The programme was one of the most successful BBC shows of the 2000s

19:58, 14 Jan 2026Updated 23:51, 14 Jan 2026

The acclaimed series ran for just two seasons before a sequel spin-off hit screens(Image: )

A hit BBC series with an iconic Doctor Who villain may return for the first series in over 15 years as its creator provided a huge update.

Premiering back in 2006, Life On Mars followed Sam Tyler, a Manchester police officer in 2006 who wakes up after a car accident to discover that he has time-travelled to 1973.

Once in the past, Sam begins working the same job in the same location under the command of Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt while attempting to solve the mystery of what has happened to him.

Starring John Simm, who played The Master in Doctor Who, and Philip Glenister as Hunt, the series was widely praised for managing to blend science fiction with the normal drama involving a police procedural programme.

Sadly, Life on Mars came to an abrupt end in 2007 after just two seasons and 16 episodes. However, Glenister was soon playing Chief Inspector Hunt in its spin-off Ashes to Ashes, which like the original series was named after a David Bowie song.

The sequel series, which had three seasons, saw Keeley Hawes’ London officer Alex Drake regain consciousness in 1981 after being shot. Similarly to the original series, the main character had to look into the past to see how she could go back to the future.

According to Life on Mars co-creator Ashley Pharoah, the series may just end up coming back for a third series. A new instalment titled Lazarus had appeared to be in the works in recent years, but plans were ditched in 2023 due to ‘financial hurdles’.

Scene from Life on Mars where Sam wakes up in 1973.(Image: BBC | Screen Grab)

However, Ashley has dropped a huge hint that the project could be back on. He told The Sun newspaper: “Something is stirring in the Life on Mars world.

“I’m sworn to secrecy but the Cortina isn’t ready for the scrapyard just yet. “It really puzzled us that no one wanted to make Lazarus – the fans certainly did.

“We had always planned to do three series, not two. I remember there was a bit of worry from the BBC.”

Despite the co-creator’s comments, a third Life on Mars series isn’t expected to air on the BBC. The BBC said in a statement: “There are no plans for Life on Mars to return to the BBC.”

In 2023, Ashley’s fellow co-creator Matthew Graham revealed that the plans for Lazarus had been shelved. He wrote on Twitter at the time: “Some sad news folks. After many months of planning, we will now not be making Lazarus. I can’t go into details but the hurdles were financial not creative.

“Naturally all who were involved are sick as a jungle full of parrots. Not least myself and Ashley Pharoah. It was a cracking concept – pertinent to our times. It had a whole new round of things to say about the relationship between the public and the police.”

He continued: “And it was bloody funny too. But that as they say is showbiz baby. Forgive us if we don’t take questions on the decision or on what happens next for Gene, Sam and the gang.

“But we wanted to let those who were interested know so that you could instead raise a pint of tan n bitter to the Guv.”

Ashley also told fans: “Really disappointing news but we gave it a proper crack. We’re still thinking of a way to either share the script with you or bring it out in another form. Until then… pub?”