BBC Press Office - 26th March 2009
Introduction
The Gene Genie is back... in highly-anticipated second series of award-winning Ashes To Ashes for BBC One
The Quattro's fired up and fashion sense has been thrown out of the window as the second series of hit BBC One drama Ashes To Ashes returns!
Winner of the Best New Drama category at the 2008 TV Quick Awards, series one of Ashes To Ashes cemented its position as one of the TV highlights of 2008 after more than eight million viewers tuned in to see DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) arrive with a bang in 1981.
Starting on Monday 20 April 2009 at 9.00pm, series two kicks off in 1982 where leg warmers are cool, fluorescent is the colour of choice, Thatcher is in her element and bullish DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is back, policing the streets in his politically incorrect and loud-mouthed style. Sassy Alex Drake, with whom Hunt shares a fiery working relationship, is by his side, desperately trying to keep him in line.
Though no nearer to getting back to her daughter, Alex believes she is suspended in time and finally understands how the world around her works. But when she starts hearing news from the future, she realises nothing is as it seems.
Clinging on to fast-fading hope, she discovers she may not be alone in her predicament. A mysterious stranger who also seems to be stuck in 1982 is making Alex doubt that her current world is merely a figment of her imagination. Is he a friend who can help her get home or a foe who will destroy all she knows?
And while Gene Hunt saved her younger self from the car bomb that killed her parents, can she ever trust him enough to share in her extraordinary scenario? As she struggles to stay alive long enough to find a way home, it appears she needs him more than ever before.
Produced by Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions, this new series also sees the return of Gene and Alex's top team: DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), DC Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger (Montserrat Lombard).
Chris and Shaz couldn't be happier. He's still trying his best to be the perfect "feminist" boyfriend and wants to take his relationship to the next level, but predictably Ray continues to tease him about his romantic gestures.
Ray is also struggling to contain his emotions about the Falklands War, blaming the "Argies" and throwing his weight fully behind Maggie Thatcher. However, more testing times lie ahead for the trio...
Producer Beth Willis says: "The new series moves in a slightly different direction and we've really enjoyed developing the characters and Alex's journey further. Gene and Alex's relationship is so complex; it is very sparky and they obviously care for each other in a begrudging manner so it's interesting to see how this evolves. Ray and Chris are still by Gene's side, but when force legend Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh (Roger Allam) starts working with the team it looks as if Gene's equilibrium could be broken."
The arrival of Supermac seems like a blessing to the team because he's been hailed as a star within the force and someone not to be messed with. However, it's not long before Gene's gut instinct tells him something isn't quite right. Could this cop legend be up to no good?
Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, adds: "Last year, Ashes to Ashes was a highlight of the BBC One drama schedule and delighted over eight million drama fans and 1980s devotees alike.
"Series two combines the same mix of compelling crime stories, outrageous fashion and blistering one-liners with some bold and brilliant new plot twists. Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah's scripts continue to thrill while bravura performances from Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes mean that Ashes is back with a bang!"
Ashes To Ashes is written and created by Matthew Graham andAshley Pharoah, two of the creators of award-winning drama Life On Mars. It is produced by Kudos Film and Television, in association with Monastic Productions. Executive producers are Simon Crawford Collins and Jane Featherstone for Kudos Film and Television, Ashley Pharoah for Monastic Productions. It was commissioned by Piers Wenger for BBC Wales.
Interview with Philip Glenister (DCI Gene Hunt)
Everyone's favourite copper, brash but loveable DCI Gene Hunt, is back policing the streets of Eighties London. Actor Philip Glenister, recently seen as demon slayer Rupert Galvin in Demons and donning breeches as Mr Carter in Cranford, explains why he still relishes playing the politically incorrect Mancunian. "We wouldn't have a series if Gene Hunt suddenly became politically correct!" laughs Philip,"we'd have to wrap it up."
It's true that over the last four years the public have taken the character of Gene Hunt to their hearts and Philip attributes this to Hunt's ideals. "In this series of Ashes To Ashes Gene is still out there being a maverick, but what I always say about him is that, while he bends the rules, he never breaks them. He merely manipulates and stretches them a bit! If anything he is a decent and honest copper and he'll usually only collar unsavoury characters. I love the western connotation with Hunt; he is exactly like a Sheriff and sees himself very much in that guise. However, the problem is that he is out of his depth in the Eighties metropolis of London and the bottom line is he is a Seventies copper at heart."
