Home > We've Met Phil! > Insider's Report: Life on Mars Final Episode Advanced Screening (April 2007)
Insider's Report: Life on Mars Final Episode Advanced Screening (April 2007)
In April 2007 the BBC held an advanced screening of the highly anticipated final episode of Life on Mars. Insider had worked on the show and was lucky enough to be invited to the screening. Here he tells us about the evening.
As part of the team at HOT Animation who made the Life on Mars Camberwick Green animation segment, I was invited to attend the advance screening of the final episode a week before it was aired. We were all sworn to secrecy about the ending, but of course nobody wanted to be told anyway!
I thought the final episode was brilliant. The moment when Sam leapt from the roof got a big round of applause - partly because it seemed to be the end - but the final coda was very satisfying and quite touching. At least I found it so, and I wasn't alone. Dean Andrews, who plays Ray, came out of the screening going “I’m filling up, me! I’m from Yorkshire , I’m supposed to be ‘ard!” It took me a moment to recognise him without his moustache. He said he hated it and was glad to shave it off. He was very uncelebrity-like, since Life on Mars was his first major TV show and he’d only been acting a few years. He was a lovely guy and posed happily for photos with us.
Liz White, who plays Annie, arrived late because she was appearing in a play. She came over to look at Puppet Sam - who I had brought with me in a special travelling-tube - but I missed my chance for a photo because I didn’t recognise her until a moment later. She’s another one who looks very different in real life.
John Simm and Philip Glenister, on the other hand, look and behave exactly as you would expect. Obviously, they were much in demand, shaking hands, clapping shoulders and signing things, so it was intimidating to approach them. Finally, we just walked up to John Simm and said hello. I handed Puppet Sam over. John said, “Oh wow, thank you.” It was immediately clear that he thought it was some kind of presentation. I had to do some quick talking about the puppet being “one of a kind” and “going on display” to clarify the situation.
“Does that mean I have to give him back?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Oi, where’s mine then?” said Phillip Glenister, barging over.
“They won’t let me have it, Phil,” said John.
“Sod that – give it here.” He grabbed the puppet and pretended to bash John over the head with it. “And the Oscar goes to…”
Thankfully, Puppet Sam was still in one piece when I got him back. John informed Phil that his puppet was absent because it had been melted down for the plasticene, an explanation he seemed happy enough with. We later got some nice photos with both of them.
I have to say the neither of the puppets were melted down. They were on display for a while at HOT Animation and will then be going on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
Note from Admin: The puppets are no longer on display anywhere and we assume they have been returned to their original creators.
As part of the team at HOT Animation who made the Life on Mars Camberwick Green animation segment, I was invited to attend the advance screening of the final episode a week before it was aired. We were all sworn to secrecy about the ending, but of course nobody wanted to be told anyway!
I thought the final episode was brilliant. The moment when Sam leapt from the roof got a big round of applause - partly because it seemed to be the end - but the final coda was very satisfying and quite touching. At least I found it so, and I wasn't alone. Dean Andrews, who plays Ray, came out of the screening going “I’m filling up, me! I’m from Yorkshire , I’m supposed to be ‘ard!” It took me a moment to recognise him without his moustache. He said he hated it and was glad to shave it off. He was very uncelebrity-like, since Life on Mars was his first major TV show and he’d only been acting a few years. He was a lovely guy and posed happily for photos with us.
Liz White, who plays Annie, arrived late because she was appearing in a play. She came over to look at Puppet Sam - who I had brought with me in a special travelling-tube - but I missed my chance for a photo because I didn’t recognise her until a moment later. She’s another one who looks very different in real life.
John Simm and Philip Glenister, on the other hand, look and behave exactly as you would expect. Obviously, they were much in demand, shaking hands, clapping shoulders and signing things, so it was intimidating to approach them. Finally, we just walked up to John Simm and said hello. I handed Puppet Sam over. John said, “Oh wow, thank you.” It was immediately clear that he thought it was some kind of presentation. I had to do some quick talking about the puppet being “one of a kind” and “going on display” to clarify the situation.
“Does that mean I have to give him back?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Oi, where’s mine then?” said Phillip Glenister, barging over.
“They won’t let me have it, Phil,” said John.
“Sod that – give it here.” He grabbed the puppet and pretended to bash John over the head with it. “And the Oscar goes to…”
Thankfully, Puppet Sam was still in one piece when I got him back. John informed Phil that his puppet was absent because it had been melted down for the plasticene, an explanation he seemed happy enough with. We later got some nice photos with both of them.
I have to say the neither of the puppets were melted down. They were on display for a while at HOT Animation and will then be going on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
Note from Admin: The puppets are no longer on display anywhere and we assume they have been returned to their original creators.
Copyright @PhilipGlenisterFans. All Rights Reserved. This is a non-profit website, and all material on this site is meant for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended and all content provided or linked to on this site is copyrighted to their respective owners, photographers, and representatives. Watermarks are meant for site promotion only and do not indicate ownership. If you come across something you would like removed, please contact us before taking further action and we will remove it.