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Screenwriter of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes trilogy closer, Lazarus, offers update on show

March 3rd, 2022 by Marc Comments

While it felt like the whole world was going to hell in 2020, one of the bright lights was the confirmation that we were getting a third series in the Life on Mars series, following the rather brilliant Ashes to Ashes that aired waaaaaay back in 2010.

Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes were two connected time-travel (sort of) shows that ran between 2006 and 2010 and saw DCI Gene Hunt (the amazing Phil Glenister) seemingly ageless and mentoring two cops lost in time – Sam Tyler (John Simm) stuck in the 1970s in Manchester and Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) stuck in the 1980s – both thrown back from their own modern times.

We learned that a third series, Lazarus, will be set in 1970s, 1980s and an alternate present-day, will take place in London and Manchester and will be a limited run series that will tie the whole franchise together – you can read all the details here.

We then learned later that Glenister will be back and will be joined by Hawes too (here) and now we know that, yes!, John Simm, the actor who started the whole story as Sam Tyler, is definitely returning too, with the actor posting on social media that he was hanging out with Glenister:

On top of this, series screenwriter Fritha Malcouronne has updated fans online, telling them that wheels are still in motion and things have just gone a little slower than expected, saying: Know a couple of folk are waiting to hear more about #Lazarus. Know it’s not easy but just wait a little bit longer. Wheels in motion and all that. #LifeOnMarsLive

So, it seems that while we were a bit panicked as nothing was being mentioned recently, it’s all still going ahead… it’s hardly surprising since the whole world is a strange place at the minute and has been for a, well, whule.

I’m such a big fan of both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes and I cannot wait to have Sam, Gene and Alex back on our screens.

Any fans of the franchise here? Let me know your thoughts on the final chapter coming…

Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….