Life on Mars

CrimeDramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy2006TV-1416 episodes2 seasonsScripted

Tagline: Is he mad, in a coma… or has Detective Sam Tyler really travelled back in time?

First aired: 2006-01-09

Synopsis

A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

Creators

Ashley PharoahMatthew GrahamTony Jordan

Casting

  • John Simm
    Sam Tyler
  • Liz White
    Annie Cartwright
  • Marshall Lancaster
    Chris Skelton
  • Dean Andrews
    Ray Carling
  • Philip Glenister
    Gene Hunt
  • Noreen Kershaw
    Phyllis Dobbs
Life on Mars Series 1 Poster

Series 1

The first series of Life On Mars focuses on Sam's life following the crash and his arrival in 1973. Elements are thrown in to suggest he is mad, in a coma, or travelled back in time. Also during the first series run, Sam is informed that he is DI (Detective Inspector) to DCI Gene Hunt and the rest of the CID department in Manchester in 1973. This revelation is something that Sam finds hard to understand; he spends most of the series working alone, against his team and Gene.

Number of episodes 8

Life on Mars Series 2 Poster

Series 2

Sam learns that an operation is to be conducted on him in 2006 to try and revive him from his coma. However, he believes that to return to the twenty-first century, he has to betray his colleagues in 1973 — but can he regard them as imaginary, or are they real - at least for him?

Number of episodes 8