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Life on Mars (British TV series)

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Life on Mars
File:Life on Mars logo.gif
Created byMatthew Graham
Tony Jordan
Ashley Pharoah
StarringJohn Simm
Philip Glenister
Liz White
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes12 (to date), 16 (total) (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerKudos Film & Television
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC One (Series One and Series Two)
BBC Four (Series Two, Episodes Two & Three)
ReleaseJanuary 9, 2006 –
present

Life on Mars is a British television drama series, which was first shown on BBC One in January and February 2006. The second and final series[1] started its run on February 13 2007.[2] For the second series, episodes two and three had their debut showing at 10pm on digital television channel BBC Four, immediately following the previous episode on BBC One.

The format of the series mixes science fiction - specifically, time travel - with police drama. The central character is policeman DCI Sam Tyler (played by John Simm), who, after being hit by a car in 2006, finds himself somehow transported back to 1973. There, he is working for Manchester and Salford Police CID as a DI under DCI Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). Over the course of the series, Tyler faces various culture clashes, most frequently regarding differences in his seemingly naïve approach to policing compared to that of his colleagues. The series also features a strong ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament: it is unclear whether he really has travelled back in time, is in a coma in 2006 and imagining his experiences, or if he is mentally unstable.

Production

Produced by Kudos Film & Television — the makers of Spooks and Hustle — for BBC Wales, the eight one-hour episodes of the first series were broadcast on BBC One on Monday nights at 9pm. The series was created by writers Tony Jordan, Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, who also provide the majority of the scripts. The fourth writer on the first series was Chris Chibnall.

The programme was originally conceived in 1998, when Graham, Jordan and Pharoah had been sent on a break to the seaside resort of Blackpool by Kudos to come up with new programme ideas.[3] Originally titled Ford Cortina,[4] after the popular car of the 1970s, the series was initially rejected by the BBC. "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,"[3] Graham later told SFX Magazine.

Later Channel 4 drama executive John Yorke showed some interest in commissioning the programme, but eventually decided not to pursue the idea. "[Channel 4] people just said 'It's going to be silly',"[5] Graham told the Radio Times in a feature published the week of the first episode's transmission. However, the series eventually attracted the attention of BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner, who in turn persuaded the overall Head of Drama at the BBC, Jane Tranter, to commission the programme for BBC One.[3]

The programme's central character was originally to have been called "Sam Williams", but Kudos felt that this was not striking enough and asked Graham to come up with an alternative surname. Asking his young daughter for her opinion, she suggested "Sam Tyler", which became the character's name. Graham later discovered that his daughter had named him after Rose Tyler from Doctor Who, a programme for which he would later write an episode.[6]

Filming for a second series for BBC One started in April 2006.[7] According to Jane Featherstone, the show's executive producer, speaking in February 2006, a film version of the show is also a possibility: "Life on Mars is a very high concept idea and there is no doubt it would work on the big screen... But as yet, we are concentrating on the development and production of the second series for BBC1."[8]

On October 9 2006, it was confirmed that the second series of Life on Mars would also be the last, with two possible endings to the programme having been filmed. Matthew Graham stated that "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."[1]

The Guardian newspaper's Media Guardian.co.uk website reported that producer David E Kelley was to develop an American version of the series for the ABC network there, which is being targeted for the 2007-08 TV season. "Mr Kelley will write and executive produce a pilot for the 60-minute ABC version of BBC1's hit 70s cop drama, which is likely to be broadcast in autumn next year if it gets a full series commission."[9] According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter Rachelle Lefevre has been cast as the female lead of "the lone female detective in the department" that "forges a mystic bond with the mysterious detective and teams with him to track a serial killer".[10] This report also indicated that the American series will take place in 1972 rather than 1973.[10]

In December 2006, it was reported that the BBC had commissioned a Life on Mars spin-off series, to be titled Ashes to Ashes after another David Bowie song of the same name. The Times reported that this spin-off would pick up the lives of Gene Hunt and other characters from the series in 1981.[11]

