
Life on Mars
2006 · TV Series · TV-14 · 60 min · ★ 7.8 · 87% critics
After a shocking accident, a modern-day detective wakes up decades earlier and is forced to work cases in an era with rougher methods, outdated tools, and very different attitudes. As each investigation unfolds, the bigger question lingers: is this time travel, a breakdown, or something else—and can he find a way back?
Where to watch
Streaming on BritBox.
16 hours to watch · 16 episodes.
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Details
- Years
- 2006–2007
- Release date
- 2006-01-09
- Network
- BBC One
- Language
- English
- Rated
- TV-14
- Runtime
- 60 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 87/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.8/10 (310 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a crime series with a clever past-versus-present twist, strong performances, and a mix of suspense and humor; Not for you if you dislike case-of-the-week formats or abrasive 1970s behavior (try Ashes to Ashes).
Pros: original time-shift hook; gripping weekly cases; funny, tense character clashes | Cons: uneven episode quality; harsh period attitudes; mystery elements frustrate
Themes
- 1970s
- time travel
- northern england
- police
- police detective
- manchester
Awards & recognition
- International Emmy Award — best drama series · 2006
- Writers Guild of America Award — Television: New Series · 2009 · nominated
- British Academy Television Award — Best Drama Series · 2008 · nominated
- British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 2007 · nominated
- British Academy Television Award — Best Drama Series · 2007 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
- International Emmy Award — best drama series · 2006 · nominated
Cast & crew

John Simm
as Sam Tyler

Philip Glenister
as Gene Hunt
- KM
Kris Mochrie
as Craig

Liz White
as Annie Cartwright

Dean Andrews
as Ray Carling

Marshall Lancaster
as Chris Skelton

Noreen Kershaw
as Phyllis Dobbs
- JF
Joanne Froggatt
as Ruth Tyler
- LI
Lee Ingleby
as Vic Tyler
- IB
Ian Barritt
as Stanley Cooper
Directed by John Alexander, S.J. Clarkson, Andrew Gunn +3 more
Created by Tony Jordan, Ashley Pharoah, Matthew Graham
Episodes2 seasons · 16 episodes
Season 18 episodes
- S1E1Episode 160mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E2Episode 258mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E3Episode 359mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E4Episode 459mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E5Episode 559mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E6Episode 659mBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E7Episode 759mBritBox
- S1E8Episode 859mBritBox
Season 28 episodes
- S2E1Episode 159mBritBox
- S2E2Episode 258mBritBox
- S2E3Episode 358mBritBox
- S2E4Episode 459mBritBox
- S2E5Episode 559mBritBox
- S2E6Episode 658mBritBox
- S2E7Episode 759mBritBox
- S2E8Episode 860mBritBox