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Life Begins

2004 - 2006

Maggie & Phil

16th February 2004

Episode 1

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.

Maggie, Brenda & Eric

23rd February 2004

Episode 2

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.

Maggie, Kathleen & Sam

Episode 3

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.

Maggie, Clare & Guy

Episode 4

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.

Maggie & Helen

15th March 2004

Episode 5

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).

Maggie & Paul

22nd March 2004

Episode 6

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.

Top Cast

Frank Finlay•Caroline Quentin•Alexander Armstrong

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.

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Full Cast

Frank Finlay Image

Frank Finlay

Eric Thornhill

Caroline Quentin Image

Caroline Quentin

Maggie Mee

Alexander Armstrong Image

Alexander Armstrong

Phil Mee

Anne Reid Image

Anne Reid

Brenda Thornhill

Michelle Holmes Image

Michelle Holmes

Genevieve

Finlay Robertson Image

Finlay Robertson

Kevin

Chloe Howman

Helen

Elliot Henderson-Boyle

James Mee

Ace Ryan

Becca Mee

Full Crew

Andy Harries Image

Andy Harries

Producer

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