BBC to make dramas for China for first time as it remakes Life on Mars set in 1990s Beijing

The BBC is set to make dramas for China for the first time as it recreates Life on Mars for a Chinese audience.

This comes as BBC Studios executives hope to do re-makes of some of their most popular dramas for Chinese viewers, including Luther and Doctor Foster.

While the original Life on Mars was set in 1970s Britain, the Chinese version will be set in 1990s Beijing.

The BBC said this is because it was "a time of economic growth and cultural prosperity," adding that it was "a landmark decade as China became increasingly open to the rest of the world culturally. The Chinese version of Life on Mars will reflect this remarkable era of change, conflict and challenges."

The 90s were a time of massive economic expansion and change in China, which saw the return of Hong Kong from UK to Chinese control.

BBC Studios announced a new collaboration with Phoenix Entertainment Group to create a local Mandarin adaptation of the Bafta and Emmy-award winning drama, Life on Mars, from Kudos Film & Television.

This is BBC Studios’ first partnership with the Beijing-based production house, which counts the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV among its partners.

The original version of the programme, which starred John Simm and Philip Glenister, sees a present day detective transported mysteriously back in time, after a near-fatal accident.

The success of the BBC series spawned a sequel, Ashes To Ashes, set in the 1980s.

It is hoped by executives that other popular BBC shows will translate well in China, including detective show Luther and the mystery-drama Doctor Foster.

David Weiland, EVP Asia, BBC Studios said: “I am delighted that our first partnership with Phoenix Entertainment Group is Life on Mars which ranks as one of the best dramas to come out of the UK and is a great example of the breadth and wealth of our scripted formats catalogue.

"We have a huge range of high quality scripted titles from Doctor Foster and Luther to Thirteen and In The Club, shows that would captivate Chinese audiences.  I look forward to viewers enjoying this local version of Life on Mars as they go back 30 years in time.”

Bihai Wu, Vice President & General Manager, Phoenix Entertainment Group, said that the company has been "carefully considering" other BBC shows.

He added: “BBC Studios offers a great range of dramas that match our ambitions to produce captivating, first-class dramas for the fast growing Chinese SVOD market and their discerning audiences.”

Kelvin Yau, SVP and GM Greater China, BBC Studios said: “Remaking Life on Mars for the region is a very exciting prospect. Drama local adaptation is a growing business in North Asia, particularly in China where it claims 48% of all format sales, and is a key focus for BBC Studios as we continue to bring the best of British TV to Chinese audiences.”

Pre-production on the Chinese version will begin this year, with 24 episodes planned.

BBC Studios has previously licensed the Life on Mars format to Russia, Spain, Czech Republic and South Korea.

The BBC has also recently licensed its show Mistresses to NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, which is giving it a prime-time slot.

The show, which launched in 2008 and followed the lives of four thirtysomething friends who met at university, will be the first BBC drama made for Japanese public TV.