Return to Mars
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
The second series of \'Life On Mars\' left us at handbag.com speechless. Let\'s take a look at some trivia-tastic titbits that we\'ve gathered together especially for you…
What\'s going on?
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
\'Life on Mars\' tells the intriguing story of DCI Sam Tyler. Moments after his girlfriend and colleague, Maya, is kidnapped by a serial killer, Sam is knocked unconscious by a car and wakes up... in 1973. So is he mad? Is he in a coma? Or has he gone back in time?
The key\'s in the song
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
The series is named after the David Bowie song \'Life on Mars\' – the very song that was playing in Sam\'s car when the accident happens, and is still playing when he wakes up in 1973. \'The lyrics to \'Life on Mars\' are a puzzle surrounded by a mystery\' says Matthew Graham, co-creator and lead writer of the series. \'They can mean many things and they can also mean nothing. The song was also playing the last time his parents danced together. As the story goes on he may find clues in the lyrics that lead him into dark and terrible places.\'
Back to the future
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
BBC1 has commissioned a spin-off series that will star Philip Glenister, (as Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt) and pick up the story in 1981. The series is to be named after another David Bowie song - \'Ashes to Ashes\'
Big screen calling?
Film,TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
According to the show\'s executive producer, Jane Featherstone, there is a possibility that \'Life on Mars\' could be made into a film…
Bright lights and big ideas
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
\'Life on Mars\' was originally dreamt up by Tony Jordan, Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah back in 1988 after they were sent on a jolly holiday to Blackpool by production company, Kudos. The idea was that they needed a break to come up with some exciting new programme ideas… Who knew Blackpool could be so inspirational?!
Too much, too soon
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
The show was initially rejected by the BBC, who were said to have felt somewhat uncomfortable with the fact that the series was based in fantasy land. Thank the lord they changed their minds on that score, otherwise we may not have ever seen it, or any of our other sci-fi faves like \'Dr Who\' and \'Torchwood\'!
Great name... not!
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
Perhaps the Beeb were
actually put off by the fact that writers had originally titled the series \'Ford Granada\' after the popular car of the 1970s. We can see that that might not have been so appealing...
A rose by any other name...
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
While we\'re on the subject of name changes, you might be interested to know that originally Sam\'s name was meant to be \'Sam Williams\'. The production company felt that the name was not strong enough and asked Matthew Graham to come up with something else. Unable to come up with a name, Matthew turned to his young daughter for help - she suggested \'Sam Tyler\'. It later turned out that she chose the name because she was a great fan of \'Doctor Who\' and wanted to name him after Billie Piper\'s character, \'Rose Tyler\'
Three is the magic number
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
This is not the first time that John Simm (Sam Tyler) and Philip Glenister (Gene Hunt) have appeared on screen together - they were both involved in \'Clocking Off\' and the brilliant \'State of Play\' as well
Spicing things up
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
According to John Simm, he and Phil used to splash on a spot of Old Spice during filming to get into the \'70s mood
Hair today, gone tomorrow
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
Apparently, Dean Andrews, who plays DS Ray Carling in the show, was less than impressed about having to grow a moustache for the part… "It was horrible," he said during a recent interview, "almost as horrible as having a fake moustache. It certainly wasn\'t a macho tash either. I shaved the tash and the scary sideboards off as soon as we finished filming!"
How bizarre!
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
Our favourite episode from \'Life on Mars\' came during series two and was inspired by the 60s children\'s TV series \'Camberwick Green\'. "I think it\'s one of the most beautiful, hilarious and satisfying things we\'ve ever done on the show," says series creator, Matthew Graham
More from Mars
TV,celebrity news
Life on Mars
\'Life on Mars\' series one and two is now available on DVD here. You may also like to buy the fab soundtrack to the series, out now on Sony BMG.
\'Ashes to Ashes\' is due to air on BBC1 in 2008, and will star Keeley Hawes (of \'Spooks\' fame) as DCI Hunt\'s sexy new sidekick
