dresses

Life Begins - Series 1
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Created by Mike Bullen for ITV this British Comedy Award winner tells the tale of a thirty-something wife and mother, Maggie (Caroline Quentin), whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Phil (Alexander Armstrong) suddenly announces that he is leaving her. This popular series ran for 3 seasons with a total of 19 episodes and filmed mostly on location in St Albans in Hertfordshire. The series was particularly popular in Australia.

Release / Airing: 16/02/2004

Locations used for this production:

  • Barrissimo, St Albans >
    Maggie and Phil meet for lunch to discuss the completion of the financial forms they were both given by the mediation officer.
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  • Batchwood Hall & Nightclub >
    With Helen and Karen beginning to warm to Maggie, she is invited to join them for a night out on the town, with hilarious results.
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  • Borehamwood >
    Episode 1 - Office Building where Phil works at fictictous company M.B.P Financial Services.
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  • Brocket Hall Golf Club >
    The new happy Maggie is beginning to attract attention from male admirers. Brian invites Maggie to join him and wife Penny for dinner at a posh French restaurant on Saturday night but it soon becomes apparent that Brian has other intentions when he turns up without Penny! Scenes were filmed at Auberge Du Lac restaurant located at Brocket Hall.
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  • Buntingford >
    Episode 1: The Mee family, Maggie (Quentin), Phil (Armstrong) and kids James and Becca head off to join Claire (Skinner), Guy (McQuarrie) and Freddie for a week's holiday. Maggie's life takes a sudden tumble when Phil drops the bombshell that he wants to split up.
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  • Francis Bacon School (not accessible) >
    Where James and Becca both attend school, the fictitious Oaklea Comprehensive School.
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  • Lloyds Bank, St Albans >
    Maggie checks her bank balance using the hole in the wall, and is not pleased to see her dwindling balance. She resolves to seek more money from her husband, Phil.
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  • Michaelangelo Ristorante >
    Maggie goes on her first date with Paul, James' school teacher.
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  • Puccinos, St Albans >
    Episode 1: Where Maggie (Quentin) and Clare (Skinner) meet to talk about Phil and Maggie's breakup. Episode 2: Where Maggie and Clare meet over coffee. Clare invites Maggie out with her and Guy on Saturday but it quickly transpires that Guy has invited Phil and new girlfriend Anna out already. Episode 6: Maggie and Clare meet for coffee and talk about how happy Maggie is since meeting Paul.
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  • St Albans >
    Clare visits Guy at his shop and is becoming upset that by getting her husband to hang out more with Maggie, it means that she is now the lonely one.
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  • St Albans Cathedral >
    Maggie meets Phil to talk about whether Becca may have a boyfriend.
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  • St Albans City Centre  >
    Life Begins was a six-part, ITV comedy drama from the writer of Cold Feet and stars Caroline Quentin. The series - a story of a middle-class mum picking up the pieces after her husband walks out on her - is set in and around St Albans City itself. The popular TV series proved its success by being commissioned for a second series, whichalso filmed on location in St Albans. Many people will recognise locations in the city and may have even been lucky enough to appear in the background as the film crew took to the streets.
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  • St Albans Town Hall >
    Maggie and Phil meet at the mediation services office to formalise their sparation. They are both asked to complete a form which will give an accurate view of thier financial situation.
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  • The Hare & Hounds (St Albans) >
    The Sun Breaks team take Maggie out for a birthday pub lunch in celebration of her 40th birthday.
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  • The Plough, St Albans >
    Maggie and Phil meet for a drink and Phil announces that he is splitting up with Anna.
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  • Ye Old Fighting Cocks >
    Clare and Guy go to the pub with Phil and his new girlfriend from work, Anna.
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Cast:

Crew:

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