Music

Main article: Life on Mars (soundtrack album)

The series is named after the David Bowie song "Life on Mars?", which is playing on the iPod in Tyler's car when the accident happens, and on an 8-track tape when he awakes in 1973. Another song featured on the soundtrack, in the second episode, is "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings. Kudos were initially refused permission to use the song by the record company but, according to Graham in the Radio Times, "We sent the episode direct to Paul McCartney. Almost immediately, his assistant phoned back and said 'Paul loves it. You can go ahead and use it'."[12]

Themes

File:Sam gene 1.jpg
The two main characters of Life on Mars, Sam (John Simm) and Gene (Philip Glenister)

A central theme in the series is the conflict in attitudes between Tyler and his 1970s colleagues. Tyler — a product of the more politically correct twenty-first century, where suspects' rights and the chain and preservation of forensic evidence are more stringently observed — frequently clashes with his 1973 counterparts, who work in a police force where sexism, racism, police brutality and institutionalised minor corruption are casually regarded as routine parts of the job. This strongly alluded to the underlying theme of the 1970s police drama The Sweeney, something which would become more obvious as the show progressed. Another theme is that shared with the time-travelling TV series Goodnight Sweetheart: the use of frequent off-hand jokes about a future the audience already knows, but the historical characters do not.

There is also a central ambiguity surrounding the status of Tyler. Is he in a coma in 2006 and imagining his experiences? Is he really from 1973 and mentally unstable, albeit with remarkably accurate 'knowledge' of the future, and why is he seeing the past selves of people from his life in 2006? Or, has he somehow travelled back in time from 2006 to 1973? This uncertainty is conveyed through a surreal approach, such as when Tyler is addressed directly through his television set late at night by the young girl featured in the Test Card F or Open University lecturers. Tyler also occasionally hears voices and electronic noises — apparently from people and machines around his hospital bed — which lead him to believe that he is in a coma (although other details, such as the remarkable amount of detail and tangibility in the world in which Tyler finds himself, may suggest otherwise). There are also scenes where past and present appear to overlap, such as in episode six where Sam hears the 2006 voice of his mother saying his life-support machine is to be switched off at 2pm, and immediately in 1973 he is called to investigate a hostage-taking where the perpetrator will start killing his victims at 2pm. "No-one will die today," is the repeated response from Sam. The timelines merge again in the first episode of series two, when Sam encounters a suspect in 1973 whom he had arrested in 2006; it appears that this man is also trying to kill him while he is in his coma. The second series also develops the voices that regularly contact him, when we see for the first time that they can hear him. In episode one of the second series, a voice on the telephone tells him he is close to home, but DCI Hunt and the others must not know what he is doing there. Unusually, this call could be traced by the operator.

Cast

Character Played by Notes
DI Sam Tyler John Simm Thrown back to 1973 from 2006 after a car accident; DCI in the future.
DCI Gene Hunt Philip Glenister Tyler's boss in the 1973 Manchester & Salford CID.
WPC/WDC Annie Cartwright Liz White Young WPC who befriended Sam; became a WDC in series 2.
DS Ray Carling Dean Andrews Member of the Manchester & Salford CID
DC Chris Skelton Marshall Lancaster Young detective interested in modernising procedure.
Nelson Tony Marshall Licensee of the local pub; pretends to be Jamaican, but is actually Manchester born and bred.
WPC Phyllis Dobbs Noreen Kershaw WPC who generally runs the station desk.

