Life on Mars creator teases hopes for another sequel series as BBC deny plans for a Gene Hunt return

In 2020, Life on Mars fans saw all their wishes come true, as it was announced that a sequel series to both it and its follow-up Ashes to Ashes, was in the works.

Titled Lazarus, the show was set to see Philip Glenister and John Simm reprise their roles, but it was later confirmed in 2023 that it had been scrapped, with co-creator Matthew Graham citing "financial" reasons.

Now, co-creator Ashley Pharoah has teased that there could still be hope yet, as The Sun has reported that 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.

"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."

In spite of this, it seems fans shouldn't too excited just yet. In its response to The Sun, the BBC said in a statement: "There are no plans for Life on Mars to return to the BBC."

This could perhaps mean that Pharoah is referring to a return for the series in another format or on another platform. For now, we will have to wait and see.

Pharoah and Graham created Life on Mars along with Tony Jordan, and the original show, a combination of sci-fi and period crime drama, ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007.

It was followed up by three seasons of Ashes to Ashes between 2008 and 2010, with Keeley Hawes' Alex Drake taking the place of Simm's Sam Tyler.

When follow-up show Lazarus was cancelled in 2023, Graham said in a statement on Twitter, which has now been re-branded as X: "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. 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."

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