In this second series of Ashes To Ashes the action moves on a year from 1981 to 1982 and the CID team face tough times. "Alex becomes much more part of the team," explains Philip. "But there is a police corruption theme running throughout the series so it does feel darker than series one; the corruption breeds a lack of trust and coherence which is unbalancing for everybody. However, viewers can still expect moments of high campness and there are some great one-liners!"
Central to the police corruption theme is Gene's new boss, Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh, who arrives in the first episode determined to restore the reputation of the police in the eyes of the media and public. "Supermac is a highly-respected Superintendent who has been in the police force for a long time," says Philip. "He trained at Hendon and has come up through the police ranks which gained him a lot of respect from his colleagues on the force. Supermac enters CID and basically says that the police needs to regroup and be accountable. I think Gene agrees with him up to a point but then certain events lead him to question Supermac's motives."
Gene and Alex's relationship also continues to be fiery with a hint of simmering sexual tension beneath the surface. Does Philip think they would work as a couple? "If you just had a show based on 'will they won't they' it wouldn't be that interesting; hopefully their relationship is a bit more complex than that," he replies. "It's the moment things spill over from a professional capacity to a personal one when complications set in and you start to question whether they would work as a couple. I think Gene is an enigma and I play him with ambiguity rather than having a preconceived idea of whether Gene fancies Alex or not. There are moments when he teases her and she teases him but Gene will never give anything away!"
Philip admits that the long hours on set did take their toll but he clearly enjoyed working with the cast and production team who he shared plenty of laughs with. "Shooting eight episodes took six months so it was a long shoot but a great bunch of people work on the show which is one of the joys of the job," he explains. "There were so many funny incidents, we laughed a lot – particularly Keeley and Dean who are real gigglers. In fact they are the troublemakers! Dean's laugh is like an animal's and Keeley will just crack up out of nowhere. She's pretty amazing because she can also cry on cue for scenes; her range of emotion is incredibly impressive."
Of course an interview about Gene Hunt wouldn't be complete without asking about the love of his life, the Quattro. Philip chuckles as he recounts his experiences of driving what many people consider an antique.
"The stunt guys could just whizz past the cameras and do handbrake turns. I then had to get in the car for the interior shots and there would be two cameras stuck to the front and one on the side. I'd have to make sure I didn't drive too close to the curb otherwise I would have taken one out on a lamppost. The camera stuck to the windshield also meant I couldn't see anything out the front and the heavy equipment combined with actors, who had spent five-and-a-half months eating location food and syrup sponge, left the poor old Quattro scratching along the floor! I always enjoy the driving stuff, though, especially throwing around a car which isn't my own," adds Philip. "We had two Quattros this time round so we weren't stuck if one broke down. In fact we did have a couple of instances with the Quattro while filming this series, both involving the stunt men and not the cast I hasten to add! First a stunt guy smashed one of the car's front lights when we were filming a chase scene and the two cars clipped each other. The second incident involved a scare when the Quattro had to hit one of the stuntmen. Unfortunately when the Quattro actually struck him he accidentally smashed the windscreen. Luckily he was alright."
Interview with Keeley Hawes (DI Alex Drake)
Viewers last saw DI Alex Drake in despair after being unable to save her parents from the car bomb that killed them. It's now 1982 and Alex is settling into Eighties life while her memories of 2008 begin to fade. Actor, Keeley Hawes, who recently starred in BBC One's Mutual Friends, plays the sassy DI and explains what is in store for Alex.
As the new series of Ashes to Ashes explodes onto the screen, DI Alex Drake and the rest of the CID team are searching for suspects in an underground sewage system. Luckily for Keeley Hawes this scene didn't set the tone for what her character could expect to get up to throughout the rest of the series.
She explains: "This series we get to see that Alex has calmed down a lot and has begun to settle into the 1980s environment. She now considers the people around her to be friends and, because we have moved on a year, things aren't quite so heightened for her. I've found Alex really interesting to play this series," continues Keeley, "because the lines are blurring between what she thinks is real and what isn't. She is now beginning to wonder whether the 2008 part of her life, including her daughter Molly, only ever existed in her head. It's definitely been an interesting angle to explore rather than the story simply concentrating on her trying to get back to the present."
Viewers are also introduced to an enigmatic stranger who is watching the DI and is trying to make contact with her in a mysterious manner. "A strange man keeps leaving Alex roses which she initially thinks is another puzzle," Keeley explains. "She starts to investigate further, believing that if she solves the puzzle she may be able to go home. There are certainly lots of twists but I can't give the game away!"
