He also explained why he chose Manchester as the new setting, adding: “Manchester is a world of its own. It’s both normal and extraordinary. Every day and remarkable. One has the feeling anything could happen there. It’s also beautiful and I love seeing that on-screen.”

Hamilton, who plays Belle, also talked about the importance of exploring mental health and connection in the series.

“In each one of the households featured in Life, each of the characters is in some way looking desperately for a connection with someone, or reconnection with someone that they’ve lost,” she said in the same statement.

“And you wouldn’t necessarily know that when you meet all these characters, but as the series goes on, you start to realise that that is what they’re all looking for.”

Watch the trailer for Life

Life: this is why Anna from Doctor Foster is really getting her own spin-off