Life on Mars (TV series)

Life on Mars
Life on Mars logo.png
Life on Mars title sequence
Genre Speculative fiction
Police procedural
Created by Matthew Graham
Tony Jordan
Ashley Pharoah
Starring John Simm
Philip Glenister
Liz White
Dean Andrews
Marshall Lancaster
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 16 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) BBC Wales for Kudos Film and Television with Monastic Productions
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One
Picture format PAL (576i)
1080i (HDTV) (blu-ray upscaled only)
Original run 9 January 2006 – 10 April 2007
Chronology
Followed by Ashes to Ashes
Related shows Life on Mars (U.S. remake)
The Girl of Yesterday (Spanish remake)

Life on Mars is a British science fiction/police procedural drama television series. It was first broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007, lasting for two series in total.

An American version of the series was produced by ABC, and ran for one series from October 2008 to April 2009. Also, a Spanish version of the show was broadcast from April to June 2009

A sequel to the series, Ashes to Ashes, began transmission on BBC One in February 2008, followed by a second series in 2009 and a third and final series in 2010.[1]

Contents

Plot

Life on Mars tells the fictional story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a police officer in service with the Greater Manchester Police. After being hit by a car in 2006, Tyler awakes in 1973 and finds himself working for the predecessor of the GMP, the Manchester and Salford Police at the same station and location as in 2006. Early on in the series, it becomes apparent to Tyler that he awakes as a Detective Inspector, one rank lower than his 2006 rank of Detective Chief Inspector. As part of the CID, Tyler finds himself working under the command of Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).

Throughout the two series, the central plot centres on the ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament of it being unclear to both the audience and the character whether he has died, gone mad, is in a coma or has actually travelled back in time.[2] However, the final episode of the spin-off series Ashes to Ashes, aired 21st May 2010, revealed that the Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes world is purgatory for dead and dying police officers. It is explained to be an overlapping parallel world where the police officers go to accept their fates before moving on to the afterlife. This explains why some of Tyler's actions in 1973 have a direct effect on the future.[3]

Origins

The programme was originally conceived in 1998, when screenwriters Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah were sent on a break to the English seaside resort of Blackpool by Kudos Film & Television to think up programme ideas.[4] Originally titled Ford Granada after the 1970s car, the series was rejected by the BBC.[5] In response, Graham stated: "Back then, broadcasters just weren't comfortable with something like that, something that wasn't set in the real world and that had a fantasy element to it."[4] According to Graham, the initial idea was for a humorous, pre-watershed programme that overtly mocked the styles and attitudes of the 1970s, with the comic actor Neil Morrissey envisaged as the central character.[6]

Later, Channel 4 drama executive, John Yorke substantially redeveloped the original script, focusing on a double act between Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt. Senior management eventually decided not to pursue the idea, with Graham stating that the reaction to the idea was: "It's going to be silly", as told to Radio Times. The series eventually attracted the attention of BBC Wales' Julie Gardner, who persuaded the Head of Drama for the BBC, Jane Tranter, to commission the programme from BBC Wales for BBC One.[4] John Yorke left Channel 4 to rejoin the BBC and together with Julie Gardner, he acted as joint commissioning editor on the show for its entire run.

The programme's central character was originally to have been named "Sam Williams", but Kudos felt this to not be striking enough and requested Graham devise an alternative surname. Graham asked his young daughter for her opinion and she suggested "Sam Tyler", which became the character's name. Graham subsequently discovered that his daughter had named him after the Doctor Who character Rose Tyler.[7] The initial geographical setting was to be London; this was then changed to Leeds and finally to Manchester, as part of a BBC initiative to make more programmes in the city.[6] The name Sam Williams was subsequently used as a plot point in the second series.

