Murder on Mars: Episode 1

Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death.

When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed.

But murder's not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.

Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.

Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.

Written by Tim Foley

CAST RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY KAYA ..... SASHA MCABE DAN ..... JOANA BORJA POWELL ..... JASON BARNETT DR LI ..... CRYSTAL YU WARD ..... STEFFAN RHODRI NILS ..... DAVID MENKIN MAX ..... SIDHANT ANAND

Sound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor Director: Anne Isger Casting Manager: Alex Curran

A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4