David Bowie

David Bowie was a singer from Earth. (PROSE: Life on Mars on Mars)

In 1974, the Eighth Doctor mentioned Bowie as one of the great musicians of the period to Lucie Miller. (AUDIO: Horror of Glam Rock)

Evelyn Smythe spoke of her experience in a space suit as "like that David Bowie song." (AUDIO: The Feast of Axos)

After his death, Erimem and Andy Hansen left a copy of Bowie's song "Life on Mars" on Mars. It was discovered by a mars rover on New Year's Eve 2020. (PROSE: Life on Mars on Mars)

The Twelfth Doctor recited some of his song "Ashes to Ashes" to a robot, with the line "I'm Happy, Hope You're Happy Too". (TV: Smile)

Behind the scenes

 * Bowie and his song "Life on Mars" were presumably the influence for the name of Mars station Bowie Base One. (TV: The Waters of Mars)
 * In 1983, Bowie was offered the role of Sharaz Jek but the dates clashed with his Serious Moonlight tour.
 * In 1973, Bowie and his band, The Spiders From Mars, mingled with the cast of Planet of the Daleks at BBC Television Centre, leading a passer-by to ask if they were playing aliens in the show.
 * The Doctor Who Confidential episode Is There Life on Mars? is titled in reference to Bowie's song "Life on Mars".
 * The novel Loving the Alien shares the title of a Bowie song.
 * The comic strip The Woman Who Sold the World is a reference to the Bowie song "".
 * The character John Jones was heavily inspired by Bowie.
 * Bowie served as the basis for Peter Capaldi's portrayal of the Twelfth Doctor; Capaldi, a fan of Bowie, stated that he believed the musician would be an optimal template after searching through his "scrapbook of ideas".