BBC show Life on Mars has been one of the most successful British TV series in the past two decades, with its cast members going on to achieve stardom in television and film. The series followed Greater Manchester Police detective DCI Sam Tyler (John Simm), who finds himself waking up in 1977 following a car accident, still serving as a policeman but under entirely different rules and culture. This unique science fiction drama combined elements from Lost, Doctor Who, and police dramas, leaving viewers pondering whether Sam Tyler had time-travelled, died or was simply in a coma.
The innovative series was the brainchild of Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharaoh and led to a spin-off titled Ashes to Ashes in 2008. The spin-off ended after three seasons in 2010, leaving fans yearning for more adventures of Gene Hunt assisting people in limbo. A third show, Lazarus, named after another David Bowie song, was in development for several years and was set to conclude the story of Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler.
Unfortunately, in June 2023, series creator Matthew Graham announced that the project had effectively been cancelled, although fans were given a sneak peek of the opening episode at a live script reading. Most of the cast members have since embarked on successful TV careers, while one actor left the industry to establish his own construction company. Here's an update on where the cast of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes are now.
DCI Sam Tyler found himself inexplicably in 1970s Manchester i.
