It's been hailed as one of the greatest UK dramas of all time. In fact, fans of Life On Mars say it goes up against any drama series ever made including classics like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos.

The John Simm and Philip Glenister police drama ran for just two series, but has been hailed as one of the best shows the BBC has ever produced, scoring a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for both series 1 and series 2 - a rarity in its own right.

The series follows DCI Sam Tyler, a Manchester police detective who's involved in a car crash and wakes up in 1973.

The police drama meets mystery thriller forces Sam to grapple with what's happened to him - is he dead, in a coma, or has he really travelled back in time? - while trying to solve crimes in a very different world, fraught with all the very non-PC problems in 1970s British policing.

The action is supported by a stellar cast of characters including the inimitable Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister, a larger than life police chief who doesn't care who's put behind bars so long as he's in the pub by teatime.

Viewers watch as Sam tries to bring modern day policing methods to a station full of stubborn and sexist coppers stuck in their ways, all the while trying to figure out why and how he's stuck there and what he needs to do to return to 2006 - if he even can.

The series, backed by a classic David Bowie soundtrack which inspired the title using the eponymous hit song, was a smash hit with critics in 2006 when it aired and audiences were equally effusive.

One reviewer on Google wrote: "I can't praise this programme enough. For anyone who lived through the early 1970s the sets, clothes, music, slang are spot on and so nostalgic, but it's the characters who stand out. Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler are the perfect foils for each other and there are so many laugh out loud dialogue moments in the script, and so many clever send ups of the attitudes of the day, it can't offend."

Another adds: "Simply put "Life On Mars" is one of the greatest and cleverest TV shows EVER produced for British Television... Brilliantly written stories, with wonderful Characters and fantastic interplay, "Life On Mars" is a total treat. Sadly it only lasted two series and was gone from our screens far too soon (although a terrific sequal "Ashes to Ashes" would soon arrive). This is TV at its very very best. Simply Brilliant. Don't miss this Show."

A third adds: "Life on Mars is the best program I've ever watched! Every episode has a great story, and it's really good quality. The cast is really good. John Simm is brilliant as Sam Tyler, a man who doesn't know why he's in 1973. Is in he in a coma, has he gone insane or has he gone back in time. Philip Glenister is just as good as Gene Hunt, a great character who has a lot of clever and funny lines. Liz White is also brilliant as Annie Cartwright, Sam's best friend/ love interest. Dean Andrews and Marshall Lancaster are really good as Ray and Chris respectively."

While the show only ran for two series, it did spawn a sequel - Ashes to Ashes - seeing Philip Glenister's Hunt return alongside new sidekick Keeley Hawes' Alex Drake, this time moving the action to the 1980s.

Life On Mars is now available to stream free on BBC iPlayer, or watch via Amazon Prime without a TV Licence.