Production and transmission

Eight one-hour episodes of Life on Mars were broadcast weekly on Monday nights at 9:00 P.M. by the BBC. The series episodes were mostly written by its creators Jordan, Graham and Pharoah, later joined by Chris Chibnall as the fourth writer for the first series. For the second series, Graham, Pharoah and Chibnall returned to write episodes, joined by Julie Rutterford, Guy Jenkin and Mark Greig.[8]

The second series was broadcast weekly at the same time as the first, with the only difference being the change of transmission day from Monday to Tuesday.[9] According to Jane Featherstone, the show's executive producer, speaking in February 2006, a film version of the show was also a possibility: "Life on Mars was a very high concept idea and there was no doubt it would work on the big screen."[10]

On 9 October 2006, it was confirmed that the second series of Life on Mars would be the last. Matthew Graham stated: "We decided that Sam's journey should have a finite life span and a clear-cut ending and we feel that we have now reached that point after two series."[11] Graham's claim that two separate endings had been filmed was later revealed to be a ruse.[12]

The second series had a distinctive style of introduction on BBC One: after a brief collage of momentary images, such as several test cards and the late comedy writer and broadcaster Barry Took, a mock-up version of BBC1's 1970s blue-on-black rotating globe ident was used, although the design had to be modified to fit widescreen sets. This was accompanied by a bass-voiced continuity announcer in the style of that era. Viewers in Wales saw an original 'BBC Cymru Wales' mechanical globe with introductions provided by former BBC Wales announcers. Trailers for the show also used the 1970s style, including the rhombus-style BBC logo.

Overseas sales

An American version of the show was produced by ABC, and ran for one series from October 2008 to April 2009.

In February 2007, The Guardian's media site reported that producer David E Kelley was to develop an American version of the series for the ABC network. Kelley was involved in the production of the pilot, but handed duties over to others for the eventual production. The series was broadcast to critical and minor public acclaim, but declining numbers led to cancellation after 17 episodes, but with sufficient lead to allow the series to be wrapped up.

The first series of the original Life on Mars was broadcast in the United States on BBC America from July 2006 to August 2007 and is being broadcast in 2010 on some Public Television Stations (PBS) [13], with the second series being broadcast from December 2007 to January 2008.[14][15] Acorn Media, released both series on DVD in 2008. The original version also was broadcast in Canada, from September 2006 to April 2007 on BBC Canada, and from 8 January 2008 to 23 April 2008 on Télé-Québec and Showcase.

In New Zealand, the original series was broadcast on TV ONE from February 2007, being described as "sensationally well-made." by an NZ website.[16] Series two was broadcast from June 2008, with the final screening on 4 August 2008.

In Australia the original British version was broadcast on ABC1 from 20 May 2007, with the second following during February 2008. The US version broadcast on 5 February 2009 on Network Ten.

In the Republic of Ireland, RTÉ Two broadcast the series from June 2007 in a late evening slot, following RTÉ News on Two.

The show has also been transmitted in Croatia, (HRT), Sweden (a cut version on SVT 2), Netherlands (Nederland 3), in Germany (Kabel 1), Spain (Antena.neox) , Israel (Hot), Italy (Rai Due), Japan, Serbia (B92) and Norway (NRK). Sub began broadcasting Life on Mars in Finland in April 2008, and ATV World started broadcasting the show in Hong Kong on 13 July 2008.[17][18][19]), France (13ème Rue)[20]

Spanish Television network Antena 3 bought the rights from the BBC, and has remade the show as La Chica de Ayer (English: The Girl from Yesterday), set in 1977 post-Franco Spain.[21][22]

Music

Life on Mars
Soundtrack by Various artists
Released 19 February 2007
Label Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Producer Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions
Life on Mars chronology
Life on Mars (Original Soundtrack)
(2007)		 Ashes to Ashes (Original Soundtrack)
(2008)

The programme's soundtrack features many early 1970s songs which were played as part of Life on Mars, as well as an original score of the theme music as part of the title sequence composed by Edmund Butt. The show's title is in reference to the David Bowie song, "Life on Mars?", which plays on an iPod in Sam's car while he is run over, and on an 8-track tape in a Rover P6 when he awakes in 1973.

