Life on Mars, a hit British TV show that premiered in 2006, captivated audiences — now, let’s see what the cast, including John Simm and Philip Glenister, are doing today.
The BBC’s Life on Mars was often lauded for its trailblazing plot and authentic portrayal of the 1970s, captivating audiences from January 9, 2006, to April 10, 2007. Despite wrapping up nearly two decades ago, the iconic characters of this enthralling cop show linger in the minds of fans.
The series followed Sam Tyler, portrayed by John Simm, as he grappled with his accidental time travel to 1973 after being struck by a car. Sam, a modern-day Manchester detective, found himself thrown into an uneasy partnership with Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister – a stark contrast to the forward-thinking copper Sam aspired to be.
Over two series, viewers were treated to 16 gripping episodes. John’s character encountered a host of intriguing figures during his misadventures.
Each episode kicked off with his voiceover: “My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident and I woke up in 1973. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever’s happened, it’s like I’ve landed on a different planet.”
Conceived by Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharaoh, and Southport’s own Tony Jordan, Life on Mars gave rise to the sequel series Ashes to Ashes in 2008, which concluded after three seasons in 2010. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and catch up with some of the most memorable characters from the police drama, reports the Liverpool Echo.
John Simm – DCI Sam Tyler
The actor is renowned for his roles in Life on Mars and as The Master in Doctor Who, not forgetting his portrayal of DS Roy Grace in the popular show Grace. However, to many telly enthusiasts, he will forever be remembered as the resolute police officer who time-travelled in Life on Mars.
He played Detective Inspector Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, a character transported back to 1973. The programme bagged the Pioneer Audience Award for Best Programme at the 2007 BAFTA TV Awards.
Despite being nominated, the actor missed out on the Best Actor award. Throughout the series, he delves into various crimes with the CID team, including murders, armed robberies, and suspicious deaths, all while grappling with his modern, 2006 mindset against the conventional policing methods of the time.
Since Life on Mars concluded, John has remained a fixture on television, securing roles in some top-notch TV shows. In 2007, Russell T Davies cast him as an incarnation of the Master, Doctor’s arch-enemy, in the long-standing BBC series Doctor Who.
He featured in the final three episodes of the third series. In 2011, John starred in Sky’s hit show Mad Dogs, playing Baxter and reuniting with his Life on Mars co-star Philip Glenister. The show garnered successful ratings and critical acclaim.
John portrayed his role in the series from its inception in 2011 until its concluding episodes in 2014. The actor is a familiar face on the telly, having graced our screens in series like Strangers, Cold Storage, The Lakes, and State of Play. He’s also been spotted in films such as Human Traffic, Devilwood, and Skellig.
At 54, he’s currently nailing the role of DSU Roy Grace in ITV’s smash-hit drama Grace, which just rolled out its fifth series this April.
Philip Glenister – DCI Gene Hunt
DCI Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister, became an iconic figure in BBC One’s Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes to Ashes. Glenister’s portrayal of the maverick copper won over fans across both series with his complex and captivating character.
he’s the epitome of the old-school cop, known for his no-nonsense attitude and politically incorrect comments. His performance as DCI Hunt in Life on Mars earned him the status of a “national hero” among viewers and critics alike.
In the show, DCI Hunt commands respect from his team, especially Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), despite frequently clashing with Sam over their differing approaches to policing. Philip later joined forces again with his mate John in State of Play and Mad Dogs, and has appeared in other shows including Big School, Prey, Belgravia, and Living the Dream.
In 2019, he stepped into the role of presenter for the true crime series What the Killer Did Next. More recently, he’s featured in Steeltown Murders, Foundation, and After the Flood.
Liz White – WPC/DC Annie Cartwright
Woman Police Constable Annie Cartwright, who would later become Woman Detective Constable, was a devoted police officer with the Manchester and Salford Police force, and eventually, she would win the heart of Sam, becoming his girlfriend and later wife.
