The BBC detective series “Life on Mars” is set around a police station in Manchester.
The story follows Sam Tyler, a Manchester police officer who is struck by a car in 2006 and wakes in 1973. He finds himself working at a fictional Manchester police station under Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt. The series combines crime investigation with science fiction and questions about time, identity, and reality.
Manchester is central to the show’s identity rather than being a generic backdrop. The contrast between modern policing and the rougher, less regulated practices of the 1970s drives many of the investigations. Period music, clothing, vehicles, and police procedures reinforce the time-shift premise.
The title refers to “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie, which was released as a single in 1973. “Life on Mars” ran for two series on BBC One from 2006 to 2007 and was followed by the sequel series “Ashes to Ashes.”