Matthew Graham stated that initially there were some concerns over whether the production team would be able to license the song, which, had they been denied, would have necessitated retitling the series.[23] Another Bowie song, "Space Oddity", is used in BBC trailers advertising the series. In several episodes, Gene Hunt adopts the name "Gene Genie", in reference to yet another Bowie song, "The Jean Genie". Another Bowie track, "Changes" , is played over the end credits of the second series finale.

The show's creators were initially refused permission to use "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings but, according to Graham in the Radio Times, "We sent the episode directly to Paul McCartney. Almost immediately, his assistant phoned back and said, 'Paul loves it. You can go ahead and use it.'"[24]

Track listing

  1. Introduction Dialogue – (Series 1, Episode 1)
  2. David Bowie – "Life on Mars?" (Series 1, Episodes 1 & 8)
  3. Roxy Music – "Street Life" (Series 2, Episode 1)
  4. Paul McCartney and Wings – "Live and Let Die" (Series 1, Episode 2)
  5. Electric Light Orchestra – "10538 Overture" (Series 2, Episode 5)
  6. John Kongos – "Tokoloshe Man" (Series 1, Episode 8)
  7. Atomic Rooster – "Devil's Answer" (Series 1, Episode 8)
  8. T.Rex – "Rock On" (Series 2, Episode 4)
  9. Free – "Little Bit of Love" (Series 1, Episode 8)
  10. Lee "Scratch" Perry and The Upsetters – "Jungle Lion" (Series 1, Episode 2)
  11. Brief Interlude Dialogue – "Armed Bastards!" (Series 2 Episode 2)
  12. Sweet – "Blockbuster!" (Series 1, Episode 4)
  13. Faces – "Cindy Incidentally" (Series 2, Episode 7)
  14. Ananda Shankar – "Snow Flower" (Series 2, Episode 6)
  15. Slade – "Coz I Luv You" (Series 2, Episode 4)
  16. Mott the Hoople – "One of the Boys" (Series 2, Episodes 7 & 8)
  17. Lindisfarne – "Meet Me on the Corner" (Series 1, Episode 8)
  18. Frankie Miller – "I Can't Change It" (Series 1, Episode 4)
  19. Thin Lizzy – "Whiskey in the Jar" (Series 2, Episode 6)
  20. Audience – "I Had a Dream" (Series 2, Episode 6)
  21. Uriah Heep – "Traveller in Time" (Series 2, Episode 6)
  22. Nina Simone – "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" (Series 1, Episode 5)
  23. Epilogue Dialogue – "I Want to Go Home" (Series 1, Episode 8) /Edmund Butt – "Life on Mars Theme" (Hidden track)
  24. The Moody Blues - "The Story in Your Eyes" (Series 2, Episode 4)

Characters

The main characters of Life on Mars, from left: DC Chris Skelton, DCI Gene Hunt, DI Sam Tyler, DS Ray Carling and WPC/DC Annie Cartwright

The methodology and techniques of modern policing that Sam Tyler employs during Life on Mars leads him to frequently clash with other characters. Gene Hunt and the rest of the CID are displayed to favour brutality and corruption in order to secure convictions, shown by their willingness to physically coerce confessions and fabricate evidence.[25] Throughout both series, Tyler clashes with Hunt the most frequently, usually because Tyler values forensic evidence whereas Hunt often resorts to traditional methods and in one episode where doubt is cast over a number of people goes on the assumption of "the first to speak is guilty".

Sam describes Hunt as an: "overweight, over-the-hill, nicotine-stained, borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex and an unhealthy obsession with male bonding". Hunt is supported by his fiercely loyal subordinates, Chris Skelton and Ray Carling, with the latter displayed to be a similar character to Hunt. Ray and Sam are often seen to disagree with each other, as well as Sam and Gene's love-hate relationship.[26] Chris, in contrast, becomes friendly with Sam and respects his modern methods, finding his loyalty torn between both Gene and Sam.[27]

Due to Sam's predicament, he avoids revealing how he thinks he may have travelled back in time for fear of others thinking him to be insane. The only person in 1973 who Sam fully reveals his story to is Annie Cartwright, who it is revealed later married him during the time between Life on Mars set in 1973 and Ashes to Ashes in 1981. According to Liz White, the actress who played Cartwright, "She gets very tired of his constant talk about how this situation is not real, that they are all figments of his imagination — she can only explain it as psychological trauma from his car crash.".[28]

Themes and storyline

The Test Card Girl, a surreal hallucination repeatedly encountered by Sam Tyler

Each of the sixteen episodes begins with a short teaser before a monologue in which Sam repeats, as part of the moving imagery of the title sequence:

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.