Since Alex first met her boss, the brash DCI Gene Hunt, the pair have often clashed and enjoy a tempestuous relationship. Viewers are used to their on screen bust-ups and fiery exchanges. However, Keeley believes they share a mutual admiration for each other. "They do still have their ups and downs," reveals Keeley, "but Gene is beginning to take on board different ways of policing and is starting to understand forensics and the importance of collecting evidence. Occasionally he and Alex are quite in tune and they definitely admire each other to a certain extent."
Keeley also reveals that there is a darker edge to this series. "When Detective Superintendent 'Supermac' Mackintosh joins CID as Gene's boss Alex instantly likes him, but then she starts to see a darker side to his life," explains Keeley. "Roger Allam, who plays Supermac, is absolutely fantastic. He's brought a mysterious side to the character and a darker side to the whole series which we're all really pleased with."
"The script writers have also explored Dean, Marshall and Montserrat's characters more this series," explains Keeley, "and we get to see a lot more of Chris and Shaz's relationship."
The Eighties was a time of flamboyant fashion, bright make-up and glitzy accessories and Keeley admits that she had far more costume changes during this series. "Costume changes and fittings were very difficult during filming for series one because I was in so many scenes. Each change meant leaving the set and going to the costume department which took up a lot of time. So for this series the production team had to think up a way of building more time into my schedule," explains Keeley. "Ultimately this meant we had more opportunity to delve into Alex's wardrobe which was great fun!
"We haven't gone down the silly Eighties fashion route because I don't think Alex would wear those clothes," continues Keeley. "However, Alex definitely wears a lot more outfits in this series and in one episode I think I have eight costume changes! I had one quite brilliant outfit which was a shirt with a giant pussy bow, covered in little anchors, tight jeans with red stripes down the side and anchor earrings which were on chains. It really was quite something! I also had a great Japanese look at one point. The costume department have gone to town with the details this series."
Alex's hair has also changed from a poodle perm to a more grown-out look with a fringe. Keeley explains the reason behind the change: "My hair is now much shorter in real life because it had to undergo so much styling for the first series of Ashes followed by Mutual Friends that I had to chop it all off before it fell out! So for this series of Ashes I've now got a growing out perm; a bit like Cagney from Cagney And Lacey. Most of it is my own hair but I needed a bit of extra length at the back so I have a hair piece that clips on easily."
Although the drama itself is getting darker, Keeley admits that the set was full of laughs and there was good banter between cast and crew. "We all get on really well, thank goodness, and there was constant laughter on set. Dean and I would regularly laugh together and, in fact, last series was the first time ever I've been asked to leave a set because I couldn't stop laughing at Dean! I can honestly say we were all a bit better filming this series but it was still very difficult not to crack up. However, laughing releases a lot of energy so I think it is a healthy thing on set."
A rare treat for Keeley was driving the Quattro, an experience usually reserved for the one-and-only Gene Hunt. "I love driving the Quattro, the handbrake turns are particularly fun! However, there was one time when we were all in the car with a very expensive camera attached and Phil was driving. We were heading towards the end of the road, in the rain, and suddenly the brakes didn't work! It was a hairy moment but Phil is a very good driver and managed to stop the car; we are all still here thank God!"
Interviews with Dean Andrews (DS Ray Carling), Marshall Lancaster (DS Chris Skelton) and Monteserrat Lombard (WPC Shaz Granger)
Series one saw Ray and Chris, Gene Hunt's right-hand men, move to London to help fight the criminal scum from the south. They were faced with drug dealers, unscrupulous City boys and, of course, Alex Drake, but their relationship was tested the most by WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger.
Chris was instantly smitten with Shaz and Ray was not happy that suddenly his best mate was going to the cinema to see girly films rather than drinking with him in the pub. Here Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster and Montserrat Lombard talk about what happens next, relationships and stripping...
So what's new?
"Well, everything's moved on a year to 1982," explains Marshall. "The team are still together with the same great dynamic and we're still out there fighting the southern scum!" "I think Alex is a lot more accepting of her situation now," adds Dean. "She's still pursuing her journey to get home but isn't quite so desperate to get back."
However, Shaz is still having a tough time because things haven't really progressed for WPCs in 1982. Montserrat explains: "It's almost a running joke for the team that every time Gene asks Shaz to do something, she gets her hopes up that it's going to be something good but it turns out to be 'can you make 15 black coffees?' or something equally unimportant." But it does seem there could be light at the end of the tunnel for her: "She's really influenced by Alex and, fortunately, Alex sees her potential and gives her much more responsibility. For example, in episode two Alex makes her Romany Liaison Officer."
