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Life on Mars

  • TV Series
  • 2006–2007
  • TV-14
  • 52m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
915
380
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
Cop DramaPolice ProceduralTime TravelCrimeDramaMysterySci-Fi

After a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but ... Read allAfter a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.After a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.

  • Creators
    • Matthew Graham
    • Tony Jordan
    • Ashley Pharoah
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Philip Glenister
    • Liz White
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    33K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    915
    380
    • Creators
      • Matthew Graham
      • Tony Jordan
      • Ashley Pharoah
    • Stars
      • John Simm
      • Philip Glenister
      • Liz White
    • 139User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 9 wins & 30 nominations total

    Episodes16

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated2008

    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)

    Photos166

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    + 160
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    John Simm
    John Simm
    • DI Sam Tyler…
    Philip Glenister
    Philip Glenister
    • DCI 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
      • Tony Jordan
      • Ashley Pharoah
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    8.1
    Ashes to Ashes
    Life on Mars
    7.5
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    La-i-peu on Ma-seu
    8.1
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    8.9
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    Mad Dogs
    7.5
    Mad Dogs
    6.2
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    Torchwood
    7.7
    Torchwood
    Erikoisjoukkue
    8.3
    Erikoisjoukkue
    Politiikan nappula
    8.7
    Politiikan nappula
    Philip Glenister and Matthew Graham Remember... Life on Mars
    Whitechapel
    7.8
    Whitechapel
    Roy Grace
    7.4
    Roy Grace

    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).
    • 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 reviews139

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A great find from other side of the pond
    This British series, which made it's trek to the States, Has proved to me to be one of the best series on BBC America this year (the other being Hex).

    The commercials for the series don't do the justice of what the series entails. The commercial make you think that the show is basically your run of the mill Sci-fi series working with a weak plot. I have always said that marketing is just as....if not more...important than the actual subject.

    You have probably already read the synopsis from other comments presented here, so I won't bore you with the background too much. However, as I watch this series (currently have watched the first 2 episodes) I can't help but be reminded of another British export from many years ago...The Prisoner.

    During each case that our hero is involved in, things come into play about where he actually is. He has no idea whether he's delusional, transported in time, or in a coma. This twist, put into the plot line, is what sets this show apart from the others in a very refreshing way.

    Overall, I was quite pleased with how this series has turned out and I hope to see much more of it as well as being able to buy the DVDs if they released here in the U.S.
    • charlesbailey49
    • Jul 31, 2006
    • Permalink

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    FAQ23

    • How many seasons does Life on Mars have?Powered by Alexa
    • 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
      • April 7, 2008 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ford Granada
    • Filming locations
      • Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Longsight, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK(morgue)
    • Production companies
      • Kudos Film and Television
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Red Planet Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

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