This questioning is the central plot throughout the series, displaying both the character's and the audience's uncertainty about what has happened.

Throughout the course of Life on Mars, Sam's uncertainty is reinforced by frequent paranormal phenomena, such as hearing voices and seeing images from 2006 on radios, telephones, and televisions. The voices discuss his medical condition, leading him to partially believe that he is in a coma. Other elements suggest to him that he is insane, such as his frequent and unexpected encounters with the Test Card Girl from Test Card F, who speaks directly to him. Annie Cartwright partially persuades Sam that he is actually in 1973, explaining to him that his mind would struggle to fabricate the amount of detail and tangibility in the world in which he finds himself, evidence that he is in fact really in 1973.

Sam's uncertain situation is not the focal point for the majority of episode plots, but is rather a "sub-plot". In most episodes, the main plot centres upon a particular crime or case relating to the police, such as drug trafficking, a hostage situation, murders and robberies. Due to this, most episodes follow a conventional police drama setting. As the series progresses, Sam focuses on how he will get home almost every episode.

A recurring motif throughout the series is the overlapping of both the past and present. For example, during episode six Sam hears the voice of his mother in 2006 saying his life-support machine will be switched off at 2:00 pm. At the same time he is called to a hostage-taking, where the perpetrator has stated that he will kill his victims at the same time. Sam also encounters people he knows in the future as their younger self, including suspects, friends, Sam's younger self and his own parents.

Sam is from a politically correct and scientifically advanced era, where suspects' rights and preservation of forensic evidence are stringently observed. This leads Sam into conflict, as other characters are displayed to be openly sexist, homophobic, disablist and racist and often indulge in all of them while carrying out their duties.

The series frequently makes use of Gene Hunt's comical rudeness in the form of jokes and dramatic irony about a future the audience already knows, but which the characters in the specific time period do not. For example, in Series 1: Episode 5, Hunt declares that "There will never be a woman prime minister as long as I have a hole in my arse."

Finale

It is revealed in the final episode that Sam's coma had lasted so long because he had a tumour of the brain. Tyler comes to believe the tumour is embodied by Hunt, and begins to think that by bringing Hunt down, his own body can recover. To this end, Tyler begins to collaborate with Frank Morgan to bring Hunt down. While Tyler and the team are engaged in a firefight with armed robbers, Sam returns to 2006. He eventually comes to realise that he has become used to, and enjoys, the 1970s, seeing it as his "real world". In an attempt to get back to 1973 to save Annie and the rest of the team from death, Sam leaps off of the roof of the police station, arriving back in 1973 and saving the team, promising never to leave them again. Writer Matthew Graham wrote the scene to indicate that Sam is now in the afterlife, but acknowledged that the ending is ambiguous and open to other interpretations, such as lead actor John Simm's belief that Sam may not have returned to the present.[12] In the final scene, the team drive off, with Sam and Gene bickering as usual. Children run past, including the girl from Test Card F. She looks directly into the camera before reaching out and "switching off" the television the viewer is watching, signifying that the story has come to an end.[12]

The first episode of sequel series Ashes to Ashes shows that DI Alex Drake of the Metropolitan Police has been studying Tyler's notes and 2006-era personnel file, in which his photograph is overstamped with the word "SUICIDE". Ashes to Ashes, which implies that Gene Hunt's world is in some sense real, states that Sam lived another seven years in that world, during which time he married Annie but had no children. Drake speculates that this happened while, in reality, he was in his dying moments, and fears that the same may be happening to her. As far as Hunt and his colleagues are concerned, Tyler apparently died in a car chase in 1980.

