Afterlife S2
Created by Stephen Volk
Written by Stephen Volk, Mark Greig, Mike Cullen, Guy Burt
(ITV1, 2006) (8 x 1hrs)
*Golden Nymph Monte Carlo TV Festival Best Actor in a Drama 2007 - Andrew Lincoln
Written by Stephen Volk, Mark Greig, Mike Cullen, Guy Burt
(ITV1, 2006) (8 x 1hrs)
*Golden Nymph Monte Carlo TV Festival Best Actor in a Drama 2007 - Andrew Lincoln
Buy "Afterlife Series 2" on DVD
Buy "Afterlife Series 1+2" DVD Box Set
But "Afterlife Season 2" on DVD (Region 1)
Buy "Afterlife Series 1+2" DVD Box Set
But "Afterlife Season 2" on DVD (Region 1)
Fan created video edit "Fix You"
The Series 2 DVD also contains a special "Behind the Scenes: Making of Afterlife" documentary - see a short clip of Andrew Lincoln and Lesley Sharp talking about Season 2 below:
In the terrifying and emotional climax to the first series, Alison collapsed and nearly died in a séance during which she channelled Robert's dead son. Now newly returned from hospital, she accepts that the spirits will never leave her. Robert meanwhile is in turmoil, his sceptical beliefs shaken by what he witnessed. Desperate for answers, he turns to Alison - but for the first time in her life she is being haunted by a spirit from her own past: a ghost she most confront if she is to hold on to her sanity...
Alison Mundy.....................Lesley Sharp
Robert Bridge....................Andrew Lincoln
Jude...................................Anna Wilson-Jones
Barbara..............................Kate Duchene
Looking Back at ITV's Afterlife (Den of Geek)
"Lesley Sharp returns with yet another masterly, understated performance as troubled psychic Alison in a second series of this hugely enjoyable, eerie thriller" Radio Times
"Abundantly watchable" The Guardian
"I loved Afterlife" Katherine Flett (Observer Review of the Year)
"Utterly compelling" Heat
"Robert is like a hero out of an Ian McEwan novel" New York Times
"A new series of the supernatural thriller with an award-winning performance from Lesley Sharp as the medium plagued by spirits, whose gift is like an inconvenient stigmata that refuses to go away. It is a wonderful performance - compassionate, vulnerable, frightened, resigned and defensive" The Times
"Scary, powerful, moving and all round brilliant" Simon Bestwick, author of the Black Road series
"One of the most heart-wrenching final episodes you are ever likely to see... Five years before achieving fame as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead, Lincoln's on-screen chemistry with Sharp gives Afterlife a real emotional punch" Mark Morris, What to Watch When
"One of the greatest dramas ever... My heart nearly broke at the end of Afterlife. The original brilliant Stephen Volk one. Not the solipsistic Gervais sentimental affair... If you want utterly heartbreaking, philisophically challenging and a weep until you ache journey all the way to the last episode, that's the one" Muriel Gray
"Such a brilliant, brilliant drama. I rewatched recently and it punched my heart to shreds" Sarah Phelps, screenwriter of The Pale Horse, The ABC Murders, Ordeal by Innocence
A terrific series that should be in every supernatural TV/movie writer's lexicon, and on every viewer's list" Jonathan L Howard, creator of Johannes Cabal and Carter & Lovecraft
Ep 1: "Roadside Bouquets"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Charles Beeson
Alison Mundy.....................Lesley Sharp
Robert Bridge....................Andrew Lincoln
Jude...................................Anna Wilson-Jones
Barbara..............................Kate Duchene
Looking Back at ITV's Afterlife (Den of Geek)
"Lesley Sharp returns with yet another masterly, understated performance as troubled psychic Alison in a second series of this hugely enjoyable, eerie thriller" Radio Times
"Abundantly watchable" The Guardian
"I loved Afterlife" Katherine Flett (Observer Review of the Year)
"Utterly compelling" Heat
"Robert is like a hero out of an Ian McEwan novel" New York Times
"A new series of the supernatural thriller with an award-winning performance from Lesley Sharp as the medium plagued by spirits, whose gift is like an inconvenient stigmata that refuses to go away. It is a wonderful performance - compassionate, vulnerable, frightened, resigned and defensive" The Times
"Scary, powerful, moving and all round brilliant" Simon Bestwick, author of the Black Road series
"One of the most heart-wrenching final episodes you are ever likely to see... Five years before achieving fame as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead, Lincoln's on-screen chemistry with Sharp gives Afterlife a real emotional punch" Mark Morris, What to Watch When
"One of the greatest dramas ever... My heart nearly broke at the end of Afterlife. The original brilliant Stephen Volk one. Not the solipsistic Gervais sentimental affair... If you want utterly heartbreaking, philisophically challenging and a weep until you ache journey all the way to the last episode, that's the one" Muriel Gray
"Such a brilliant, brilliant drama. I rewatched recently and it punched my heart to shreds" Sarah Phelps, screenwriter of The Pale Horse, The ABC Murders, Ordeal by Innocence
A terrific series that should be in every supernatural TV/movie writer's lexicon, and on every viewer's list" Jonathan L Howard, creator of Johannes Cabal and Carter & Lovecraft
Ep 1: "Roadside Bouquets"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Charles Beeson
As Alison continues seemingly along the path to recovery after the near-fatal séance, previously sceptical psychology lecturer Robert becomes increasingly insistent on answers about the spirits. Then Alison sees the ghost of a young car crash victim at the side of the road, needing her help.
