<P> Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between 9 January 2006 and 10 April 2007 . The series combines elements of speculative fiction and police procedural, featuring an officer from the Greater Manchester Police (played by John Simm) who wakes up in the 1970s after being involved in a road accident . The title is a reference to David Bowie's 1973 single "Life on Mars?, with its lyrics of' Take a look at the law man, beating up the wrong guy' ." </P> <P> An American adaptation of the series was produced by ABC and ran for one season from October 2008 to April 2009 . A Spanish adaptation of the series was broadcast from April to June 2009 . A Russian adaptation of the series entitled The Dark Side of the Moon was broadcast in November 2012 . Czech adaptation World under the Head was broadcast by Czech Television from January to March 2017 . A sequel to the series, Ashes to Ashes, referencing another David Bowie song, aired on BBC One from February 2008 to May 2010 . </P> <P> Life on Mars tells the fictional story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a policeman in service with the Greater Manchester Police (GMP). After being hit by a car in 2006, Tyler awakens in 1973 to find himself working for a predecessor of the GMP, the Manchester and Salford Police, at the same station and location as in 2006 . Early on in the series, it becomes apparent to Tyler that he awakes as a Detective Inspector, one rank lower than his 2006 rank of Detective Chief Inspector . As part of the Criminal Investigation Department, Tyler finds himself working under the command of Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). </P> <P> Throughout the two series, the plot centres on the ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament and the lack of clarity, to both the audience and the character, whether he has died, become comatose, or actually traveled back in time . </P>

Tv show where cop goes back in time