In the final episode of Ashes to Ashes it is revealed that the world of Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes is in fact a purgatory for dead police officers. The Railway Arms pub seen throughout Life on Mars is shown to be heaven, and Gene Hunt mentions how he sent Sam in once he was ready.

Depiction of 1973

During an interview John Stalker, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester in the early 1980s and himself a Detective Inspector in 1973, has stated that the depiction of the police "has got nothing to do with real policing in the 1970s. It could not be more inaccurate in terms of procedure, the way they talk or the way they dress. In all the time I was in the CID in the 1970s I never saw a copper in a leather bomber jacket and I never heard an officer call anyone 'guv'. ... Actually, there were a few police officers in London who started to behave like Regan and Carter in The Sweeney, but that was a case of life following art, not the other way round."[29] The journalist who interviewed Stalker, Ray King, remarks that the depiction of the police can be defended if we assume that Sam is indeed in a coma and that we are seeing his imaginary idea of 1973, filtered through 1970s cop shows.[29]

Upon Sam Tyler awaking in 1973, he finds himself on a building site, beneath a large advertising board, proclaiming the construction of a new motorway, the Mancunian Way. In reality, construction of Mancunian Way was completed in 1967. According to Matthew Graham, writing in the Radio Times, the error was deliberate. "We knew that this road was built in the 1960s, but we took a bit of artistic licence."[30] Minor historical anachronisms such as this are present throughout Life on Mars. Some, as above, were made out of artistic licence whilst others were deliberately inserted to confuse the issue of whether Sam Tyler was in a coma, mad or really back in time. Many inaccuracies were visible such as modern street furniture, cable television cabinets, satellite television dishes, CCTV cameras, LCD digital watches and double-glazed uPVC window frames which were all unintentional.[31] During DVD commentaries for the series, the programme makers acknowledge these as errors but also point out they are in fact perfectly feasible, given Sam's situation.[23] As the popularity of the series grew, the hunting of such anachronisms became a favourite pastime among Life on Mars fans.[32]

Cultural references

Throughout Life on Mars, many references to the 1939 MGM production of The Wizard of Oz exist. Such as, when Sam Tyler tentatively asks if Gene Hunt is able to send Sam back home, he is mockingly told "The Wizard'll sort it out. It's because of the wonderful things he does". Gene also occasionally refers to Sam as "Dorothy", ostensibly as a reference to what Gene perceives as Sam's effeminacy ("Friend of Dorothy"), but also as a nod to Sam's belief that he is living some kind of Oz-like fantasy. The pivotal character, Frank Morgan (Ralph Brown) is both Gene's nemesis in 1973 and Sam's surgeon in 2006. This echoes the similar dual roles played by actors in the Oz and Kansas sequences of the 1939 Judy Garland film, The Wizard of Oz; principally, actor Frank Morgan who portrayed Professor Marvel in the Kansas sequences and the Wizard in the Oz sequences.

In the final episode of the series, the song "Over the Rainbow" features prominently upon Sam's return to 2006 and later, when Sam and Annie kiss, a rainbow can be seen in the distant sky.

The East Manchester town of Hyde is used as Sam's former police division as a clue that his 1973 self is an alter ego, as in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.[23] When Sam wakes up in 2006, his comatose body was revealed to have been kept in Hyde ward, from the sign on the door as he exits in street clothes.