Sash.................................Emily Beecham
Darren..............................Ed Westwick
Liam.................................Harry Treadway
Tessa...............................Nora-Jane Noone
Ep 2: "The Rat Man"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Charles Beeson
Sash.................................Emily Beecham
Darren..............................Ed Westwick
Liam.................................Harry Treadway
Tessa...............................Nora-Jane Noone
Ep 2: "The Rat Man"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Charles Beeson
Alison and Robert investigate a series of suicides in prison, where long-term inmate Ian Garland claims a malign spirit urged him to commit multiple rape murders in the past. The medium is soon convinced The Rat Man is responsible for the deaths and tries to exorcise it, but has to endure terrifying visions of the killer's victims in the process.
Terence Olivets...................Michael Obiora
Ian Garland.........................David Threlfall
The Rat Man.......................Robin Samson
"Dark and compelling viewing" Mail on Sunday
Ep 3: "Lullaby"
Written by Mark Greig
Directed by Charles Beeson
Terence Olivets...................Michael Obiora
Ian Garland.........................David Threlfall
The Rat Man.......................Robin Samson
"Dark and compelling viewing" Mail on Sunday
Ep 3: "Lullaby"
Written by Mark Greig
Directed by Charles Beeson
A father seeks Alison's help after hearing a disembodied voice coming from his child's baby monitor. And Robert is becoming increasingly worried about Alison's behaviour - until his own life is thrown into chaos by two unexpected developments.
Martin Cable........................Aidan McArdle
Ruth Cable...........................Zoe Telford
"The dream team of the sexy Andrew Lincoln and Lesley Sharp, who is simply the finest actor on TV" Heat
Ep 4: "Your Hand in Mine"
Written by Mike Cullen and Stephen Volk
Directed by Martyn Friend
Martin Cable........................Aidan McArdle
Ruth Cable...........................Zoe Telford
"The dream team of the sexy Andrew Lincoln and Lesley Sharp, who is simply the finest actor on TV" Heat
Ep 4: "Your Hand in Mine"
Written by Mike Cullen and Stephen Volk
Directed by Martyn Friend
A man's fiancée is struck down with the same disease that killed his first wife. With doctors unable to provide a diagnosis, he sees out Alison in desperation, but her ability to help is compromised by a clash with Robert and the malignant influence of her own dead mother.
Jonathan.............................Liam Cunningham
Lucy....................................Julie Graham
Claire..................................Justine Mitchell
Alison's Mother..................Amanda Lawrence
Ep 5: "Mirrorball"
Written by Mark Greig
Directed by Martyn Friend
Jonathan.............................Liam Cunningham
Lucy....................................Julie Graham
Claire..................................Justine Mitchell
Alison's Mother..................Amanda Lawrence
Ep 5: "Mirrorball"
Written by Mark Greig
Directed by Martyn Friend
Alison tries to intervene when the ghost of a man who killed a student starts to haunt the dead girl's best friend - who knows more about the spirit than she is willing to let on. As the medium becomes more erratic, Robert fears his friend will end up the same way as her mother, but fails to convince Alison to talk about her odd behaviour.