Actress Liz White brought this character to life. Following her departure from Life on Mars, White went on to pursue various other projects, including the 2012 Hammer Films production of The Woman in Black, in which she portrayed the enigmatic title character.
In 2014, Liz appeared in the BBC One series Our Zoo, a drama centred around the founder of Chester Zoo and its effects on his family, where she played the role of Lizzie Mottershead. In addition to her screen work, Liz has also made numerous stage appearances, such as her October 2014 role as Chrysothemis in Sophocles’ Electra, opposite Kristin Scott Thomas, at London’s Old Vic Theatre.
One of Liz’s most notable roles post-Life on Mars is that of Emma Keane in the drama series Ackley Bridge, a role she portrayed from 2017 to 2019 as a passionate former English and Drama teacher. Her other notable roles include appearances in Moving On, Our Girl, Unforgotten, and, more recently, The Long Shadow, which originally aired in 2023, where she took on the role of PS Meg Winterburn.
Dean Andrews – DS Ray Carling
Dean Andrews took on the role of DS Ray Carling, later promoted to DI, in both Life on Mars and its spin-off series Ashes to Ashes. As DS Ray “Raymondo” Carling, he worked closely as the trusted right-hand man of Gene.
Throughout the series, Ray frequently clashes with Sam over their differing views on policing methods and because Tyler landed the job Ray had his eye on. His character is depicted as a misogynist and bigot, yet he’s also shown to be a sharp detective who trusts his instincts.
Since the conclusion of the show, actor Dean Andrews has taken on various television roles, including a recent stint in Emmerdale. Starting in 2019, he joined the cast of ITV’s Emmerdale as Will Taylor. He departed from the soap last year after his character was killed off, suffering a fatal heart attack.
Dean has appeared in smaller roles in other shows like Waterloo Road, Doctors, and Vera since his time on Life on Mars. In addition to acting, he’s lent his voice to narration work.
In 2022, he narrated the Channel 5 documentary series Our Great Yorkshire Life. He’s also the voice behind the UK TV series Casualty 24/7, which focuses on Barnsley Hospital.
Marshall Lancaster – PC/DC Chris Skelton
Marshall Lancaster brought life to the endearing and cheeky Chris Skelton, who often found himself caught between the modern-minded Sam and the traditional Gene. Chris and Ray became quite the comedic duo throughout the series.
Marshall shared insights into his character with the BBC: “Ray and Gene send him on all of the rubbish jobs. When Sam turns up, Chris is impressed by his modern way of thinking. But that leaves him torn between the differences in the old and new ways of policing. His loyalty is torn between Gene and Sam.”
Since Life on Mars concluded, the actor has made appearances in both Casualty and Doctor Who. However, Marshall chose to step away from acting and establish his own construction company.
In 2013, he founded Marshall Lancaster Plastering and currently operates as a contractor in Macclesfield.
Noreen Kershaw – WPC Phyliss Dobbs
Noreen Kershaw, who played WPC Phyliss Dobbs in Life on Mars, transitioned into directing after her final acting role in the series. She has since directed episodes of Coronation Street, Shameless, Emmerdale and Heartbeat.
Prior to her stint on Life on Mars, she portrayed Kathy Roach in Channel 4’s Brookside from 1988–1990. In 2022, Noreen took on the role of director for the ITV police procedural drama ‘Ridley’. The 74-year-old continues to work in television.
Tony Marshall – Nelson
Tony Marshall is best known for his role as pub landlord Nelson in Life on Mars, despite not playing a police officer, he was a regular on the show. Fans might also recall Tony’s significant role in the finale of Ashes to Ashes, a spin-off series of Life on Mars.
Following the BBC shows, Tony portrayed Noel Garcia in Casualty from 2008 until 2021, where his character tragically died after contracting coronavirus in emotional scenes. In March 2017, Marshall reprised his role as Noel on the sister series, Holby City.
He returned to Holby City again in 2019. In 2018, Marshall also made an appearance in an episode of Still Open All Hours, playing Mr. Selby.