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Fire up the Quattro – BBC smash-hit series Life on Mars is coming back for a final chapter, according to creator Matthew Graham.

The writer said that many of the main cast are expected to sign up for the four or five-part finale, including John Simm as hero Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister as old-fashioned cop Gene Hunt.

And this time it will be set in the 1970s, the 1980s, and in an “alternate now”.

In an online session with fans, Graham declared: “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.”

In the original plot, Manchester cop Tyler woke up in 1973 following a car accident in the present day. Once there, he encountered the brash DCI Hunt who also appeared in spin-off Ashes to Ashes.

(Image: BBC)

The cult drama, in which it was unclear whether Sam was dead or in a coma, ran for two series from 2006, spawning 80s sequel Ashes to Ashes, which starred Keeley Hawes as time-travelling Alex Drake and ran until 2009.

Graham said the revived series would be set in both Manchester and London and would involve plenty of returning characters.

He teased: “We intend to get as many back (across both decades) as we can. When you wonder who will be coming back for The Final Chapter – think Avengers Assemble!” He said that DCI Derek Litton, played by Lee Ross would be “back to get under Gene’s feet”.

He also urged fans to recall how Daniel Mays’ character Jim Keats sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ as he walked away from Hunt at the end of the last episode, teasing a return for Keats, who was thought to represent the devil.

(Image: BBC) (Image: BBC)

Others on the wish-list include Liz White, who played Sam’s love interest Detective Constable Annie Cartwright.

Graham, who co-created the series along with Ashley Pharaoh, said the play was to also include a TV show-within-a-show, entitled “Tyler: Murder Division.” He added: “Expect one Ford Cortina, one Audi Quattro and the Chinese wall of all cardboard boxes.”

Two years ago Pharoah said the BBC had turned down a revival, claiming it didn’t make “financial sense”.

Fans are likely to be thrilled about the prospect of more adventures featuring Simm and Glenister – currently starring in ITV’s Belgravia – as Tyler and Hunt.

Many speculated that the new run would be given another David Bowie song-title rather than remain as The Last Chapter.

In a final cryptic clue about the new series, Graham hinted that Glenister was already on board. He said: “There are bad things and there are monsters. These things are real. But to get to you they have to get through the Guv. And the Guv is putting his driving gloves on.”