Reception

Critical reaction

Critical reaction to the first series of Life on Mars was extremely positive. Steve O'Brien, writing for SFX, declared, "It looks like BBC One has... a monster hit on its hands... It's funny... and dramatic and exciting, and we're really not getting paid for saying this."[33] Alison Graham, television editor for the Radio Times, described the series as "a genuinely innovative and imaginative take on an old genre."[34] James Walton of The Daily Telegraph commented, "Theoretically, this should add up to a right old mess. In practice, it makes for a thumpingly enjoyable piece of television — not least because everybody involved was obviously having such a great time."[35] Sam Wollaston of The Guardian wrote: "Life on Mars was more than just a jolly, tongue-in-cheek romp into the past... Once there, in 1973, we find ourselves immersed in a reasonably gripping police drama — yes, The Sweeney, perhaps, with better production values... Or put another — undeniably laboured — way, as poor Sam Tyler walks through his sunken dream, I'm hooked to the silver screen."[36] Although Peter Paterson of the Daily Mail reflected the views of many other commentators on the first episode when he wondered, "Can its intriguing conceit be sustained over eight one-hour episodes?",[35] Critical reaction remained generally positive throughout the programme's run. Of the second series, Alison Graham believed that "Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt are shaping up nicely as one of the great TV detective partnerships... It's vastly enjoyable and manages to stay just about believable thanks to some strong writing and, of course, the two marvellous central performances."[37]

Nancy Banks-Smith, in The Guardian, felt that the time-paradox aspect of the programme had become somewhat confusing.[38] Banks-Smith summed up the programme's success as "an inspired take on the usual formula of Gruff Copper of the old school, who solves cases by examining the entrails of a chicken, and Sensitive Sidekick, who has a degree in detection."[39]

Two days after the final episode's transmission, Life on Mars was attacked in the British press by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, who claimed that Gene Hunt's use of homophobic insults in the programme could encourage copycat bullying in schools.[40] The BBC stated that Life on Mars was targeted at an adult audience, and argued that Hunt's characterisation was "extreme and tongue-in-cheek".[40]

Ratings

Life on Mars was also a success in terms of ratings. The first series achieved an average audience figure of 6.8 million viewers[41] and regularly won its timeslot, despite competition from ITV1's comedy-drama series Northern Lights. The first series' finale gained 7.1 million viewers and a 28% audience share.[42][43][43][44][45][46]

Viewing figures for the second series were initially low, with the first episode only attracting 5.7 million viewers, slumping to 4.8 million viewers by episode three, despite being heavily trailed and publicised.[41] These figures were blamed by The Stage on "poor scheduling and unfortunate sporting fixtures, possibly combined with high expectation".[47] Audience figures picked up during the second series' run, however, with the final episode gaining an average of seven million viewers (a 28% audience share),[48] despite competition from UEFA Champions League football on ITV1.[49]

Episode Order Viewers
(millions)
8 7.10
9 5.70
11 4.80
16 7.15

Awards

During November 2006, the first series of Life on Mars won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. The same award also went to the second series of the programme in the 2008 Emmy Awards, which was held in November.[50] In January 2007, it won the Best New Programme category as part of the Broadcast Magazine awards.[51] In March 2007 it won two categories, Best Drama Series and the Writers' Award, at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.[52]

The first series was nominated for a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) in the Best Drama Series category. John Simm was also nominated as Best Actor for his work on the show.[53] The programme won the audience-voted Pioneer Award.[54]

In October 2007, series two was nominated as the Most Popular Drama at the 2007 National Television Awards.[55]

DVD and Blu-ray

Series 1 received a DVD (region 2) release on 15 May 2006 in the UK; series 2 was released on 16 April 2007.

Due to the popularity of the show, Blu-ray editions of both series were released on 27 October 2008. However since the show's various effects were originally edited and mastered in standard definition, a true HD version would require a near-total overhaul. The Blu-ray editions therefore contained studio-upscaled footage of the original SD content, providing some improvement. This pseudo-HD version is not known to have been broadcast on television.

