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Life on Mars

  • TV Series
  • 2006–2007
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
31K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,267
138
Philip Glenister, Marshall Lancaster, John Simm, Liz White, and Dean Andrews in Life on Mars (2006)
Life On Mars: Season 1 (German Trailer)
Play trailer1:25
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973.After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973.After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973.

  • Creators
    • Matthew Graham
    • Tony Jordan
    • Ashley Pharoah
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Philip Glenister
    • Liz White
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    31K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,267
    138
    • Creators
      • Matthew Graham
      • Tony Jordan
      • Ashley Pharoah
    • Stars
      • John Simm
      • Philip Glenister
      • Liz White
    • 133User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 9 wins & 30 nominations total

    Episodes16

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    Clip: Life on Mars (UK) – The Beginning
    Clip 2:58
    Watch Clip: Life on Mars (UK) – The Beginning
    Life On Mars: Season 1 (German Trailer)
    Trailer 1:25
    Watch Life On Mars: Season 1 (German Trailer)

    Photos165

    Philip Glenister and Liz White in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister, Marshall Lancaster, John Simm, and Dean Andrews in Life on Mars (2006)
    John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister, Alex Reid, and John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister and John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)
    Life on Mars (2006)
    Life on Mars (2006)
    John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister and Dean Andrews in Life on Mars (2006)
    Philip Glenister and John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)
    John Simm in Life on Mars (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Simm
    John Simm
    • DI Sam Tyler…
    Philip Glenister
    Philip Glenister
    • Gene Hunt…
    Liz White
    Liz White
    • Annie Cartwright
    Dean Andrews
    Dean Andrews
    • Ray Carling…
    Marshall Lancaster
    Marshall Lancaster
    • Chris Skelton…
    Noreen Kershaw
    • Phyllis Dobbs
    Tony Marshall
    • Nelson
    Rafaella Hutchinson
    Rafaella Hutchinson
    • Test Card Girl
    Joanne Froggatt
    Joanne Froggatt
    • Ruth Tyler
    Archie Panjabi
    Archie Panjabi
    • Maya Roy
    Kevin McNally
    Kevin McNally
    • Harry Woolf
    Alexander O'Loughlin
    • Young Sam
    Ralph Brown
    Ralph Brown
    • Frank Morgan
    Lee Ross
    Lee Ross
    • DCI Litton
    Harriet Rogers
    Harriet Rogers
    • Test Card Girl
    Rae Kelly Hill
    • June
    Georgia Taylor
    Georgia Taylor
    • Denise Williams
    Timothy Platt
    • Leonard
    • Creators
      • Matthew Graham(co-creator)
      • Tony Jordan(co-creator)
      • Ashley Pharoah(co-creator)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Simm was once offered the chance to sign on for a third season, but he declined. He later regretted that decision. In an interview in September 2018, he said that if this show would ever be revived in some way, he would love to play Sam Tyler again.
    • Goofs
      The bar scene: No beers cost 22p in 1973. Also, as the UK were still changing the money over, use and handing over of decimals would have been a lot slower than as shown in the film. Beer in Manchester would have been between 10np and 15np (or 2-3 shillings).

      It was revealed in Ashes to Ashes that this era inhabited is a kind of police purgatory: Heavy artistic license can be used with these details, as it's not the real living world/ reality being portrayed.
    • Quotes

      Sam Tyler: [credits introduction] My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident, and I woke up in 1973. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.

    • Alternate versions
      While the version shown on BBC in the UK are 58 minutes in duration, the repeats on Bravo (UK) and the versions shown worldwide are cut down to about 42 minutes to make way for adverts and to cut down on the more adult material (particularly nudity and swearing). Much of the 1970s music is also replaced with public domain music due to rights issues.
    • Connections
      Featured in Timeshift: Creating 'Life on Mars' (2006)

    User reviews133

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Brilliant!
    I rarely watch TV, but I was absolutely hooked to Life on Mars. It was gripping and real and took me back to the 1970s. I loved every episode and can't wait for the next series. It was intelligent and humorous, more than I can say for most of what is on TV today! Sam was so believable; lost and vulnerable. Fighting his corner against his boss, but every now and then, the two of them were in accord! I was convinced that the final episode would find Sam coming out of his coma. It was great to get to the last episode to find out that it was a cliff-hanger... we have to wait until the second series. The plots are good and they really do portray the 70s as it was. This is the best TV drama I have seen in years - don't miss it!
    helpful•20
    1
    • Fionajane
    • May 31, 2006

    Top picks

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    FAQ4

    • What is going on? (MASSIVE spoilers if you haven't seen 'Ashes to Ashes')
    • So what does this mean about Sam?
    • So what happens to everyone?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 2006 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ford Granada
    • Filming locations
      • Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, UK(police station)
    • Production companies
      • Kudos Film and Television
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Red Planet Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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