Life on Mars (British TV series)

Lore & Background

The programme was conceived in 1998 when screenwriters Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah were sent to Blackpool by Kudos to think of show ideas. Originally titled Ford Granada, the series was rejected by the BBC, with Graham stating that broadcasters were not comfortable with a fantasy element. Later, BBC drama executive John Yorke redeveloped the script, focusing on a double act between Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt, but senior management decided not to pursue the idea. The series eventually attracted BBC Wales's Julie Gardner, who persuaded BBC Head of Drama Jane Tranter to commission it from BBC Wales for BBC One. The central character was originally named Sam Williams, but Kudos felt this not striking enough; Graham's daughter suggested Tyler after the Doctor Who character Rose Tyler. Gene Hunt's surname came from actor Gareth Hunt. The initial setting was London, then Leeds, finally Manchester, as part of a BBC initiative to make more programmes in the city.

Reader's Guide

Life on Mars received acclaim for blending multiple genres and for its ambiguous central mystery—whether Sam Tyler has died, fallen into a coma, or legitimately travelled in time. The show's title references the David Bowie song 'Life on Mars?', which plays at key moments. Its sequel, Ashes to Ashes, also named after a Bowie song, continued the story. The series won two International Emmy Awards for Best Drama Series. It spawned numerous international adaptations: an American version on ABC (2008–2009), a Spanish adaptation (2009), a Russian adaptation (2012), a Czech adaptation (2017), a South Korean adaptation (2018), and a Chinese adaptation announced in 2019. The original series was broadcast in many countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and across Europe. The show's second series was confirmed as the last in October 2006, with creators stating that Sam's journey had a finite life span and a clear-cut ending.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally titled Ford Granada after the 1970s car.
• Sam Tyler's surname was suggested by Matthew Graham's daughter, who named him after the Doctor Who character Rose Tyler.
• The show's creators were initially refused permission to use 'Live and Let Die' by Paul McCartney and Wings, but Paul McCartney personally approved its use after seeing the episode.
• The second season used a mock-up version of BBC1's 1970s blue-on-black rotating globe ident, modified to fit widescreen sets.