The American version of Life on Mars will not be returning for a second year, although network ABC will air all 17 episodes in order to provide some answers to Sam Tyler's dilemma.

Although ABC insiders told Variety that the network was pleased with the creative vision of the show, its 5.5 million viewership did not warrant a pick up for a second season.

The final episode will act as a series finale, although since the US version has veered away from some of the creative choices made in the UK original, it is thought unlikely that it will echo Sam Tyler's suicide in the British original.

Showrunners Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are already working on a new pilot, Happy Town, for ABC.