Ashes to Ashes

[moonstorm]

"Today, my friend, your diary entry will read: 'Took a prozzie hostage and was shot by three armed b**tards'."

Everyone's favourite Hunt is back in Ashes To Ashes, the highly-anticipated sequel to Life On Mars.



Here are ten things I can tell you about the new show:

1. Move over Sam Tyler, make way for DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes). She's a "ballsy, confident and bright" psychological profiler who proves more than a match for returning DCI, Gene Hunt...

2. This time the action is in London, 1981, where Gene and sidekicks DS Ray Carling and DS Chris Skelton have relocated to join the Met.

3. Having read Sam Tyler's case notes in 2008, Alex is aware of what is happening to her right from the start. She knows all about Gene and is convinced that she is in a coma, rendering her new world nothing more than an illusion of the mind. It's a "dystopia", as she sees it.

4. Gene hasn't changed much, but the Cortina is out and the Quattro is in. His wife has left him but there could be a new love interest on the scene.

5. Alex finds herself in 1981 after a drug-addled gunman named Arthur Layton kidnaps her then shoots her in the head. Alex believes finding Layton in 1981 is the key to getting her home.

6. Prejudice still plays an important role in this series: we have sexism ("You can't give a person who gets periods that much responsibility") and racism ("Sorry, I don't speak Hindustani").

7. Sam's dream sequences involving the Test Card girl have been replaced by Rainbow favourites Zippy and George. The puppets are seen interacting with Alex's 12-year-old daughter Molly in Alex's dreams. Alex is also being plagued by a sinister-looking clown.

8. 1981 has significance for Alex - then aged eight - because it is the year her parents died. Just before he shoots her in 2008, Layton tells Alex that he knew her parents.

9. Episode two is set at the wedding of Charles and Diana. Guest stars this series include Rupert Graves, Russell Tovey, Geoffrey Palmer, Steve Strange and Phil Davis (looks like they borrowed Doctor Who's casting sheet).

10. As for the fate of Sam, this is addressed in both the present day (suicide) and the past. I won't spoil what became of him exactly, but it suffices to say that he's no longer on the scene... and he spent a long time with Gene.

Ashes To Ashes airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One from February 7.

Source - digital Spy

I can't wait for this to start. Absolutely loved Life on Mars. Will be quite embarassing to see all the fashions again and remember what I used to wear!!

[Chloe O'brien]

Ya! Hunt is back. About time too :cheer:

[pookie1968uk]

this looks brilliant and i cant wait for it, especially as i was a teenager through the 80's! hope gene is as funny as always!

[Chloe O'brien]

Me too. Hunt is one of the best british copper's to be potrait in a drama for a long time. He is like Jack Regan from the Sweeney with a sense of humour.

[JustJodi]

oK FOLKS what did u think of the first episode,, omg I think this is gonna be really good !!!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/ashestoashes/

[Chloe O'brien]

Loved it. The music took me back to my teens I was singing along with all the songs. The humour and one-liner's were brilliant. Not sure about Keeley Hawes but she isn't one of my favourite actresses anyway so the jury is still out on that one, but It's great to see Philip Glenister back as Gene Hunt. Can't wait until next week, I may have to watch this episode a few more times on bbc IPlayer to keep me going.

[Jessie Wallace]

I never actually watched life on Mars so can't compare. But i quite liked last night's episode of ashes to ashes. Only tuned in as a BIG fan of Keeley Hawes, and she didn't disapoint. Might just have to tune in next week and see what it's like.

[Johnny Allen]

I never actually watched life on Mars so can't compare. But i quite liked last night's episode of ashes to ashes. Only tuned in as a BIG fan of Keeley Hawes, and she didn't disapoint. Might just have to tune in next week and see what it's like.

Oh you have to see Life on Mars, its one of our finest television dramas in years. Really enjoyed Ashes to Ashes, you've got to trust the Gene Genie.

[Chloe O'brien]

Did you see Philip on Jonathon Ross last night. Jonathan said that Gene Hunt should be given his own show to sort the the Pounces, Nounces, Prossies, druggies and the elderly :lol:

Come BBC give the HUNT his own show.

[moonstorm]

Feast your eyes upon some tasty spoilers for next week's Blitz-bound episode of Ashes To Ashes. There's a fake spoiler hidden in their midst though.

An innocent canine bears the brunt of social unrest by being blown up.

Alex Drake takes a fancy to an arrogant property developer.

Chris Skelton receives plenty of abuse from Dean Carling after his New Romantic tendencies are exposed.

Sam Tyler has left behind clues to help Alex return home to her daughter.

Gene Hunt's bottom is unveiled to the nation.

The real Steve Strange from Visage performs 'Fade To Grey', while a Boy George impersonator makes an appearance.

Alex Drake meets her own mother and is not very impressed.

[moonstorm]

Source DS:-

Okay spoiler junkies, here's a few tips about what lies in store for Alex Drake and her merry men in the next Ashes To Ashes episode. There's one fake spoiler in there too. Can you weed it out? Here they are:

Chris gets a kebab in his face.

Gene refers to Alex as "sulky knickers".

A glance inside a Bible reveals a major clue for Alex.

Garden gnomes take over the police station.

