# Life on Mars (2006–2007) — Celluloid TV fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/shows/life-on-mars/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 86% |
| Critic Score | 96% |
| Audience Score | 92% |
| Metascore | 80/100 |
| IMDb | 8.4/10 |
| Fan Score | 80% |
| Creator | Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan |
| Platform | BBC |
| Genres | Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| Seasons | 2 (16 episodes) |
| Language | English |
| Country | United Kingdom |

## Quick answer

Life on Mars (2006–2007) is a Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy series created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan, streaming on BBC. It holds a 86% Celluloid Score — Recommended — averaged from critic reviews (96%), audience ratings (92%), Metascore (80/100), IMDb (8.4/10), and fan ratings (80%) across 2 seasons.

## Critics consensus

A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for.

## Synopsis

A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

## Cast

John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster, Noreen Kershaw

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Most searched questions

**Is Life on Mars worth watching?**
Yes — Life on Mars earns a 86% Celluloid Score (Recommended), averaged from critic 96%, audience 92%, Metascore 80/100, IMDb 8.4/10, and fan 80%. A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for.

**Why is Life on Mars so highly rated?**
Life on Mars scores 86% because all five independent sources agree: critics 96%, audiences 92%, Metacritic 80/100, IMDb 8.4/10 and fan ratings 80%. A modern detective wakes up in 1973 and has to police alongside Gene Hunt — a time-travel premise used as an argument about what policing is for. See the full breakdown on the Life on Mars series page.

**Is Life on Mars on Netflix?**
No — Life on Mars is not on Netflix. It streams on BBC, and on Celluloid it is catalogued under BBC. Streaming rights rotate by country, so confirm in your region before subscribing.

**What year did Life on Mars come out?**
Life on Mars first aired in 2006 and ran through 2007 (2006–2007). Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan; it streams on BBC today.

**How many seasons of Life on Mars are there?**
Life on Mars has 2 seasons across 16 episodes (2006–2007). Status: ended / complete.

**How long does it take to watch Life on Mars?**
At roughly 40–50 minutes per episode, Life on Mars’s 16 episodes take roughly 12 hours of runtime (plus credits). Binge pace depends on season breaks.

**Where can I watch Life on Mars?**
Life on Mars streams on BBC in supported regions. On Celluloid it is catalogued under BBC. Rights rotate — confirm in your country on the platform app.

**Who is in the cast of Life on Mars?**
Life on Mars stars John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster, and others. Created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan.

**How many episodes are in Life on Mars?**
Life on Mars has 16 episodes across 2 seasons (2006–2007).

**What is Life on Mars about?**
A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

**Who created Life on Mars?**
Life on Mars was created by Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah & Tony Jordan. It is a crime, drama, mystery series from United Kingdom, primarily in English.

**What should I watch after Life on Mars?**
Browse more crime series on Celluloid’s BBC hub, or open More Like This.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/shows/life-on-mars.md