"Life on Mars" tells the fictional story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a Greater Manchester police officer who, having been hit on the head in a car accident, awakes in 1973 to find himself working as a Detective Inspector under the command of hot headed and politically incorrect DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).

The central plot of the two series is the question of how Tyler came to be in 1973. Did he die, travel through time, or is he dreaming?

Whilst trying to figure that out, Sam has to learn to solve crimes the old fashioned way. Hunt is example of old school policing at best and at worst; using guesswork and intimidation to get the result he wants. By contrast, Sam brings to the CID unit a modern know how and policing style, and his manner and charms are a balance for Hunt's brashness.

Conceived by screenwriters Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah, "Life on Mars" pays tribute to the crime fighting cop shows of the 1970s. The clothes, the cars and the music played a huge role in its success, and the series spawned a soundtrack release and a sequel in "Ashes to Ashes". This box set includes the complete second series.

Total running time - 470 minutes.