earlier work on Teachers and This Life and his later, far larger international profile playing Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead.[4]

Reception

Contemporary reviews were positive: the Radio Times praised Sharp's "masterly, understated performance" as Mundy, while The Guardian called the series "abundantly watchable," and the New York Times likened Bridge to "a hero out of an Ian McEwan novel."[1]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Afterlife S2."Stephen Volk.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Afterlife (2005)."TV Tropes.
  3. "Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe: "I see what the killer sees"."Goldsmiths, University of London.5 March 2019.
  4. "Looking back at ITV's Afterlife."Den of Geek.2015.