Episode guide

Main article: List of Life on Mars episodes

Reception

Series One

Previewing the first episode for the Radio Times, the magazine's television editor Alison Graham described the series as "a genuinely innovative and imaginative take on an old genre... This sounds silly, but writers Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah give the drama wit and heart."[13] The series was also featured on the front cover of that week's issue of the magazine, with a publicity photograph of Simm and Glenister. In a preview behind-the-scenes feature for SFX, Steve O'Brien declared that "it looks like BBC One has — and we'll lay large bets on this — a monster hit on its hands... It's funny... and dramatic and exciting, and we're really not getting paid for saying this."[14]

Reaction following the broadcast of the opening episode was also generally positive. Reviewing the opening instalment in The Guardian the day after transmission, Sam Wollaston wrote: "For anyone of 40 or over, it's fabulous fun... But Life on Mars is 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. And yes, I know it's actually a small screen."[15]

Other newspaper critics gave the series similarly positive reviews, with James Walton of the Daily Telegraph saying that "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 is obviously having such a great time."[16] Peter Paterson of the Daily Mail did, however, reflect the views of many other commentators when he wondered "can its intriguing conceit be sustained over eight one-hour episodes?".[16]

The first episode was also a success in terms of viewing figures, with an average audience of seven million in the overnight ratings.[17] This was enough for the programme to win its timeslot with a 27% share of the total television audience for the hour from 9pm, one million viewers ahead of its nearest rival, Soapstar Superstar on ITV1.[17] In the following weeks, the competition on ITV1 came from the comedy-drama series Northern Lights, which gained a marginally higher overnight rating for its first episode against Life on Mars's second, 6.1 million (24% of the available audience) against 6 million.[18]

In subsequent weeks, however, Life on Mars fared better against Northern Lights. Episode three gained 6.2 million viewers and a 24% share against the second of Northern Lights which fell to 5.4 million (21%).[19] The trend continued in the following weeks, with Northern Lights not managing to beat Life on Mars again, and the series even managing a highest viewing figure since the first episode for episode five, which gained 6.7 million viewers and a 26% share.[20]

Critical reaction to the series also continued to be positive. Reviewing episode four in The Guardian, Nancy Banks-Smith wrote that: "Life on Mars is 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... No profession has changed more dramatically in the last 30 years than the police (I wish I could force more enthusiasm into my voice) but old coppers still make the best jokes."[21]

File:Lom-publicity.JPG
A selection of the magazine coverage surrounding the launch of the second series of Life on Mars in 2007, including the "2007" and "1973" Radio Times covers, the latter included on page three of the magazine.

The final episode gained 7.1 million viewers in the overnight figures, a 28% audience share which placed it well ahead of the nearest competition, the first episode of the two-part drama Love Lies Bleeding on ITV1, which gained 5.4 million (23%).[22]

In November 2006, the first series of Life on Mars won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.[23] In January 2007 it won the Best New Programme category at the Broadcast Magazine awards.[24]

Series Two

The first episode of the second series gained an overnight rating of 5.7 million on BBC One,[25] winning its timeslot, with the closest opposition being Trial and Retribution on ITV1, which gained 5.5 million.[25] However, this was over a million lower than the 6.8 million average Life on Mars gained for its first series episodes.[25] The premiere of the second episode immediately afterwards on BBC Four gained 747,000 viewers, the best audience of the day for a digital television-only channel.[26]

The first episode was praised by the Radio Times's television editor Alison Graham in her preview, who wrote: "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."[27] However, Nancy Banks-Smith in The Guardian felt that the time-paradox aspect of the episode was somewhat confusing.[28]

Filming locations

Parts of the filming took place in or around the following locations.

  • Manchester's Northern Quarter, Castlefield, the Canal and Ancoats area.
  • Stockport, including Stopford House Council Offices (the Police Station in the series) and the old shopping areas.
  • Gorton, in south east Manchester.
  • Mancunian Way Flyover (Episode 1)
  • Victoria Baths The boilerhouse complex is used as the old waterworks (end of Episode 2) and the Turkish Baths appear as a morgue (Episode 7). Both reappear in Episode 2 of the second season; this time, the boilerhouse complex is Malone's base. The Turkish Baths continues to serve as the morgue in Episodes 4 and 5. In Episode 3, the Irish centre is in the Turkish Baths Rest Room, with the Angel of Purity stained-glass window.
  • The Mills around Ancoats, Manchester
  • Queen Street Textile Mill Harle Syke, Briercliffe, Burnley (Lancashire) (Episode 3)
  • The rear of "The Angel" public house, Shaw Road, Royton was used as the fictional exterior of the pub (Episode 4) where the stars of the show are seen to drink each week (the interior of the pub is a set).
  • Brook Mill No.2 (Oldham Twist Co.) Hollins, Oldham (Episode 3)
  • Great Universal Stores Building Manchester (Episode 6)
  • Press Club Central Manchester: The Casino, (Series 2 Episode 1)
  • Tiger Lounge, Cooper Street, Manchester: The Casino, (Series 2 Episode 1)
  • Dolphin Street, Ardwick Green, Manchester: The Casino exterior/street scenes, (Series 2 Episode 1)
  • Hoghton Tower, Chorley, Lancashire: Broadmoor Prison, (Series 2 Episode 2)
  • Bolton, various streets used throughout the series due to their "unspoiled" appearance.