Series 1 was released in the United States on 28 July 2009, and Series 2 on 24 November 2009.[56]

References

  1. ↑ "Final series of Ashes to Ashes will 'reveal all' about Gene Hunt". London: Telegraph. 8 June 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5476451/Final-series-of-Ashes-to-Ashes-will-reveal-all-about-Gene-Hunt.html. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  2. ↑ Each episode begins with a monologue from Tyler reflecting this uncertainty. This is reproduced on the "Life on Mars Official Website". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  3. ↑ http://lifeofwylie.com/2010/05/23/ashes-to-ashes-the-answers/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): 54. 
  5. ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Life on Mars press pack Seventies brought back to life". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/08/mars_life.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-09. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Smith, David (2007-04-08). "£1,500 in a carrier bag? What planet are you on?". London: Observer. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2052460,00.html. Retrieved 2007-04-08. 
  7. ↑ Darlington, David (2006-06-21). "Script Doctors: Matthew Graham". Doctor Who Magazine. 
  8. ↑ "Life on Mars – Creative team". bbc.co.uk. 2007-02-01. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/02_february/01/mars_creative.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-04. 
  9. ↑ Burrell, Ian (2006-03-27). "Television Drama: Great show - now direct it". London: The Independent. http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article353814.ece. Retrieved 2007-01-06. 
  10. ↑ Wylie, Ian (2006-02-07). "Life on Mars was creating stars on Earth". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/203/203546_life_on_mars_is_creating_stars_on_earth.html. Retrieved 2007-01-06. 
  11. ↑ "Hit BBC drama Life on Mars to end". BBC News Online. 2006-10-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6033735.stm. Retrieved 2006-10-09. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Wylie, Ian (2007-04-11). "Life On Mars: The Answers". Manchester Evening News. http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ianwylie/2007/04/life_on_mars_the_answers.html. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
  13. ↑ "WTTW Schedules (Sundays, 10pm CST)". WTTW Television Chicago. http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=2,2. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  14. ↑ "Life on Mars - About the Show". BBC America. http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/122/about.jsp. Retrieved 2007-01-06. 
  15. ↑ "Life on Mars (BBC America)". Metacritic.com. http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/lifeonmars#critics. Retrieved 2007-01-06. 
  16. ↑ Clifton, Jane (2007-02-21). "Reasons to be cheerful: Part one". Stuff.co.nz. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3969607a20879.html. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  17. ↑ "SVT visar fel version av Life on Mars" (in Swedish). weirdscience.se. 2007-02-09. http://weirdscience.se/index.php?sida=blogg&id=582. Retrieved 2007-03-16. 
  18. ↑ Kjell Häglund. "Brittiska saxar lurar svensk tv-publik", Dagens Nyheter 26 August 2008, received 28 August 2008.
  19. ↑ "Life on Mars (Kabel eins)" (in German). kabeleins.de. http://www.kabeleins.de/serien_shows/life_on_mars/. Retrieved 2007-01-31. 
  20. ↑ "13ème rue homepage" (in French). 13ème rue. http://www.13emerue.fr/ncache_dev/default.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-28. 
  21. ↑ Sherwin, Adam; Catan, Thomas (2008-02-28). "Senor Gene Hunt deals out pain in Spain in remake of BBC drama Life on Mars - Times Online". London: Entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3449008.ece. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  22. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2007-02-02). "Cannavale in the 'M.O.N.Y.'". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3icc47e3003d27448b537ff64fd9a16b79. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Life on Mars: The Complete Series One – DVD commentary
  24. ↑ Naughton, James (7 January–13 2006). "The Most Original Cop Show... Since the 70s". Radio Times 328 (4266): 12. 
  25. ↑ "BBC Drama - Life on Mars - Philip Glennister as DCI Gene Hunt". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/characters/gene.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  26. ↑ "BBC Drama - Life on Mars - Dean Andrews as DC Ray Carling". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/characters/ray.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  27. ↑ "BBC Drama - Life on Mars - Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/characters/chris.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  28. ↑ "BBC Drama - Life on Mars - Liz White as WPC Annie Cartwright". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/characters/annie.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 King, Ray (2006-02-21). "Life on Mars writers on another planet - top cop". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/205/205246_life_on_mars_writers_on_another_planet__top_cop.html. Retrieved 2007-04-15. 
  30. ↑ Graham, Matthew (2007-04-07 – 2007-04-13 cover date). "Operation Mars". Radio Times 333 (4330): 10–12. 
