Life on Mars

Despite eerie visions that suggest a tantalising proximity to 2007, DI Sam Tyler once again wakes up to find himself very much amongst the pale brown hues of the technologically prehistoric, politically incorrect world of Manchester, 1973. And what's more he's got a murder to solve.

At a loss to discover the guilty party in a spate of armed robberies, A-Division goes to prison to escort notorious safe-cracker Dickie Fingers (Steve Evets) for interview back at CID. However as they transport him out of the gaol they are set upon by a dangerous gang who will stop at nothing to get their hands on Fingers.

When a bomb warning is reported, A-Division go on red alert. According to the caller, the IRA have brought their mainland bombing campaign to Manchester. DI Sam Tyler soon realises the bomb warning reported doesn't fit with his understanding of IRA methods. However when Sam's 2006 know-how fails to puts his team at risk, they turn his back on him.

When the body of a beautiful young woman is found in wasteland, DCI Gene Hunt fears a serial killer he thought he'd sent down in the late '60s may still be at large. For Sam the victim, a Beauvoir beauty rep like his own Aunt Heather, triggers vivid recollections of childhood.

Sam learns the man's wife and daughter have been kidnapped, and are being held hostage. Knowing that time is ticking away on the women's lives, Sam is determined to shake the demons from his head, focus on the investigation and help the desperate family.

Heroin has hit the streets of Manchester for the first time, and it's claiming lives. CID, and DCI Gene Hunt in particular, want culprits for the smuggling, and fast. However when they're called to the scene of a shooting of a Ugandan Asian young man, Sam has to ensure the bigoted, knee-jerk attitude of the police doesn't condemn the new immigrant community before a fair hearing.

Sam goes home to be awoken in the middle of the night by Hunt explaining, "I appear to have killed someone."

When CID hear of a dead miner all roads lead to the notorious cop killer Leslie Johns. Knowing how big this collar could be Gene is determined to lead the investigation and beat Morgan to the punch. CID learn that the killing resulted from a fall-out over a planned heist. A-division, however, are as hurried and unprofessional as ever, and begin to screw up again.