Life On Mars
John Simm plays the troubled DI Sam Tyler
How was it returning to the world of Sam Tyler?
Μύ
"It was exciting to go back to the role and it was very nice to see everyone again – we slipped back into it very easily. We literally hit the ground running and it was just like before – in fact, it was almost like we were actually filming a ninth episode for series one rather than episode one of series two!
Μύ
"I hadn't had time to do another job in between so the time off just went very quickly, and suddenly we were back in to it. It was great."
Μύ
There continues to be lots of altercations between Sam and the rest of his team. Does Sam's bloody-mindedness and moral behaviour still make life difficult for him?
Μύ
"In episode three, the team are called out because of a threatened bomb blast. Obviously, Gene jumps to conclusions and assumes it's the IRA, but Sam knows that this can't be so.
Μύ
"He is absolutely certain that he is right, but Sam thinks it must be a hoax. So, when he and Ray lock horns and Ray goes to investigate, Sam honestly doesn't think that there is any risk, but Ray takes the consequences.
Μύ
"I don't think Sam would intentionally put anyone in danger – not even Ray!"
Μύ
Is Sam getting increasingly frustrated with his situation – not knowing if he's in a coma or if he's going mad?
Μύ
"I don't think Sam is frustrated, as such, I think he's resigned to the fact that he's there and he's waiting for something else to happen to give him a sign – which does happen, more or less, in every episode; he has a frightening dream or he's given the wrong drugs or he's hearing things from 2007 on the radio.
Μύ
"I think he's just waiting for another chance to wake up and get out."
Μύ
Is it true you and Philip wore Old Spice aftershave occasionally during filming to recreate that Seventies feeling?
Μύ
"Right at the very beginning of the series, Phil and I decided we'd wear Old Spice and Brut to try and get the Seventies smell every morning – to get us in the mood. We did it once and we stank so much we never did it again!
Μύ
"We both had these bottles of unused aftershave that we had been begging Emma (White), the make-up lady, to go out and buy, which she did, and we only used it once – it was a very bad idea!"
Μύ
Will you miss Life On Mars?
Μύ
"I'll miss the fact that I'm not working with these fantastic people. It was really hard work, almost like an endurance test in a lot of ways. I was in every scene so the days were really long. I was away from home for a year, and it was quite tough.
Μύ
"I'll miss the leather jacket but, hopefully, I can keep it and put it in my wardrobe – it will live on even after Life On Mars!"
Μύ
What are you up to next?
Μύ
"I have just finished filming a one-off drama for Channel 4 called the Yellow House – due on air later this year. I play Vincent Van Gogh, and it's based around when he lived in Arles, South France, with Paul Gauguin, in 1888.
Μύ
"It basically culminated in Van Gogh going mad and cutting his ear off. I enjoyed it immensely, and found it great to play someone else – especially alongside John Lynch who plays Gauguin.
Μύ
"Sadly, I don't have any originals of Van Gogh's work. However, I do have a few prints at home. I had to paint when we were filming certain scenes, which was really weird, and I had to get in to the psyche of someone who was very mentally ill at the time.
Μύ
"It was very different to playing Sam Tyler!"
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