When she arrives in the past, she enlists Gene Hunt to help her catch the man who shot her.

Having read Sam Tyler’s report on his own experiences in the past, she already knows of Gene Hunt and his team, and has a good idea of how to get home…

In Life on Mars, Skelton became close to Sam Tyler, and was one of the most receptive members of the team to Sam’s modern policing methods. He is very loyal to DCI Hunt, and in Ashes to Ashes, has followed him to the Met.

Chris is the youngest member of Hunt’s team, and his inexperience sometimes shows - though he is always willing to give everything his best shot, even if he’s not completely convinced of it’s effectiveness.

The character is played by Marshall Lancaster.

In Life on Mars, Carling was demoted to Detective Constable after the death of a suspect. Gene Hunt repromoted him shortly after.

Ray, along with his collegue, Chris Skelton, is often used to provide comic relief on the show.

He is played by Dean Andrews.

Played by Keeley Hawes, most of the series is expected to revolve around her. Like Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, she has ended up in the past after an accident. She is shot by a drug dealer, and wakes up in 1981.

She has prior knowledge of Gene Hunt and his team, as she has read Sam Tyler’s report on his own experience. She is an expert in psychological profiling.

Unlike the other main characters, DI Drake did not appear in Life on Mars.

DCI Hunt now drives an Audi Quattro, which has replaced his old Ford Cortina from Life on Mars.

In Ashes to Ashes, Gene has moved from the Greater Manchester Police to the Metropolitan Police, and is now based in London.

Despite being pretty un-PC, Gene Hunt remains one of the most popular characters from Life on Mars, and a major contributing factor to it’s success.

Our favourite Gene Hunt quotes:

• “I’ll come over your houses and stamp on all your toys!”
• “Drop your weapons! You are surrounded by armed bastards!”
• “He’s Dead! It’s quite serious!”