If viewers think they've seen somewhere familiar when they're watching new drama Life on BBC One then they might just be right.
The spin-off series of the BAFTA and National Television Award-winning Doctor Foster was filmed on location in and around Manchester with its production and studio base at Space Studios in West Gorton, which is also the home of the crime drama series Peaky Blinders.
Locations support and facilitation was provided by Screen Manchester, the film office for Manchester City Council.
They included St Peter’s Square, Little Peter Street, Spinningfields, Ancoats, The Woodstock in Didsbury, The Grill on New York Street and the iconic Peveril of the Peak on Great Bridgewater Street.
The Peveril of the Peak, one of the city's oldest pubs, was first listed as a public house in 1830 and is the only detached pub in the city centre.
The series stars Gavin and Stacey's Alison Steadman, Laurence Olivier Award-winning Adrian Lester who starred in the ITV hospital thriller Trauma and Manchester-based former Coronation Street actress and disability ambassador Melissa Johns, who played Imogen Pascoe in Corrie.
Stephen Cheers, location manager for Life, said: “It was a pleasure liaising with Screen Manchester on Life and we worked closely with them on our numerous location requests across the city.
"They were able to facilitate and permit a wide variety of applications, from road closures for stunt sequences to traffic management requests and driving sequences. "Manchester has a treasure trove of beautiful locations and I very much look forward to working with the team again”.
Bobby Cochrane of Screen Manchester said: "Working with Drama Republic is always a pleasure and Stephen selected some of the city's most iconic locations which time after time prove themselves to be extremely versatile.
"Life is already making its mark as yet another quality high end drama.
"We are happy to do anything we can to open the city up to help producers realise their vision."
The six-part series created and written by Mike Bartlett and produced by Drama Republic has Victoria Hamilton reprising her role as Anna Baker from Doctor Foster, starring Suranne Jones as the vengeful GP Gemma Foster.
In Doctor Foster, which was set in the fictional town of Parminster and filmed in Hertfordshire, Anna announced she was moving to Edinburgh when she left Neil in series two, but she's now building a new life in Manchester and working as a pilates instructor.
She now goes by the name Belle rather than Anna to make a fresh start.
Adam James also reprises his Doctor Foster role as Belle’s now ex-husband Neil.
Set in Manchester, Life follows the stories of residents of a large house divided into four flats with each of their four stories unfold and intertwining.
Gail, played by Alison Steadman, is married to Henry, played by Peter Davison, and is about to celebrate her 70th birthday when a chance encounter throws her whole life into question.
David, played by Adrian Lester, is happily married to Kelly played by Rachael Stirling, but is faced with temptation when he meets the impulsive Saira, played by Hollyoaks, Corrie and Cold Feet actress Saira Choudhry, on holiday.
Pilates teacher Belle’s neatly ordered life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of her chaotic 15 year-old niece Maya, played by Erin Kellyman.
And Heavily pregnant Hannah, played by Melissa Johns. who is happily coupled up with safe and stable Liam, played by Joshua James, has her plans upended by the return of Andy, played by Calvin Demba, with whom she had a passionate one-night stand nine months previously.
Life began on Tuesday September 29 on BBC One and continues on Tuesdays at 9pm.
Now the first episode has aired, all six episodes are available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.