Anachronisms

Some minor anachronisms occur in episodes of Life on Mars. Interviews with the creators have shown that at least some of these were unintentional.[29]

The first of these anachronisms is in episode one, occurring after Sam Tyler wakes up in 1973. On a building site for the Mancunian Way, Sam looks at a sign proclaiming the building of a new motorway at the heart of Manchester. In reality, this motorway was completed in 1967. Another anachronism is Sam's dual-display LCD watch. In 1973 the only widely available digital watches used red light-emitting diodes, which required the press of a button to light them. LCDs did not become common until much later. A watch like Sam's, with both a face and an LCD, would not have been available until the 1980s. In one episode Sam is treated for cuts with plasters from a modern plastic medical kit rather than a metal style kit of the time.

While Manchester and Salford Police used only Minis as patrol cars in 1973, in the series they have Austin Allegros — and those used are from a later series which would not have been available until the late 1970s in any case. Gene Hunt's car is a Mark 3 Ford Cortina badged at the front as a GXL although badged elsewhere as the later 2000E (boot lid and roof pillar). The car's interior is also from the later 2000E as is the Roman Bronze colour scheme (although, it could be the darker "Tawny Metallic" which was available in 1973). Following the conclusion of the series' production, the Cortina used in the programme was auctioned in aid of the Comic Relief charity, being sold on the internet auction site eBay for £12,800.[30]

Some of the vehicles, such as the green transit van UJA 943K, feature new style plastic number plates with condensed lettering, which were introduced in 2001.

In the early 1970s, Manchester Police referred to their senior officers as 'Boss' not 'Gov', which is a term propagated by the Metropolitan Police. The policewomen in the series are seen working, to a limited extent, alongside their male counterparts while in the 1970s they would have worked solely within a Police Women's Department and would not be out on regular patrols. The white-topped headgear worn by the policewomen in the series is also incorrect, as 1970s police women wore kepi-style caps. [citation needed]

Several episodes include street furniture and other items in the background which while they would not have been present in the 1970s, would also be difficult for a TV show to have removed. Green Virgin Media cable television cabinets, BSkyB satellite television dishes, 'dome' and regular type CCTV cameras, external air-conditioning units, double-glazed uPVC window frames and mobile phone masts are visible in a number of outdoor scenes. In a number of residential street scenes, it can be seen where burglar alarm boxes have been digitally masked in post-production.

Overseas sales

Between July 24 2006 and September 11, 2006, the first series aired in the US on BBC America,[31] to favourable critical reviews.[32] The American version is edited for the insertion of commercials and omits some nudity and language that is present in the original BBC One version.

Life on Mars also began airing on BBC Canada on September 13 2006, followed in November by broadcasts on the Canadian network Showcase. While not edited for nudity or language specifically, the Canadian broadcasts of series one episodes were slightly edited for commercials (Showcase premiered the episodes in a 75-minute slot (one hour plus commercials), then repeated them in a 60-minute timeslot). BBC Canada have since announced that they will be running series two uncut starting on February 28 2007.

On January 14 2007 the series started to air in Sweden, broadcast by SVT 2. SVT was given the cut version intended for BBC America, angering fans of the series.[33] SVT later stated that they had been given the cut-down version due to the fact that the BBC had not cleared all the music rights internationally.[34] On January 7 2007 the series began in the Netherlands, shown by NPS on Nederland 3.