Gene admits that he is a closet Spandau Ballet fan.

Alex tells Gene that she had a stint as a prostitute before joining the police force.

'Let's Stick Together' by Bryan Ferry is given a spin.

The left breasts of certain females play a large role in the plot.

[JustJodi]

I really see alot of sexual tension between Alex and Gene.. I have a feeling those two are going to end up together one way or the other.. Loved the VAULT scene where Gene says IF YOU ARE TESTING ME,, I AM SURELY TO FAIL ( when Alex takes off her top and exposes a cherry red push up bra LOL )
After seeing Gene give Alex a cuddle I have decided that he is a really loveable guy ( his softer side )
Alex has had a terrible time dealing with confronting her mother and the affair her mom had with her Godfather...

Series: 1 Episode: 4

When the body of Martin Kennedy is discovered at a warehouse, Gene is quick to dismiss it as suicide. But signs of a struggle and a massive blow to the head soon take the team on a murder hunt.

The investigation leads them to a feminist socialist group connected with the victim. He has been leaking them information from Edgehampton - the government nuclear weapons facility where he worked.

Things get murkier when photos of Alex's mother in a compromising position with Evan are found at Kennedy's workshop. Gene is convinced she has a motive for the murder.

Using fake ID badges and a deciphered code, Alex and Gene break into a secure vault at Edgehampton looking for more clues. Tensions and temperatures rise when they get locked in the dark and airless vault.

Track list
To Cut A Long Story Short - Spandau Ballet
Green Door - Shakin' Stevens
Girls On Film - Duran Duran
Enola Gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
London Calling - The Clash
Love Action - Human League
Reward - The Teardrop Explodes
Police and Thieves - The Clash

Cast
Philip GlenisterDCI Gene HuntKeeley HawesDI Alex DrakeMarshall LancasterDC Chris SkeltonDean AndrewsDS Ray CarlingMontserrat LombardWPC Sharon 'Shaz' GrangerAmelia BullmoreCaroline PriceGeff FrancisViv JamesStephen Campbell MooreEvan WhiteJoseph LongLuigiWatch Clips
Episode 4 preview clip
Gene Hunt's Golden Moments
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Interviews
Keeley Hawes
On Vernon Kay's Radio 1 show

Philip Glenister on Jonathan Ross
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

[Johnny Allen]

I just love love Philip Glenister even when he's sweaty and shouting obscene comments, I still love him to bits.

[Chloe O'brien]

I just love love Philip Glenister even when he's sweaty and shouting obscene comments, I still love him to bits.

I'm with you JA loving this series of Ashes to Ashes. The music and stories are brilliant. Gene Gennie is the MAN :wub:

[pookie1968uk]

im loving this series now! it just took a bit longer to take to than life on mars and i couldnt take to poshy alex to begin with but she has grown on me a bit. admittedly she seems to have a real chemistry with gene, and he is just fantastic as usual, even quite fanciable in a funny sort of way!

[moonstorm]

Airs on Thursday, March 6 2008 at 21:00 GMT on BBC One

The focus is less on Alex Drake's parents in this episode and more on London's burgeoning gay scene and gun culture. Here are a few hints about what lies in store, along with a red herring spoiler for you to track down.

Ray Carling has a keen eye for identifying guns.

Chris is a hero between the sticks.

Madness and Human League are among the sweet sounds to be heard during the episode.

Alex is disgusted by Gene's decision to favour football over detective work.

Alex and Gene share a drunken snog at the end of the episode, with Luigi looking on in shock.

Ray reluctantly agrees to a very amusing undercover operation, although he doesn't see the funny side.

Gene loses one of his suits.

Chris does an impression of John Inman.

[moonstorm]

BBC One drama Ashes to Ashes will return for a second series, it has been confirmed.

The show, though not as popular as predecessor Life On Mars, has achieved a strong average audience of 6.5m viewers. The final episode of series one aired last night.

Simon Crawford-Collins, Ashes executive producer and head of drama at producer Kudos, said: "The '80s have had a real revival over the past few months. Ashes To Ashes seems to have captured the imagination of the nation.

"I’m sure viewers will be desperate to know who’s back in the second series but for now they’ll just have to tune into the last episode of series one to find out."

Julie Gardner, executive producer for the BBC and head of drama at BBC Wales, said she was "delighted" with the news.

"The series epitomises all that is great about BBC drama with its bold, confident storytelling and great characters," she added. "I can't wait for more blue eyeliner, Quattro cars and '80s music to burst on to our screens in 2009!"

Filming will begin in the summer for the show to return next year.

[Bad Wolf]

did anyone else feel it was a really weak ending? although alex's dads transformation from dad to scary clown was cool

[Chloe O'brien]

It's not been as good as Life on Mars but the Gene Genie was still on top form. The God Father was in on the sucide and Hunt knows it.

[pookie1968uk]

i thought there was a lot of tension in this last one wondering whether her mum and dad got blown up or not. i was really hoping alex would be able to stop it as i wanted to see what would happen if her parents survived. it was also lovely for alex to hear how much her mum really had loved her.
it was so nice when the child alex was standing there after her parents had died and it was gene who was there to scoop her up.
ok so not quite up there with life on mars but brilliant writing and i cant wait to see what happens in series two.