CID's cutest couple, Chris and Shaz, are still together and their relationship is as strong as ever. "Chris has wedding bells in mind," admits Marshall. "It's a really big thing for him; he's saved up to buy the ring and really just wants to make Shaz his wife." "And the main thing is Ray gets to be best man!" laughs Dean. "Obviously he would never admit it, but he is really happy for them and he's maybe even a little bit jealous of what they have..."
While their relationship may not always be smooth sailing, it's obvious how much they love each other. Montserrat continues: "Chris isn't the most modern of thinkers, so it's a constant battle for Shaz to try and get him to warm to a new way of seeing things and treating women. However, he is always trying to be more open and modern and this is what she finds charming and loves about him."
But Chris's attempts to be a modern man are not always easy on Marshall. "In episode one the team has been investigating a murder in a Soho strip club and Shaz is not impressed by the way that Gene, Ray and Chris treat the girls who work there," explains Marshall. "So in an attempt to redeem himself and show he's a modern man, Chris does a striptease for Shaz in front of the whole team!"
"I really felt for Marshall, but it was brilliant," giggles Montserrat. "I had a lesson with a stripper," confesses Marshall. "She showed me a few moves, although some of it was completely spontaneous, I have no idea where it came from!" Dean is quick to admit that Marshall did really well, but won't be volunteering to strip himself anytime soon: "I would much rather it was him than me, but then Ray would never go in for any of that modern man rubbish so I'm safe."
As with series one, a massive part of the second series is the wonderful Eighties fashion. This time round the wardrobe department has been able to go all out with Shaz's costumes. "In the second half of filming Shaz was out of uniform a lot so we really went for it with costumes," raves Montserrat. "I had some great party dresses and big crimped hair. We also filmed the wedding dress fitting and we kept the dress new romantic rather than going for the meringue look."
Although Montserrat was thrilled with her costumes, the Eighties look isn't quite so good for the boys. "Some of the trousers were really tight and some were massively baggy, there was no in between for Chris," winces Marshall, thinking about the skin-tight, faded denims he spent half his time squeezed into. "Sometimes I'd feel like I didn't have a pair of trousers on and sometimes I felt like I was sewn in, but it made me keep in shape so I could still fit in them!"
As for Ray, Dean explains they kept it simple: "He's still the same handsome, rugged and charismatic guy he's always been, the clothes don't make this man!"
After six months of filming it's understandable that Dean, Marshall and Montserrat are glad of a break but, although it was tough at times, there were always plenty of highlights to make it worthwhile. "Apart from stripping, the main highlights for me were when we had a real laugh, and the punch-ups of course," explains Marshall. For Montserrat anything that got her out of CID was wonderful: "As Shaz is rarely out of the office it's great when I finally get out with Alex and the boys. That's when I get to wear the amazing Eighties clothes and get involved in a bit of the action!" Dean has too much to choose from: "Most of the things we do are really exciting and things that you would never get to do in any other profession. We're very lucky to play the 'action man' roles – we just need to persuade Philip to let us have a go in the Quattro!"
Episode one synopsis
When a man is found dead in a Soho strip club, it looks like a sex game has gone wrong. So when the deceased is discovered to be PC Sean Irvine, Gene and Alex are ordered to keep the case under wraps by Gene's new boss, Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh. Mac is determined to rid the force of police corruption and clean up the streets of London in the process; his no-nonsense attitude quickly impresses Alex and the team.
PC Irvine was supposed to be clearing the streets of vice but Gene believes he was corrupted by the red lights of Soho. An incriminating photo of the copper with a mystery brunette, found near his body, seems to confirm Gene's suspicions. However, Alex is troubled by Sean's wife's insistence that her husband wasn't that sort of man, and when the pathologist uncovers signs that Sean was murdered, the team have to contend with the terrifying possibility that the killer could be one of their own.
Meanwhile, sounds and messages from the future suggest to Alex that her circumstances have changed. Is there someone out there who can help her?
Episode two synopsis
The team is after a major vehicle thief, Jed Wicklow, but when a car chase leads to Jed's death, Gene stands accused of causing it through reckless driving. Jed was a Romany gypsy, and hostilities run high on the camp as the team try to uncover the circumstances of his death. Alex is adamant there was something wrong with Jed at the wheel and wants to prove the crash wasn't Gene's fault. The case becomes murkier when they find evidence there was a large amount of sleeping pills in Jed's system and the car he was driving had been tampered with.
But in an investigation that's already met with resistance by those in the Romany camp, someone in the police force also appears to be standing in their way. Can Gene get the result he wants without treading on his superior's toes and will Alex be able to trust that he'll not take the easy option of a cover-up?