  31. ↑ "BBC - Drama - Life On Mars - Clues Or Bloopers?". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/backstage/questions_bloopers.shtml. Retrieved 2006-12-11. 
  32. ↑ Donaghy, James (2007-04-11). "Is there life after Life on Mars?". London: Guardian Unlimited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/apr/11/broadcasting.g2. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  33. ↑ O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): 58. 
  34. ↑ Graham, Alison (7 January – 13 2006). "Today's Choices, Monday 9 January: Life on Mars". Radio Times 328 (4266): 70. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "First Night: Life on Mars" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. 2006-01-10. http://media.guardian.co.uk/firstnight/story/0,11131,1683209,00.html. Retrieved 2006-01-10. 
  36. ↑ Wollaston, Sam (2006-01-10). "Last night's TV" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/comment/0,7493,1683069,00.html. Retrieved 2006-01-10. 
  37. ↑ Graham, Alison (10 February – 16, 2007). "Today's Choices, Monday 13 February: Life on Mars". Radio Times 332 (4322): 78. 
  38. ↑ Banks-Smith, Nancy (2007-02-14). "Last night's TV". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,,2012627,00.html. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  39. ↑ Banks-Smith, Nancy (2006-01-31). "Last night's TV". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,,1698510,00.html. Retrieved 2006-01-31. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Mars drama 'could spark bullying'". BBC News Online. 2007-04-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6549163.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-12. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Almost 6m experience Life on Mars". BBC News Online. 2007-02-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6361467.stm. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  42. ↑ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-28). "Cop drama motors to the finish" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1720040,00.html. Retrieved 2006-02-28. 
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Plunkett, John (2006-01-10). "7m gravitate to Life on Mars"" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,7965,1683163,00.html. Retrieved 2006-01-10. 
  44. ↑ Deans, Jason (2006-01-17). "Northern Lights glows with success" (Requires free registration). The Guardian (London). http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1688308,00.html. Retrieved 2006-02-20. 
  45. ↑ Timms, Dominic (2006-01-24). "Prison Break captures audience" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1693787,00.html. Retrieved 2006-02-20. 
  46. ↑ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-07). "Half Ton Man bulks up Channel 4 ratings" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1704185,00.html. Retrieved 2006-02-20. 
  47. ↑ "Is there still life on Mars?". The Stage. 2007-03-08. http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/03/is_there_still_life_on_mars_1.php. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  48. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (2007-04-11). "Plenty of Life on Mars" (Requires free registration). London: Guardian Unlimited. http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,2054442,00.html. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
  49. ↑ "Millions see Life on Mars climax". BBC News Online. 2007-04-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6540481.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
  50. ↑ "British shows sweep world Emmys". BBC News Online. 2006-11-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6168076.stm. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  51. ↑ "BBC One named Channel Of The Year at Broadcast Awards". BBC Press Office. 2007-01-25. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/01_january/25/awards.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  52. ↑ "Double award win for Life on Mars". BBC News Online. 2007-03-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6483525.stm. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  53. ↑ "Bafta TV Awards 2007: The nominees". BBC News Onlinedate=2007-04-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6543947.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
  54. ↑ "Victoria Wood scoops Bafta double". BBC News Online. 2007-05-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6670797.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-20. 
  55. ↑ "Doctor Who tops awards shortlist". BBC News Online. 2007-10-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7045208.stm. Retrieved 2007-10-15. 
  56. ↑ Lambert, David, "Life on Mars – USA Series Canceled, but the Original UK Program Comes to DVD in July" TVShowsonDVD.com, 3 March 2009

External links

Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes
Life on Mars
Episode list • List of characters • Original Soundtrack • US series • US episode list • Spanish series
Ashes to Ashes
Episode list • List of characters • Original Soundtrack (Series 1) • Original Soundtrack (Series 2) • Original Soundtrack (Series 3)
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Sam Tyler • Gene Hunt • Alex Drake • Annie Cartwright • Ray Carling • Chris Skelton • Shaz Granger • Phyllis Dobbs • Jim Keats
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