17 Facts About Sam Tyler

The character of Sam Tyler is the main protagonist within the programme.

Sam Tyler, being a 21st-century detective, is forensically aware and procedurally correct, whereas Hunt values violence, corruption and gut instinct in order to catch criminals.

Sam Tyler becomes good friends with Annie Cartwright and she is the only character in the programme to whom he reveals his true situation.

Sam Tyler is convinced that Morgan is his surgeon, attempting to revive him from his coma.

Sam Tyler reveals that "Williams" was sent undercover with a fake identity, DI Sam Tyler, to infiltrate Hunt's team, but developed severe concussion and amnesia after a bad car accident on the way.

Morgan convinces Sam Tyler that exposing Gene Hunt and his CID team while on an undercover operation to catch a violent armed robber, Leslie Johns, will enable him to return to the future.

Sam Tyler re-appears in the railway tunnel in 1973 and promptly kills Leslie Johns, saving the team's lives as he promised.

Sam Tyler later married Annie Cartwright and died in 1980 after unintentionally driving his car into a river while in pursuit of a suspect, from which his body was never recovered.

Sam Tyler is displayed to be a professional and procedurally correct officer who dislikes corruption and brutality, with a strong moral centre and sense of justice.

Sam Tyler has a serious nature at odds with his colleagues, made worse by the stress of the 'delusions' and 'hallucinations' he experiences that reference his coma in the future.

Sam Tyler wears a St Christopher pendant, reflecting his time traveller status, St Christopher being the patron saint of travellers.

Sam Tyler wears a Casio gold watch, which has both analogue and digital display.

Sam Tyler has dark brown eyes and short brown hair.

Chris later states in Ashes to Ashes that he's not sure if they were friends and that Sam Tyler was "more of a mentor, really".

Carling frequently insults Sam Tyler and disobeys his orders, and has an extreme loyalty to Hunt which is often a source of conflict.

The publican of the Railway Arms, Nelson, is sympathetic to Sam Tyler and offers him wise and timely advice.

Sam Tyler is the only character who seems to understand what Tyler is going through, despite his never having explained his situation.