The Gene Genie is back... in highly-anticipated second series of award-winning Ashes To Ashes for BBC One
The Quattro's fired up and fashion sense has been thrown out of the window as the second series of hit BBC One drama Ashes To Ashes returns!
Winner of the Best New Drama category at the 2008 TV Quick Awards, series one of Ashes To Ashes cemented its position as one of the TV highlights of 2008 after more than eight million viewers tuned in to see DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) arrive with a bang in 1981.
Starting on Monday 20 April 2009 at 9.00pm, series two kicks off in 1982 where leg warmers are cool, fluorescent is the colour of choice, Thatcher is in her element and bullish DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is back, policing the streets in his politically incorrect and loud-mouthed style. Sassy Alex Drake, with whom Hunt shares a fiery working relationship, is by his side, desperately trying to keep him in line.
Though no nearer to getting back to her daughter, Alex believes she is suspended in time and finally understands how the world around her works. But when she starts hearing news from the future, she realises nothing is as it seems.
Clinging on to fast-fading hope, she discovers she may not be alone in her predicament. A mysterious stranger who also seems to be stuck in 1982 is making Alex doubt that her current world is merely a figment of her imagination. Is he a friend who can help her get home or a foe who will destroy all she knows?
And while Gene Hunt saved her younger self from the car bomb that killed her parents, can she ever trust him enough to share in her extraordinary scenario? As she struggles to stay alive long enough to find a way home, it appears she needs him more than ever before.
Produced by Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions, this new series also sees the return of Gene and Alex's top team: DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), DC Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger (Montserrat Lombard).
Chris and Shaz couldn't be happier. He's still trying his best to be the perfect "feminist" boyfriend and wants to take his relationship to the next level, but predictably Ray continues to tease him about his romantic gestures.
Ray is also struggling to contain his emotions about the Falklands War, blaming the "Argies" and throwing his weight fully behind Maggie Thatcher. However, more testing times lie ahead for the trio...
Producer Beth Willis says: "The new series moves in a slightly different direction and we've really enjoyed developing the characters and Alex's journey further. Gene and Alex's relationship is so complex; it is very sparky and they obviously care for each other in a begrudging manner so it's interesting to see how this evolves. Ray and Chris are still by Gene's side, but when force legend Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh (Roger Allam) starts working with the team it looks as if Gene's equilibrium could be broken."
The arrival of Supermac seems like a blessing to the team because he's been hailed as a star within the force and someone not to be messed with. However, it's not long before Gene's gut instinct tells him something isn't quite right. Could this cop legend be up to no good?
Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, adds: "Last year, Ashes to Ashes was a highlight of the BBC One drama schedule and delighted over eight million drama fans and 1980s devotees alike.
"Series two combines the same mix of compelling crime stories, outrageous fashion and blistering one-liners with some bold and brilliant new plot twists. Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah's scripts continue to thrill while bravura performances from Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes mean that Ashes is back with a bang!"
Ashes To Ashes is written and created by Matthew Graham andAshley Pharoah, two of the creators of award-winning drama Life On Mars. It is produced by Kudos Film and Television, in association with Monastic Productions. Executive producers are Simon Crawford Collins and Jane Featherstone for Kudos Film and Television, Ashley Pharoah for Monastic Productions. It was commissioned by Piers Wenger for BBC Wales.
Interview with Philip Glenister (DCI Gene Hunt)
Everyone's favourite copper, brash but loveable DCI Gene Hunt, is back policing the streets of Eighties London. Actor Philip Glenister, recently seen as demon slayer Rupert Galvin in Demons and donning breeches as Mr Carter in Cranford, explains why he still relishes playing the politically incorrect Mancunian. "We wouldn't have a series if Gene Hunt suddenly became politically correct!" laughs Philip,"we'd have to wrap it up."
It's true that over the last four years the public have taken the character of Gene Hunt to their hearts and Philip attributes this to Hunt's ideals. "In this series of Ashes To Ashes Gene is still out there being a maverick, but what I always say about him is that, while he bends the rules, he never breaks them. He merely manipulates and stretches them a bit! If anything he is a decent and honest copper and he'll usually only collar unsavoury characters. I love the western connotation with Hunt; he is exactly like a Sheriff and sees himself very much in that guise. However, the problem is that he is out of his depth in the Eighties metropolis of London and the bottom line is he is a Seventies copper at heart."
In this second series of Ashes To Ashes the action moves on a year from 1981 to 1982 and the CID team face tough times. "Alex becomes much more part of the team," explains Philip. "But there is a police corruption theme running throughout the series so it does feel darker than series one; the corruption breeds a lack of trust and coherence which is unbalancing for everybody. However, viewers can still expect moments of high campness and there are some great one-liners!"