In Germany, private network station Kabel 1 aired the first season of the show from 3 February 2007 to 25 February 2007 with every two episodes being broadcast each Saturday evening in prime time. The series is subtitled "Gefangen in den 70ern" ("Trapped in the 70s").[35] For the first airing assorted scenes of varying importance for the plot were edited out to make room for commercials and severe translation errors occurred.[36] A voice-over in the final scene of series one announced that series two will be shown in autumn 2007.

In New Zealand the series started with a double bill of episodes 1 and 2, shown on February 20 2007 by TVNZ on TV ONE. There the website stuff.co.nz described it as "sensationally well-made."[37]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hit BBC drama Life on Mars to end". BBC News Online. 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-10-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Network TV Programme Information - Unplaced Week 7, BBC Press Office. URL accessed 2007-01-26
  3. ^ a b c O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): p. 54. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Harris, John (2007-02-13). "When men were men". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Naughton, James (January 7–13 2006). "The Most Original Cop Show... Since the 70s". Radio Times. 328 (4266): p. 10. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Darlington, David (2006-06-21). "Script Doctors: Matthew Graham". Doctor Who Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Burrell, Ian (2006-03-27). "Television Drama: Great show - now direct it". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-01-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Wylie, Ian (2006-02-07). "Life on Mars is creating stars on Earth". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2007-01-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Deans, Jason (2006-03-28). "Life on Mars goes stateside" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-03-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (2007-02-02). "Cannavale in the 'M.O.N.Y.'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. ^ Sherwin, Adam (2006-12-16). "Originality is old hat as the BBC spins off its top series". The Times. Retrieved 2007-01-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Naughton, James (January 7–13 2006). "The Most Original Cop Show... Since the 70s". Radio Times. 328 (4266): p. 12. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Graham, Alison (January 7–13 2006). "Today's Choices, Monday 9 January: Life on Mars". Radio Times. 328 (4266): p. 70. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): p. 58. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Wollaston, Sam (2006-01-10). "Last night's TV" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-01-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ a b "First Night: Life on Mars" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. 2006-01-10. Retrieved 2006-01-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b Plunkett, John (2006-01-10). "7m gravitate to Life on Mars"" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-01-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Deans, Jason (2006-01-17). "Northern Lights glows with success" (Requires free registration). Retrieved 2006-02-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Timms, Dominic. "Prison Break captures audience" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-20. {{cite web}}: Text "2006-01-24" ignored (help)
  20. ^ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-07). "Half Ton Man bulks up Channel 4 ratings" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (2006-01-31). "Last night's TV". The Guardian. Retrieved 2006-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-28). "Cop drama motors to the finish" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "British shows sweep world Emmys". BBC News Online. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "BBC One named Channel Of The Year at Broadcast Awards". BBC Press Office. 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ a b c "Almost 6m experience Life on Mars". BBC News Online. 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Tryhorn, Chris (2007-02-14). "Viewers return to the 70s" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Graham, Alison (February 10–16, 2007). "Today's Choices, Monday 13 February: Life on Mars". Radio Times. 332 (4322): p. 78. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (2007-02-14). "Last night's TV". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "BBC - Drama - Life On Mars - Clues Or Bloopers?". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  30. ^ "Life on Mars car auctioned online". BBC News Online. 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Life on Mars - About the Show". BBC America. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  32. ^ "Life on Mars (BBC America)". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  33. ^ "SVT visar fel version av Life on Mars" (in Swedish). weirdscience.se. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "SVT medger: Vår version av Life on Mars är klippt" (in Swedish). dagensmedia.se. 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2007-03-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Life on Mars (Kabel eins)" (in German). kabeleins.de. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
  36. ^ "Life on Mars - Lost in Translation" (in German). norbertblech.de. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
  37. ^ Clifton, Jane (2007-02-21). "Reasons to be cheerful: Part one". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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