Afterlife (TV series): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{about|the 2005–2006 British television series|other uses|Afterlife (disambiguation)}}▼
{{short description|British television series created by Stephen Volk}}
▲{{about|the 2005–2006 British television series|other uses|Afterlife (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox television
| name image = Afterlife logo.JPG
| image caption = Afterlife logo.JPG
| genre = [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]<br>[[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| caption = ▼
| genre creator = [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]<br>[[Drama (film andStephen television)|DramaVolk]]
| starring = [[Lesley Sharp]]<br/>[[Andrew Lincoln]]<br/>[[Kate Duchêne]]<br/>[[Anna Wilson-Jones]]▼
| creator country = [[StephenUnited Volk]]Kingdom
▲| starring = [[Lesley Sharp]]<br/>[[Andrew Lincoln]]<br/>[[Kate Duchêne]]<br/>[[Anna Wilson-Jones]]
| country language = United{{Unbulleted Kingdomlist|English}}
| language num_series = {{Unbulleted list|English}}2
| num_series num_episodes = 214
| num_episodeslist_episodes = #Episode = 14list
| executive_producer = Tammy Chopling<br>Murray Ferguson▼
| list_episodes = #Episode list
▲| captionproducer = Don = Bell
▲| executive_producer = Tammy Chopling<br>Murray Ferguson
| producer runtime = Don60 Bellminutes
| runtime company = 60[[Clerkenwell minutesFilms]]
| companylocation = {{Unbulleted list|United = [[Clerkenwell Films]]Kingdom}}
| location network = {{Unbulleted[[ITV list(TV network)|United Kingdom}}ITV]]
| network first_aired = [[ITV{{Start (TV channel)date|ITV]]2005|09|24|df=y}}
| first_aired last_aired = {{startEnd date|20052006|911|2411|df=yyes}} ▼
| picture_format = [[16:9 aspect ratio|16:9]]
| audio_format = [[Stereophonic sound|Stereo]]
▲| first_aired = {{start date|2005|9|24|df=y}}
| last_aired = 11 November 2006<ref name="ITV-9N">
Airdates refer to the UK broadcasts on the ITV network, although the series had its world premiere on Australia's [[Nine Network]] several weeks earlier, on Tuesday nights at 9:30 PM from 16 August 2005.</ref>
}}
'''''Afterlife''''' (stylised as '''''afterlife''''') is a British [[Mystery fiction|mystery]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series created by [[Stephen Volk]]. It follows an university lecturer Robert Bridge ([[Andrew Lincoln]]) who becomes involved in a series of supernatural events surrounding medium Alison Mundy ([[Lesley Sharp]]). The series aired on [[ITV (TV channelnetwork)|ITV]] for two seasons from 24 September 2005 to 11 November 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61729/itv-axes-afterlife-after-two-series/|title=ITV axes 'Afterlife' after two series|first=Tony|last=Delgado|date=18 June 2007|website=Digital Spy|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414052357/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61729/itv-axes-afterlife-after-two-series/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ITV-9N">Airdates refer to the UK broadcasts on the ITV network, although the series had its world premiere on Australia's [[Nine Network]] several weeks earlier, on Tuesday nights at 9:30 PM from 16 August 2005.</ref>
==Plot==
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==Critical reception==
Previewing the first episode as one of "Today's Choices" for its day of transmission in the ''[[Radio Times]]'' listings magazine, television critic Alison Graham praised ''Afterlife'' as "[A] highly-promising mystery series... a taut and snappy spine-tingler, even if it does use some old-hat shocker techniques such as creaking floorboards, darkness, inexplicable noises and unexpected taps on the shoulder."<ref name=RT01>Graham, Alison, "Today's Choices: ''Afterlife''", ''[[Radio Times]]'', volume 326, number 4252, issue dated 24–30 September 2005, page 60</ref> Reviewing the same episode for ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper two days after its broadcast, critic [[Rupert Smith]] was also impressed: "What looked like being a deeply depressing hour was instantly enlivened by the appearance of Lesley Sharp, who has become in recent years television's favourite Everywoman... At last I can put my hand on my heart and give an unqualified cheer to a new primetime British drama series. Afterlife was scary without being over-gruesome, it kept a straight face while gleefully narrating a plot of pure old-fashioned hokum and it starred actors who are constantly, entirely watchable... ''Afterlife'' took the best bits of ''The X-Files'', ''[[Jonathan Creek]]'' and, yes, ''[[Most Haunted]]'', and turned them into terrific television."<ref name=Guardian01>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/sep/26/broadcasting.tvandradio|title=Rupert Smith: The weekend's TV|date=26 September 2005|website=the Guardian|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117165508/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/sep/26/broadcasting.tvandradio|url-status=live}}</ref>