Central to the police corruption theme is Gene's new boss, Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh, who arrives in the first episode determined to restore the reputation of the police in the eyes of the media and public. "Supermac is a highly-respected Superintendent who has been in the police force for a long time," says Philip. "He trained at Hendon and has come up through the police ranks which gained him a lot of respect from his colleagues on the force. Supermac enters CID and basically says that the police needs to regroup and be accountable. I think Gene agrees with him up to a point but then certain events lead him to question Supermac's motives."
Gene and Alex's relationship also continues to be fiery with a hint of simmering sexual tension beneath the surface. Does Philip think they would work as a couple? "If you just had a show based on 'will they won't they' it wouldn't be that interesting; hopefully their relationship is a bit more complex than that," he replies. "It's the moment things spill over from a professional capacity to a personal one when complications set in and you start to question whether they would work as a couple. I think Gene is an enigma and I play him with ambiguity rather than having a preconceived idea of whether Gene fancies Alex or not. There are moments when he teases her and she teases him but Gene will never give anything away!"
Philip admits that the long hours on set did take their toll but he clearly enjoyed working with the cast and production team who he shared plenty of laughs with. "Shooting eight episodes took six months so it was a long shoot but a great bunch of people work on the show which is one of the joys of the job," he explains. "There were so many funny incidents, we laughed a lot – particularly Keeley and Dean who are real gigglers. In fact they are the troublemakers! Dean's laugh is like an animal's and Keeley will just crack up out of nowhere. She's pretty amazing because she can also cry on cue for scenes; her range of emotion is incredibly impressive."
Of course an interview about Gene Hunt wouldn't be complete without asking about the love of his life, the Quattro. Philip chuckles as he recounts his experiences of driving what many people consider an antique.
"The stunt guys could just whizz past the cameras and do handbrake turns. I then had to get in the car for the interior shots and there would be two cameras stuck to the front and one on the side. I'd have to make sure I didn't drive too close to the curb otherwise I would have taken one out on a lamppost. The camera stuck to the windshield also meant I couldn't see anything out the front and the heavy equipment combined with actors, who had spent five-and-a-half months eating location food and syrup sponge, left the poor old Quattro scratching along the floor! I always enjoy the driving stuff, though, especially throwing around a car which isn't my own," adds Philip. "We had two Quattros this time round so we weren't stuck if one broke down. In fact we did have a couple of instances with the Quattro while filming this series, both involving the stunt men and not the cast I hasten to add! First a stunt guy smashed one of the car's front lights when we were filming a chase scene and the two cars clipped each other. The second incident involved a scare when the Quattro had to hit one of the stuntmen. Unfortunately when the Quattro actually struck him he accidentally smashed the windscreen. Luckily he was alright."
Interview with Keeley Hawes (DI Alex Drake)
Viewers last saw DI Alex Drake in despair after being unable to save her parents from the car bomb that killed them. It's now 1982 and Alex is settling into Eighties life while her memories of 2008 begin to fade. Actor, Keeley Hawes, who recently starred in BBC One's Mutual Friends, plays the sassy DI and explains what is in store for Alex.
As the new series of Ashes to Ashes explodes onto the screen, DI Alex Drake and the rest of the CID team are searching for suspects in an underground sewage system. Luckily for Keeley Hawes this scene didn't set the tone for what her character could expect to get up to throughout the rest of the series.
She explains: "This series we get to see that Alex has calmed down a lot and has begun to settle into the 1980s environment. She now considers the people around her to be friends and, because we have moved on a year, things aren't quite so heightened for her. I've found Alex really interesting to play this series," continues Keeley, "because the lines are blurring between what she thinks is real and what isn't. She is now beginning to wonder whether the 2008 part of her life, including her daughter Molly, only ever existed in her head. It's definitely been an interesting angle to explore rather than the story simply concentrating on her trying to get back to the present."
Viewers are also introduced to an enigmatic stranger who is watching the DI and is trying to make contact with her in a mysterious manner. "A strange man keeps leaving Alex roses which she initially thinks is another puzzle," Keeley explains. "She starts to investigate further, believing that if she solves the puzzle she may be able to go home. There are certainly lots of twists but I can't give the game away!"
