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Life on Mars

  • TV Series
  • 2006–20072006–2007
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
31K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,247
6
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.

IMDb RATING
8.4/10
31K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,247
6
  • Creators
    • Matthew Graham(co-creator)
    • Tony Jordan(co-creator)
    • Ashley Pharoah(co-creator)
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Philip Glenister
    • Liz White
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Matthew Graham(co-creator)
    • Tony Jordan(co-creator)
    • Ashley Pharoah(co-creator)
  • Stars
    • John Simm
    • Philip Glenister
    • Liz White
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 130User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 9 wins & 30 nominations total

    Episodes16

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    2008

    Videos2

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

    Photos114

    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…
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Philip Glenister
    Philip Glenister
    • Gene Hunt…
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Liz White
    Liz White
    • Annie Cartwright
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Dean Andrews
    Dean Andrews
    • Ray Carling…
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Marshall Lancaster
    Marshall Lancaster
    • Chris Skelton…
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Noreen Kershaw
    • Phyllis Dobbs
    16 episodes16 eps • 2006–2007
    Tony Marshall
    • Nelson
    12 episodes12 eps • 2006–2007
    Rafaella Hutchinson
    Rafaella Hutchinson
    • Test Card Girl
    4 episodes4 eps • 2006
    Joanne Froggatt
    Joanne Froggatt
    • Ruth Tyler
    3 episodes3 eps • 2006
    Archie Panjabi
    Archie Panjabi
    • Maya Roy
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006–2007
    Kevin McNally
    Kevin McNally
    • Harry Woolf
    2 episodes2 eps • 2007
    Alexander O'Loughlin
    • Young Sam
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006–2007
    Ralph Brown
    Ralph Brown
    • Frank Morgan
    2 episodes2 eps • 2007
    Lee Ross
    Lee Ross
    • DCI Litton
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006
    Harriet Rogers
    Harriet Rogers
    • Test Card Girl
    2 episodes2 eps • 2007
    Rae Kelly Hill
    • June
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006
    Georgia Taylor
    Georgia Taylor
    • Denise Williams
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006–2007
    Timothy Platt
    • Leonard
    2 episodes2 eps • 2006
    • Creators
      • Matthew Graham(co-creator)
      • Tony Jordan(co-creator)
      • Ashley Pharoah(co-creator)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    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 reviews130

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Intriguing Entertainment!
    Like some of the reviewers here, I wasn't expecting much of this and started watching almost by accident.

    I am a '24' man(!) and I have to say after watching this, 24 (after season 3 anyway) starts to show it's weaknesses. In "Life on Mars" you really start to care about the character and what is happening - it has many surprises. Some are startling, some dawn on you as you watch.

    Now I wouldn't be old enough to actually remember the 70's, but it is very atmospheric - and crucially, not in an over-the-top way.

    The 'real world'(??!) storyline is handled with a light touch too. You go through it with him as clues (or more questions) pop up unpredictably!

    This deserves to be a huge hit!
    helpful•41
    11
    • Irishize
    • Mar 16, 2006

    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
      • April 7, 2008 (Finland)
    • 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
    • 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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