The response remained positive through to the end of the series, with all subsequent episodes also being included in "Today's Choices" in the ''Radio Times''. Previewing the sixth episode, Alison Graham was again positive, describing the series as a whole as having been "[A] consistently high-quality supernatural drama."<ref name=RT02>Graham, Alison, "Today's Choices: ''Afterlife''", ''Radio Times'', volume 327, number 4257, issue dated 29 October – 4 November 2005, page 68</ref> ''Afterlife'' was also a success for ITV in terms of viewing figures. The first episode gathered an overnight average rating of 5.7 million, 25% of the total television audience for the time, winning its timeslot with nearly two million more viewers than the nearest competition on at the same time.<ref name=viewers01>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/sep/26/overnights1|title=TV ratings: September 23-2523–25|date=26 September 2005|website=the Guardian|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117162135/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/sep/26/overnights1|url-status=live}}</ref> The second episode improved to 6.2 million viewers, 29% of the available audience and again two million higher than its nearest competition on [[BBC One]].<ref name=viewers02>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/03/overnights2|title=TV ratings: October 1|date=3 October 2005|website=the Guardian|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722213758/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/03/overnights2|url-status=live}}</ref> Episode three gathered 5.4 million and a 25% share, which was identical to that gained by the BBC One competition (an edition of the semi-regular ''[[Test the Nation]]'' interactive quiz series).<ref name=Viewers03>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/10/overnights|title=TV ratings: October 7-97–9|date=10 October 2005|website=the Guardian|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318075539/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/10/overnights|url-status=live}}</ref> Viewing figures remained strong through to the final episode of the first series, which concluded the run by again winning its slot by two million viewers, with 5.8 million and a 28% audience share.<ref name=viewers04>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/31/overnights1|title=TV ratings: October 28-2928–29|date=31 October 2005|website=the Guardian|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324104410/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/31/overnights1|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2007 ''Afterlife'' received three nominations for the Monte Carlo Television Festival 2007. [[Lesley Sharp]] has been nominated as best actress, [[Andrew Lincoln]] as best actor and Murray Ferguson as best producer.<ref name=ttapress>Volk, Stephen, "Stephen Volk Forum", 6 April 2007</ref> Despite continued critical acclaim, a drop in ratings led ITV to pass on recommissioning the show for a third series.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 1
|Title= {{va|More Than Meets the Eye}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Maurice Phillips
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|909|24|df=y}}
|Aux4= 6.00m
|ShortSummary= Alison tries to help a young girl, Veronica Vass, whose mother and father were killed in a suicide pact when she was just five years old. However, her tutor, Robert Bridge ([[Andrew Lincoln]]) is concerned that Alison's interfering is having a harmful effect on the girl's health. When Veronica has an out-of-body experience, imagining her parents death before her own eyes, the effects are enough for her to take her own life by slitting her wrists. Robert warns Alison to stay away from Veronica's family in the wake of her death.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 2
|Title= {{va|Lower Than Bones}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Maurice Phillips
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|10|101|df=y}}
|Aux4= 6.50m
|ShortSummary= Alison has visions of a young schoolgirl, Carly Tufnell, who has disappeared without trace, and tries to convince DI Felix George ([[Adrian Lester]]) that the girl is dead and has been buried in a water grave. Despite his initial misgivings, George acts on Alison's information and soon a body is found in a nearby wharf. With the help of Alison, George tries to gather evidence through Carly, and arrests a suspect ([[Daniel Flynn (actor)|Daniel Flynn]]), but is soon forced to release him due to a lack of physical evidence to back up Alison's claims.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 3
|Title= {{va|Daniel One & Two}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Charles Beeson
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|10|808|df=y}}
|Aux4= 5.54m
|ShortSummary= Alison becomes involved with a young schizophrenic man, Daniel Rabey ([[Nicholas Shaw]]), in an attempt to discover whether he was truly responsible for a brutal assault on his girlfriend, or whether a spirit, known as 'Daniel Two', was the real attacker. Alison tries to discover exactly who 'Daniel Two' is, and why he has been haunting the frightened young man, but it is Daniel's mother ([[Saskia Reeves]]) who reveals that she believes the spirit may be that of an unborn child whom she aborted when she was just 19 years old.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|Title= {{va|Misdirection}}
|Aux1= Charlie Fletcher
|Aux2= Martyn Friend
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|Title= {{va|Sleeping with the Dead}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Martyn Friend
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 6
|Title= {{va|The 7:59 Club}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Charles Beeson
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 1
|Title= {{va|Roadside Bouquets}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Charles Beeson