Since Alex first met her boss, the brash DCI Gene Hunt, the pair have often clashed and enjoy a tempestuous relationship. Viewers are used to their on screen bust-ups and fiery exchanges. However, Keeley believes they share a mutual admiration for each other. "They do still have their ups and downs," reveals Keeley, "but Gene is beginning to take on board different ways of policing and is starting to understand forensics and the importance of collecting evidence. Occasionally he and Alex are quite in tune and they definitely admire each other to a certain extent."
Keeley also reveals that there is a darker edge to this series. "When Detective Superintendent 'Supermac' Mackintosh joins CID as Gene's boss Alex instantly likes him, but then she starts to see a darker side to his life," explains Keeley. "Roger Allam, who plays Supermac, is absolutely fantastic. He's brought a mysterious side to the character and a darker side to the whole series which we're all really pleased with."
"The script writers have also explored Dean, Marshall and Montserrat's characters more this series," explains Keeley, "and we get to see a lot more of Chris and Shaz's relationship."
The Eighties was a time of flamboyant fashion, bright make-up and glitzy accessories and Keeley admits that she had far more costume changes during this series. "Costume changes and fittings were very difficult during filming for series one because I was in so many scenes. Each change meant leaving the set and going to the costume department which took up a lot of time. So for this series the production team had to think up a way of building more time into my schedule," explains Keeley. "Ultimately this meant we had more opportunity to delve into Alex's wardrobe which was great fun!
"We haven't gone down the silly Eighties fashion route because I don't think Alex would wear those clothes," continues Keeley. "However, Alex definitely wears a lot more outfits in this series and in one episode I think I have eight costume changes! I had one quite brilliant outfit which was a shirt with a giant pussy bow, covered in little anchors, tight jeans with red stripes down the side and anchor earrings which were on chains. It really was quite something! I also had a great Japanese look at one point. The costume department have gone to town with the details this series."
Alex's hair has also changed from a poodle perm to a more grown-out look with a fringe. Keeley explains the reason behind the change: "My hair is now much shorter in real life because it had to undergo so much styling for the first series of Ashes followed by Mutual Friends that I had to chop it all off before it fell out! So for this series of Ashes I've now got a growing out perm; a bit like Cagney from Cagney And Lacey. Most of it is my own hair but I needed a bit of extra length at the back so I have a hair piece that clips on easily."
Although the drama itself is getting darker, Keeley admits that the set was full of laughs and there was good banter between cast and crew. "We all get on really well, thank goodness, and there was constant laughter on set. Dean and I would regularly laugh together and, in fact, last series was the first time ever I've been asked to leave a set because I couldn't stop laughing at Dean! I can honestly say we were all a bit better filming this series but it was still very difficult not to crack up. However, laughing releases a lot of energy so I think it is a healthy thing on set."
A rare treat for Keeley was driving the Quattro, an experience usually reserved for the one-and-only Gene Hunt. "I love driving the Quattro, the handbrake turns are particularly fun! However, there was one time when we were all in the car with a very expensive camera attached and Phil was driving. We were heading towards the end of the road, in the rain, and suddenly the brakes didn't work! It was a hairy moment but Phil is a very good driver and managed to stop the car; we are all still here thank God!"
Interviews with Dean Andrews (DS Ray Carling), Marshall Lancaster (DS Chris Skelton) and Monteserrat Lombard (WPC Shaz Granger)
Series one saw Ray and Chris, Gene Hunt's right-hand men, move to London to help fight the criminal scum from the south. They were faced with drug dealers, unscrupulous City boys and, of course, Alex Drake, but their relationship was tested the most by WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger.
Chris was instantly smitten with Shaz and Ray was not happy that suddenly his best mate was going to the cinema to see girly films rather than drinking with him in the pub. Here Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster and Montserrat Lombard talk about what happens next, relationships and stripping...
So what's new?
"Well, everything's moved on a year to 1982," explains Marshall. "The team are still together with the same great dynamic and we're still out there fighting the southern scum!" "I think Alex is a lot more accepting of her situation now," adds Dean. "She's still pursuing her journey to get home but isn't quite so desperate to get back."
However, Shaz is still having a tough time because things haven't really progressed for WPCs in 1982. Montserrat explains: "It's almost a running joke for the team that every time Gene asks Shaz to do something, she gets her hopes up that it's going to be something good but it turns out to be 'can you make 15 black coffees?' or something equally unimportant." But it does seem there could be light at the end of the tunnel for her: "She's really influenced by Alex and, fortunately, Alex sees her potential and gives her much more responsibility. For example, in episode two Alex makes her Romany Liaison Officer."
