After the fourth episode ('Greenhouse Effect'), Life Force's main afternoon airings on Mondays at 4:35pm were pulled. The remainder of the series was shown on ITV1 in what was previously its Sunday morning repeat slot at 9:50am. Reports at the time suggested this was down to lower than expected viewership, and complaints that had deemed the show 'disturbing', 'sinister' and 'irresponsible' for its audience.
The thirteenth and final episode ('The Thought Fish') left the series' overarching story open-ended. This would ultimately remain unresolved, with a second run never commissioned. In interviews with TV Zone and Dreamwatch, creator and executive producer Peter Tabern had previously confirmed that a continuation for the show was 'very definitely' a possibility, albeit most likely one that would 'go off in a different direction' within the same format.
The series was an early television role for Damian Lewis, originally airing over a year before his breakout appearance in Band of Brothers (2001). On the subject of some of the cast potentially being unable to return for a continuation in an interview with TV Zone, series creator and executive producer Peter Tabern specifically acknowledged Lewis's future prospects, noting that "he's stunning, but I don't think he's necessarily going to be available to us in a few years time. He's just been the lead in Warriors and I think from that and other stuff he's involved in, Damian will probably be a very busy boy".
Thirteen year old Swindon actress Sarah Hollis made her only known major television role in the series as Mai-Li. Hollis was a student of well-known local drama teacher Julia Dickinson at the time, and prior to the show's premiere additionally appeared to be interviewed alongside her co-lead Pablo Duarte on CITV.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
