Plans for a long-awaited third series of the cult BBC time-travel drama Life On Mars may have been resurrected, according to one of its creators. Ashley Pharoah has hinted that new episodes could be back on the table, two decades after the show first became a surprise hit.
A Show Stuck in Time
The original series, which starred John Simm as modern-day DI Sam Tyler and Phillip Glenister as the politically incorrect DCI Gene Hunt, ran for two series starting in 2006. It followed Tyler after a car accident, waking up in 1973 and grappling with the era's radically different policing methods.
The show's success spawned a sequel, Ashes to Ashes, set in the 1980s, which concluded in 2010. For years, fans and the creators themselves have wanted to complete a planned trilogy, with a third series tentatively titled Lazarus.
Financial Hurdles and Streaming Hopes
Previous attempts to revive the show have repeatedly faltered. In June 2023, co-creator Matthew Graham announced that the Lazarus project was dead, citing insurmountable 'financial hurdles' after pitches to the BBC and streamer Britbox failed.
However, in a recent statement, Ashley Pharoah has sparked fresh hope. He said, '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.' This suggests renewed discussions, potentially with streaming services, as the BBC has publicly denied any plans for a revival.
What Could Lazarus Have Been?
The proposed storyline for the third series was ambitious. It would have seen Sam Tyler working in Internal Affairs in 2022. During an investigation at a care home, he would reunite with an ageing Gene Hunt before both were transported back to 1977.
The creators had also envisioned taking the story into the 1990s, exploring another shift in police culture. Despite the strong concept and fan demand, the project stalled. The main stars, Simm and Glenister, have been keen to return, though Keeley Hawes, star of Ashes to Ashes, has been more reluctant.
While Pharoah's comments are tantalising, they remain cryptic. Whether the iconic Ford Cortina will indeed roar back to life on our screens depends on finding a broadcaster or streamer willing to back this beloved piece of British television history.
