TV Series · 2004
Life Begins
60 min · Comedy, Drama · Ended
Composite
5.6
IMDb
7.6 / 10
502 votes
TMDB
8.0 / 10
2 votes
Local
— / 10
No votes
Synopsis
Life Begins is a British television drama first broadcast on ITV between February 2004 and October 2006, starring Caroline Quentin and Alexander Armstrong, Anne Reid and Frank Finlay.
Streaming availability
buy
Amazon Video
Streaming data provided by JustWatch.
Cast
Crew
Directing
- Charles Palmer Director
Production
- Andy Harries Producer
Seasons & episodes
Season 1 (6 ep)
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1. Maggie & Phil
Feb 16, 2004 · 60 min
During a holiday with friends Clare and Guy, Phil Mee tells his wife Maggie that he's leaving her. And when he moves out and gets his own flat, finances force her to look for a job.
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2. Maggie, Brenda & Eric
Feb 23, 2004 · 60 min
Maggie starts work at the travel agency, but finds she's no good at her job and then explodes when Phil comes in to book a romantic weekend break with Anna. Boss Jeff is prepared to let her go – but colleagues Karen and Helen launch a protest. Meanwhile, Maggie learns about her father’s serious health problems.
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3. Maggie, Kathleen & Sam
Mar 1, 2004 · 60 min
Maggie and Phil see a mediator (Sam Kelly) to divide up the assets but Maggie discovers Phil is being less than honest about his earnings and she threatens to bring in the Child Support Agency. Later, she goes out with her colleagues – who now regard her as Mother Hen – and she wakes up with a sexy young man.
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4. Maggie, Clare & Guy
Mar 8, 2004 · 60 min
Maggie is embarrassed about asking for the morning-after pill following her one-night stand with Smudge. She decides she needs companionship not sex, so her friends arrange for her to meet a blind date at a dinner party, but then Maggie starts spending time with Guy (jogging, climbing, motorbiking), making Clare jealous. Maggie is also angry that Anna has moved in with Phil, while the kids are exploiting the situation.
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5. Maggie & Helen
Mar 15, 2004 · 60 min
Maggie goes speed dating with Helen (Chloe Howman) but it's a disaster for them both and Phil isn't happy when he finds out from the kids and Anna thinks she's just doing it to make Phil jealous. But Maggie's love life takes an upturn when she is approached by James’s history teacher Paul Winston (Danny Webb).
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6. Maggie & Paul
Mar 22, 2004 · 60 min
Maggie begins a tentative relationship with teacher Paul, but her attempt to keep it a secret is almost ruined when Phil turns up with the kids after a relationship-ending row with Anna. Maggie's friends throw a surprise 40th birthday party for her, while she has to make a decision between the two men in her life.
Season 2 (8 ep)
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1. Things Are Changing
Feb 16, 2005 · 60 min
Maggie's branch of the travel agency takes over another branch – so abrasive Genevieve and disgruntled Kevin join the staff, and Jeff has to decide who'll be his deputy. Cuts are being made in Phil's office by his ex-girlfriend Anna, Guy takes a risk by expanding his business, and Maggie goes to school with her dad who is giving a talk about his wartime experiences.
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2. From the Past
Feb 23, 2005 · 60 min
Jeff's new deputy Maggie clashes again with Genevieve at work; old flame Frank (Roy Dotrice) re-enters her mother Brenda's life; Phil leans on Maggie for support as his redundancy looms; and Maggie disapproves of daughter Becca's boyfriend, and when the neighbours are away, Samantha has a party that gets out of hand.
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3. Time Goes By
Mar 2, 2005 · 60 min
Guy gets the wrong end of the stick when he sees Maggie comforting Phil, Maggie learns the reasons behind Genevieve's poor timekeeping at the travel agency (and it's a very touching moment), and Maggie and Paul's plans to spend some intimate time together go awry yet again.
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4. Under Pressure
Mar 9, 2005 · 60 min
Something unbelievable happened in last week's episode. Maggie's estranged husband Phil, who's just been fired, started spending more time in the marital home than when they were married, which her new partner, history teacher Paul, didn't seem to mind. And Maggie, who had such a tough time after Phil left her, is oozing sympathy for his predicament. It just doesn't seem right. Fortunately, things look as though they're returning to normal. Phil has agreed to move into Paul's flat to ease his financial problems, while Paul gets to move into Maggie's home to give the pair more opportunities to get cosy. But with Phil's depression over his job prospects reaching crisis point, you'll have to hope Maggie can restrain her compulsion to get all motherly and move him back into her life.
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5. Break for Love
Mar 16, 2005 · 60 min
Maggie realises the stress her mother is under looking after Eric, and suggests that he comes to stay for a weekend to give Brenda a break. Then Maggie discovers that Brenda isn't out enjoying the sea air with her friend Nancy - but with her old flame Frank. Clare challenges Maggie about Phil, telling her she is being foolish and could lose Paul - but Maggie is defensive and won't talk about it.
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6. Hidden Pain
Mar 23, 2005 · 60 min
Fed up with her mum and dumped by her boyfriend, Becca goes next door to be cheered up by Samantha. But when her friend's back is turned, Becca takes some pills and ends up in hospital. Phil takes it out on Paul who was supposed to be looking after her.
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7. When Lives Collide
Mar 30, 2005 · 60 min
Maggie plans a Christmas holiday with Paul, the kids, her parents and Clare’s family. But Phil sees signs that he can rekindle his relationship with Maggie when Paul gets a visit from his ex-wife Paula (Sally Dexter).
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8. Episode 8
Apr 6, 2005 · 60 min
Season 3 (1 ep)
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6. Episode 6
Oct 9, 2006 · 60 min
Will cannot go travelling so Phil says he wants to go and as Mia is now single she says she will look after the kids. Everything looks like it will fall into place when Maggie's parents look set to move in next door, but will everything go to plan?
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