BBC drama branded 'one the best in the country' has perfect rating

Life on Mars ran for two series and follows Sam Tyler, portrayed by John Simm, who serves with the Greater Manchester Police. After being struck by a car in 2006, he finds himself transported back to 1973. It gradually emerges that he is now a Detective Inspector with the Manchester and Salford Police. He finds himself working beneath DCI Gene Hunt, portrayed by Philip Glenister. Throughout the series it remains ambiguous whether he has perished, slipped into a coma or journeyed back in time.

Sadly for devotees of the series, it was axed after two seasons. However, the BBC did commission a spin-off, Ashes to Ashes in 2008, which lasted for three seasons. Life on Mars boasts a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and viewers have showered the programme with acclaim.

"It's easily one of the best shows our country has ever made," one enthusiast posted on Reddit.

Another commented: "You should not spoil yourself with reading reviews or whatever on the show. Just enjoy the ride till the big man sings..

"Simms is just flat out amazing it. Go in blind, and enjoy the ride," a third wrote.

Someone else remarked: "I can only echo what everyone else has said, you MUST watch Life On Mars, it's one of THE best shows ever made in the UK.

"Highly recommended! It's a really great series and John Simm is fantastic in it. I watched it last December and I absolutely loved it and still think about it often. As someone has already said, try not to read anything about it so you don't spoil yourself, it'll be worth it," a fifth reviewed. For those who missed the series when it first aired, it has found a new streaming home.

The series is now available to watch on Prime Video in the UK. It can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer and ITVX Premium.

Actor John previously confessed that he regretted not doing another series of Life on Mars.

"If anything, maybe I was a bit hasty with that. I should have done another Life On Mars. Maybe one more," he mused.

"I missed my family and I missed being away from home. The reasons were genuine. If they'd have moved it to London, I would have done it."

He continued: ""I get bored - it was, 'I've done everything I can with this character, there's nowhere else I can go. ' There were so many different reasons and a lot of them were the fact that I couldn't do anything else with Sam Tyler.

He just became a sort of shaking his head and tutting. He didn't get the funny lines in it.

"I think they found it hard to write for him, whereas they got more and more pleasure of writing for Gene. Quite understandably, because he was a fantastic character to write for."