CID's cutest couple, Chris and Shaz, are still together and their relationship is as strong as ever. "Chris has wedding bells in mind," admits Marshall. "It's a really big thing for him; he's saved up to buy the ring and really just wants to make Shaz his wife." "And the main thing is Ray gets to be best man!" laughs Dean. "Obviously he would never admit it, but he is really happy for them and he's maybe even a little bit jealous of what they have..."
While their relationship may not always be smooth sailing, it's obvious how much they love each other. Montserrat continues: "Chris isn't the most modern of thinkers, so it's a constant battle for Shaz to try and get him to warm to a new way of seeing things and treating women. However, he is always trying to be more open and modern and this is what she finds charming and loves about him."
But Chris's attempts to be a modern man are not always easy on Marshall. "In episode one the team has been investigating a murder in a Soho strip club and Shaz is not impressed by the way that Gene, Ray and Chris treat the girls who work there," explains Marshall. "So in an attempt to redeem himself and show he's a modern man, Chris does a striptease for Shaz in front of the whole team!"
"I really felt for Marshall, but it was brilliant," giggles Montserrat. "I had a lesson with a stripper," confesses Marshall. "She showed me a few moves, although some of it was completely spontaneous, I have no idea where it came from!" Dean is quick to admit that Marshall did really well, but won't be volunteering to strip himself anytime soon: "I would much rather it was him than me, but then Ray would never go in for any of that modern man rubbish so I'm safe."
As with series one, a massive part of the second series is the wonderful Eighties fashion. This time round the wardrobe department has been able to go all out with Shaz's costumes. "In the second half of filming Shaz was out of uniform a lot so we really went for it with costumes," raves Montserrat. "I had some great party dresses and big crimped hair. We also filmed the wedding dress fitting and we kept the dress new romantic rather than going for the meringue look."
Although Montserrat was thrilled with her costumes, the Eighties look isn't quite so good for the boys. "Some of the trousers were really tight and some were massively baggy, there was no in between for Chris," winces Marshall, thinking about the skin-tight, faded denims he spent half his time squeezed into. "Sometimes I'd feel like I didn't have a pair of trousers on and sometimes I felt like I was sewn in, but it made me keep in shape so I could still fit in them!"
As for Ray, Dean explains they kept it simple: "He's still the same handsome, rugged and charismatic guy he's always been, the clothes don't make this man!"
After six months of filming it's understandable that Dean, Marshall and Montserrat are glad of a break but, although it was tough at times, there were always plenty of highlights to make it worthwhile. "Apart from stripping, the main highlights for me were when we had a real laugh, and the punch-ups of course," explains Marshall. For Montserrat anything that got her out of CID was wonderful: "As Shaz is rarely out of the office it's great when I finally get out with Alex and the boys. That's when I get to wear the amazing Eighties clothes and get involved in a bit of the action!" Dean has too much to choose from: "Most of the things we do are really exciting and things that you would never get to do in any other profession. We're very lucky to play the 'action man' roles – we just need to persuade Philip to let us have a go in the Quattro!"
Episode one synopsis
When a man is found dead in a Soho strip club, it looks like a sex game has gone wrong. So when the deceased is discovered to be PC Sean Irvine, Gene and Alex are ordered to keep the case under wraps by Gene's new boss, Detective Superintendent "Supermac" Mackintosh. Mac is determined to rid the force of police corruption and clean up the streets of London in the process; his no-nonsense attitude quickly impresses Alex and the team.
PC Irvine was supposed to be clearing the streets of vice but Gene believes he was corrupted by the red lights of Soho. An incriminating photo of the copper with a mystery brunette, found near his body, seems to confirm Gene's suspicions. However, Alex is troubled by Sean's wife's insistence that her husband wasn't that sort of man, and when the pathologist uncovers signs that Sean was murdered, the team have to contend with the terrifying possibility that the killer could be one of their own.
Meanwhile, sounds and messages from the future suggest to Alex that her circumstances have changed. Is there someone out there who can help her?
Episode two synopsis
The team is after a major vehicle thief, Jed Wicklow, but when a car chase leads to Jed's death, Gene stands accused of causing it through reckless driving. Jed was a Romany gypsy, and hostilities run high on the camp as the team try to uncover the circumstances of his death. Alex is adamant there was something wrong with Jed at the wheel and wants to prove the crash wasn't Gene's fault. The case becomes murkier when they find evidence there was a large amount of sleeping pills in Jed's system and the car he was driving had been tampered with.
But in an investigation that's already met with resistance by those in the Romany camp, someone in the police force also appears to be standing in their way. Can Gene get the result he wants without treading on his superior's toes and will Alex be able to trust that he'll not take the easy option of a cover-up?
Original article can be found here.
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