Latest News

New Project: ITV's DNA Journey

30/4/2024

Philip is to be reunited with his Life on Mars and Mad Dogs co-star, John Simm in an episode of ITV's DNA Journey.

The fifth series of the show, produced by Voltage TV, Mitre Studios and Ancestry, the new celebrity twosomes set off in pursuit of where they come from and unearth secrets from their past, in a life-changing and emotional voyage of discovery that takes us from Canada to London, France to Jamaica.

Using advanced DNA technology and genealogy, the duos will unlock hidden secrets from their family trees as they discover amazing revelations about their descendants, fascinating stories of unknown ancestors and meetings with living relatives that spark deep connections to the past and present.

Date and time of transmission are still to be announced so watch this space!

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The Return of Gene Hunt?

1/4/2020

Tonight, during a live-tweeting rewatch of Life on Mars S1, Ep 1, co-creators Matthew Graham and Ashely Pharoah confirmed that they will be revisiting the Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes universe in a "Final Chapter" to the franchise.

"We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally we have something," Graham promised.

In a series of tweets, he teased a few details for the upcoming show, including

They’re envisaging 4 or 5 episodes
It will be set in Manchester and London
It will visit the 70s, 80s and an alternate now
There will be appearances from the Ford Cortina, Audi Quattro & a Chinese wall of cardboard boxes.
DCI Litton will return
Keats will very probably return
They want to get as many returning characters from both shows as possible

There’s no time frame for this, so watch this space for further information.

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Charity Auction: Life on Mars script signed by Phil and John Simm

21/6/2016

We are very excited to be able to announce that we are fundraising in partnership with one of the charities that Phil is patron of.

Momentum is a charity working locally in Surrey and South West London, supporting families whose children have cancer or a life-limiting condition.

To help our fundraising efforts, Phil has kindly donated an original Life on Mars script (for Series 2, Episode 4) signed by himself and co-star, John Simm. This was Phil’s own copy of the script and may contain notes about filming and dialogue changes.

The script is currently being auctioned through eBay, with a starting price of £100. THe auction will end on 27th Jun, 2016 at 12:29 pm BST.

All proceeds from this auction with go straight to Momentum to provide individually-tailored support through their family support programme, (offering emotional and practical help as well as a range of therapy services including music, dance and drama), to provide trips, treats and respite holidays to improve the facilities and healing environment for children during hospital stays.
If you are unable to bid for the script, please do consider making a small, one-off donation to support the work of this fantastic charity. (If you do this, be sure to mention the Fansite in the message box so we can keep a total of how much we have raised).

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Listen: Philip Glenister on Steve Wright's radio show

7/6/2016

Philip appeared on Steve Wright in the Afternoon today to talk about Outcast ond those Life on Mars film rumours!

Click'play' below to listen to the interview.

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Gene Hunt places 3rd in Britain's Favourite Dectective poll

20/4/2014

Philip's iconic character, DCI Gene Hunt has come third in a Channel Five poll to find Britain's favourite detective, alongside his 70s sidekick, Sam Tyler.

Gene, who appeared in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, beat legendary detectives such as Hercule Poirot (David Suchet), Inspector Morse (John Thaw) and Jack Frost (David Jason) to claim the third spot. He was only beaten by Columbo and Sherlock.

As one of the contributors said, "In DCI Gene Hunt, without doubt you have got one of the greatest, the most memorable TV Detectives ever."

The full top ten was as follows:

10. DCI Tom Barnaby (Midsummer Murders)
9. Miss Marple (Agatha Christie's Marple)
8. DI Jack Frost (A Touch of Frost)
7. Jonathan Creek (Jonathan Creek)
6. DI Alec Hardy (Broadchurch)
5. Inspector Morse (Morse)
4. Hercule Poriot (Agatha Chrisite's Poirot)
3. Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler (Life on Mars)
2. Columbo (Columbo)
1. Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)

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Life on Mars to be repeated in the UK

14/11/2013

Sony Entertainment Television have today announced that they will be repeating Life on Mars.