Beth....................................Matti Houghton
Gemma..............................Natalie Tena
Nick....................................Edward Davenport
Ep 6: "Mind the Bugs Don't Bite"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Martyn Friend
Beth....................................Matti Houghton
Gemma..............................Natalie Tena
Nick....................................Edward Davenport
Ep 6: "Mind the Bugs Don't Bite"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Martyn Friend
Alison re-enacts the same madness her mother experienced before her death and edges closer to a nervous breakdown, leaving Robert to track down her estranged father in the hope that he may hold the key to enabling Alison to finally face her demons, before they destroy her once and for all.
Stan.......................................Kenneth Cranham
Young Alison........................Amy Hart
Young Stan...........................Craig Kelly
Young Antie Vi.....................Jo McInnes
Ep 7: "Things Forgotten"
Written by Guy Burt
Directed by Ashley Pearce
Stan.......................................Kenneth Cranham
Young Alison........................Amy Hart
Young Stan...........................Craig Kelly
Young Antie Vi.....................Jo McInnes
Ep 7: "Things Forgotten"
Written by Guy Burt
Directed by Ashley Pearce
Alison becomes involved when a teenager who has been haunted by visions of a masked young child claims the psychic he has been visiting is an imposter. However, Alison herself is unable to connect with the spirit world; in fact she thinks and hopes they have finally abandoned her. Meanwhile Robert struggles to find the right moment to tell his colleague about his increasingly failing health.
Harry...................................Gregory Foreman
Jennifer...............................Claire Rushbrook
Ep 8: "A Name Written in Water"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Ashley Pearce
Harry...................................Gregory Foreman
Jennifer...............................Claire Rushbrook
Ep 8: "A Name Written in Water"
Written by Stephen Volk
Directed by Ashley Pearce
Fan created edit "Hurt":
Alison launches into a frantic search for Robert after being shocked by a terrifying vision of him. Eventually she bumps into Barbara, who reveals the lecturer has been admitted to intensive care. Sitting at his bedside, the medium detects the spirit of a nurse who has made it her spectral mission to try to care for every terminally ill patient admitted to the hospital: by escorting them to the other side.
Zoe......................................Emma Lowndes
Night Nurse........................Aislinn Sands
Series Producer: Murray Ferguson
Head of Development: Petra Fried
Development Executive: Andy Baker
A Clerkenwell Films Production
More about Clerkenwell Films
Afterlife featured in the "Drama Trails" TV series ("Second Coming to Afterlife") produced by Tiger Aspect Productions for ITV2
Read the interview with Stephen Volk about "Afterlife" on Digital Spy
Interview with Lesley Sharp - The Telegraph, May 15, 2017
Zoe......................................Emma Lowndes
Night Nurse........................Aislinn Sands
Series Producer: Murray Ferguson
Head of Development: Petra Fried
Development Executive: Andy Baker
A Clerkenwell Films Production
More about Clerkenwell Films
Afterlife featured in the "Drama Trails" TV series ("Second Coming to Afterlife") produced by Tiger Aspect Productions for ITV2
Read the interview with Stephen Volk about "Afterlife" on Digital Spy
Interview with Lesley Sharp - The Telegraph, May 15, 2017
A chapter on Afterlife features in the book Seers, Witches and Psychics on Screen: An Analysis of Woman Visionary Characters in Recent Television and Film by Karin Beeler (2009) [see pages165-176]
AFTERLIFE: THE SEQUEL... Lesley Sharp (Scott and Bailey, The Full Monty) returns to the role she created in the acclaimed, award-winning ITV paranormal drama series Afterlife, in an all-new story that picks up the story in 2023. Listen to the audiobook Afterlife: Lost Loved Ones read by Lesley Sharp, produced by Bafflegab Productions.
Also find on the same page a FREE AUDIO short conservation between Stephen Volk and Lesley Sharp: Remembering Afterlife
"Lost Loved Ones" also appears in novella form in Stephen Volk's 2023 collection of ghost stories The Good Unknown published by Tartarus Press
Also find on the same page a FREE AUDIO short conservation between Stephen Volk and Lesley Sharp: Remembering Afterlife
"Lost Loved Ones" also appears in novella form in Stephen Volk's 2023 collection of ghost stories The Good Unknown published by Tartarus Press