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2006|909|16|df=y}}
|Aux4= 4.43m
|ShortSummary= Alison's first investigation following her recovery from the traumatic seance is the investigation into a fatal car crash which claimed a young woman's life. Her three friends believe they are being haunted by her spirit, suspecting that she is trying to send them a message after her friend Darren ([[Ed Westwick]]) placed her at the wheel of the crashed car to make out that she was the driver. Alison soon discovers that this is not the reason for their haunting, and that they themselves are spirits looking to be reunited.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 2
|Title= {{va|The Rat Man}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Charles Beeson
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2006|909|23|df=y}}
|Aux4= 4.42m
|ShortSummary= Alison and Robert investigate a series of suicides in a prison, but discover that a figure named 'The Rat Man' who has become friends with a dangerous inmate, Ian Garland ([[David Threlfall]]), is the cause of all of the recent deaths. Alison tries to work out whether The Rat Man has befriended Garland, or the other way around - and tries to discover what the secret behind their relationship is. Alison then has a visit from The Rat Man herself, which causes her to try and commit suicide - until Robert comes to her aid.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 3
|Title= {{va|Lullaby}}
|Aux1= Mark Greig
|Aux2= Charles Beeson
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2006|909|30|df=y}}
|Aux4= 4.53
|ShortSummary= Alison comes to the aid of a young mother and father, Martin ([[Aidan McArdle]]) and Ruth ([[Zoe Telford]]), who believe they are hearing voices from the next life through their baby's safety monitor. Alison investigates and discovers that another baby previously died in the house, having been left to drown in the bath by its father, who also subsequently took his own life. Alison warns them that the man's spirit has returned to be re-united with his baby, but before they are able to move out, tragedy strikes.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 4
|Title= {{va|Your Hand in Mine}}
|Aux1= Mike Cullen
|Aux2= Martyn Friend
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2006|10|707|df=y}}
|Aux4= 4.25m
|ShortSummary= Alison investigates when a young woman, Lucy ([[Julie Graham]]), begins to show symptoms of a contractive skin disease which caused the death of her fiancé Jonathan's ([[Liam Cunningham]]) first wife, Claire. Alison suspects that Claire is not at peace and attempts to discover the reason why Claire's spirit is stuck in limbo. Alison eventually discovers that Jonathan was not present at Claire's bedside when she died, and that all her spirit was looking to find was the final goodbye from Jonathan, which she never received.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 5
|Title= {{va|Mirrorball}}
|Aux1= Mark Greig
|Aux2= Martyn Friend
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 6
|Title= {{va|Mind the Bugs Don't Bite|Mind the Bugs Don’t Bite}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Martyn Friend
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 7
|Title= {{va|Things Forgotten}}
|Aux1= Guy Burt
|Aux2= Ashley Pearce
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2006|11|404|df=y}}
|Aux4= 4.08m
|ShortSummary= Alison investigates when a teenager, who is being haunted by the spirit of a masked boy, comes to her after his regular medium, Jennifer ([[Claire Rushbrook]]), is unable to make peace with the spirit. However, Alison is also unable to connect with the spirit, leaving Robert to try and identify who the spirit is and what it wants from the young boy. When the boy finally realises that the spirit is a younger version of himself, a tirade of abuse comes to light, allowing the spirit to finally rest in peace. Robert resolves to not finish the psychological report about Alison that Robert has been writing in past episodes. He puts his written work in an envelope and goes to Alison's place to give the unfinished report to her, but he collapses at a railway station prior to reaching her house.
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber= 8
|Title= {{va|A Name Written in Water}}
|Aux1= Stephen Volk
|Aux2= Ashley Pearce
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==External links==
*[http://www.clerkenwellfilms.com Clerkenwell Films official site]
*[https://archive.istoday/20121210082001/http://www.thewebsitez.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?b-afterlifeepguide/ TV Central's ''afterlife'' website, Recaps, News, Chat and more]
*{{IMDb title|0435937|afterlife}}
[[Category:2000s British drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s British horror television series]]
[[Category:2005 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2006 British television series endings]]
[[Category:British drama television series]]
[[Category:British horror fiction television series]]
[[Category:British supernatural television shows]]
[[Category:ITV television dramas]]
[[Category:Television shows shot in Bristol]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Bristol]]
[[Category:Television series by Clerkenwell Films]]
[[Category:BritishTelevision horrorshows fictionset televisionin seriesBristol]]
[[Category:2000sTelevision Britishshows horrorshot televisionin seriesBristol]]