The show, in which DCI Sam Tyler (John Simm) is knocked down by a car and wakes up in 1973, was a massive hit when it first aired on BBC One back in 2006 and is considered by some to be Philip's "big break". He plays Sam's boss, Gene Hunt; a politically incorrect, brutal, misogynistic Detective Chief Inspector.

Watch the trailer below!

The series will begin on Wednesday 27th November at 10pm on Sony Entertainment Television (Sky ch 157, Virgin ch 193) and will air on the +1 channel (Sky ch 181) an hour later.

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Life on Mars features in BBC's TV's Top 10 Endings

28/9/2013

In anticipation of the series finale of US drama 'Breaking Bad', the BBC have published a feature showcasing some of the shows that got their dying moments right, and the ones that failed spectacularly.

Life on Mars is one of the shows mentioned in the feature and here's what the BBC had to say that incredibly memorable ending. (Note: It probably doesn't need saying, but if you've still not seen the ending, don't read on!)

After an accident, modern-day detective Sam Tyler (John Simm) woke up in 1973, when men were men, and men were also sexist alcoholics in bad trousers.

Over two series, viewers were left to wonder whether his predicament was real, or a fitful by-product of his coma. In the final episode, Sam learned that corrupt cop Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) was the "tumour" in his brain. If he could get rid of Hunt, he could go home. The operation (get it?) was nearly over.

Then, he was told the exact opposite: He really was in 1973, and suffering from amnesia after a car crash.

Eventually, the "real" Sam woke up in a hospital in 2006 - but the writers had one final twist in store. He decided he preferred the 70s after all, and jumped off the hospital roof, sending himself back into a coma, and back into the arms of his dream girl, Annie.

The Guardian called it "the perfect finale" but the Express declared the "shaggy dog story" was ultimately "baffling".

Still, it fared better than the short-lived US remake, where Sam turned out to be an astronaut on the first manned mission to Mars, trapped in a malfunctioning hibernation chamber.

It's not the first time that the ending of Life on Mars has been highlighted; in 2008 it was voted the #1 TV ending beating the likes of Only Fools and Horses, One Foot in the Grave, Frasier and many more.

But, 6 years on, what do you think of the ending to Life on Mars? Would you have done it differently? Tell us how below.

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Welcome to PhilipGlenisterFans, the original and largest online resource dedicated to British actor Philip Glenister best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC dramas Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.

Current Projects

After the Flood (ITV)
Jack Radcliffe
Status: Airing 10th January 2024

Carthago
Lord James Davidson
Status: Airing in selected countries

Just in Case
Mark
Status: Completed, showing at various film festivals

Philip's Charities

Momentum
Organized group that supports families and children with cancer being treated at Kingston Hospital Surrey.

Shooting Star Chase
Charity caring for families with a child or teenager with life-limiting conditions in London and Surrey.

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PhilipGlenisterFans
URL: philipglenisterfans.org.uk
Maintained by: Ruth
Online since: 27th October 2012

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New Project: ITV's DNA Journey

The Return of Gene Hunt?

Charity Auction: Life on Mars script signed by Phil and John Simm

Listen: Philip Glenister on Steve Wright's radio show

Gene Hunt places 3rd in Britain's Favourite Dectective poll

Life on Mars to be repeated in the UK

Life on Mars features in BBC's TV's Top 10 Endings

Current Projects

Philip's Charities

Site Information

Affiliates

Fan Donations

Categories

Archives

New Project: ITV's DNA Journey

The Return of Gene Hunt?

Charity Auction: Life on Mars script signed by Phil and John Simm

Listen: Philip Glenister on Steve Wright's radio show

Gene Hunt places 3rd in Britain's Favourite Dectective poll

Life on Mars to be repeated in the UK

Life on Mars features in BBC's TV's Top 10 Endings

Current Projects

﻿Philip's Charities

Site Information

Affiliates

Fan Donations

Categories

Archives

Philip's Charities