Series 3 Press Pack
Introduction
1983: The Brinks Matt robbery. The A-Team. Michael Jackson's Beat It. And the year of the HuntIt's time to get your shoulder pads out of storage, start crimping your hair and get into the Eighties mood for the very last time because the award-winning BBC One drama, Ashes To Ashes, is back for Spring 2010.
The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawesreprise their roles as that most un-PC of policeman, DCI Gene Hunt, and his sassy partner DI Alex Drake, along with Dean Andrews as DI Ray Carling, Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton and Montserrat Lombard as WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger.
As well as the much-loved regular faces, Daniel Mays (The Street, Plus One) joins the series as Discipline and Complaints officer, Jim Keats, adding an unsettling twist to the team dynamic.
The smash hit drama (eight x 60-minutes), made by Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions, finally unravels many of the mysteries from the previous two series of Ashes To Ashes, as well as those first experienced by the initial time-travelling copper, Sam Tyler, in the groundbreaking BBC One series Life On Mars some five years ago.
Will Alex finally discover why she's been sent back to the Eighties? Does anything tie Alex and Sam Tyler together? And who exactly is Gene Hunt…?
Foreword by Ashley Pharoah
Ashley Pharoah, one of the writers and creators of both Ashes To Ashes and Life On Mars, explains how Gene Hunt's journey began and hints at what lies in store for our favourite characters...
"The journey started some 13 years ago in a Blackpool hotel when Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and I came up with the idea for Life On Mars. The first eight years of this journey consisted of broadcasters telling us how spectacularly rubbish the idea was, so it was something of a pleasant surprise when Life On Mars started on BBC One in 2007 and almost immediately became a critical and ratings hit. The journey very nearly hit the buffers when John Simm told us he couldn't do a third series of Life On Mars. What should we do? Just end it in a blaze of glory or try and find another existence for our characters, somewhere else for them to live and breathe? In the end we decided that we – and Gene Hunt in particular – had more to say, and thus Ashes To Ashes was born.
"In this third and final series of Ashes to Ashes we open briefly but disturbingly in Alex Drake's 'present', before she finds herself back in London, this time in 1983. The world has moved on from the bright New Romantic colours of the earlier series into a slightly more sombre palette, both literally and emotionally. This is reflected in some of the story-of-the-week areas we chose to explore: a fireman with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Falklands conflict; the ANC in exile in London; a vicious prison riot that ends in the death of one of our team. It's a darker, more bruised palette, a more dangerous place that reminded us of watching Life On Mars. Almost as if Ashes To Ashes was remembering where it came from, those dark Manchester streets of the 1970s.
"Alex Drake shares this interest in Life On Mars. She decides her only way of escaping this world and getting back to her present – and her daughter Molly – is to find out what happened to Sam Tyler. He is the only person she knows who has undergone similar experiences to herself. She starts looking into Sam's disappearance and alleged death but comes up against a very stubborn obstacle – DCI Gene Hunt. It becomes obvious that Gene does not want her to discover the truth about Sam. But why? One shocking answer is provided by a new arrival in Fenchurch East, Discipline and Complaints Officer Jim Keats.
"He tells Alex that Gene murdered Sam Tyler and that his task – and hers, if she has the courage – is to bring Gene Hunt down. So Alex is torn between a burgeoning sexual and emotional attraction to Gene and the terrible fear that he could be a cop killer, that he could be stopping her from getting home.
"By the end of this series we will finally know the truth about Gene Hunt, where he came from and what he knows. Our other regulars – Chris, Ray, Shaz – will also find out some shattering truths about themselves. As, indeed, will Alex Drake.
"We didn't always know the details of how this show would end but we always knew our broad destination. Not many writers get to wrap up their own creations in series television – they're normally just cancelled during the hiatus! – so Matthew and I have been both grateful and excited to pull all the ends together. Not that we will dot every i and cross every t – one of the pleasures of both series is that they retain some ambiguity and can be open to different interpretations. We wouldn't want to spoil anybody's fun! But what isn't ambiguous is that this is the end of the road for Gene and Alex and the others. The last lines have been uttered. The sets are down. The Audi safe in its garage.
"As writers we will miss the show enormously. Where else do you get to write for Gene Hunt? Where else do fantasy and emotion and time travel and cop show and metaphysical head-spin and crocodile shoes and 'uptown Girl' and will-they-won't-they exist in one place? We'll miss it but we're proud of it.
"The journey has reached its conclusion. From initial frustration through immense excitement and now to this rather sad moment when it's time for Gene to walk off into the sunset. It's a journey none of us would have missed for the world. So fill your chunky whisky glass with something blended and let's have one last toast – to Ashes To Ashes and Life On Mars. It's been one hell of a ride. As ever, Gene Hunt will have the last word: 'Oi! You lot! You nasty pinko journalists! Move along. There's nothing left to see here.'
Interview with Philip Glenister (DCI Gene Hunt)
He's a cultural phenomenon who has cemented his place in TV history but the time has come for the Gene Genie to take off his snake-skin boots and park up the Quattro. Actor Philip Glenister, who has breathed life into Gene Hunt over the past five years, reveals what's in store for the brash DCI in the final series of Ashes to Ashes.
"Well, in typical Gene style he blames Bolly for getting in the way of the gun," laughs Philip, as he describes his character's reaction to accidentally shooting Alex Drake at the end of series two. "Gene realises he's in big trouble and does a runner while Alex is left in a coma in hospital. He doesn't run for long, though, because he realises he needs her help to clear his name and soon the duo are back working as a team."
However, things are not quite as clear cut as Gene Hunt hoped. Back in CID time has moved on and Gene is no longer the only sheriff in town. "Discipline and Complaints Officer, Jim Keats, is an operative brought in to oversee wrongdoings in the force," explains Philip. "He's also a DCI, which doesn't thrill Gene, and his modern approach really riles him; Gene quickly realises he's not going to get on with him! Keats poses a threat to Gene," continues Philip, "and they seem to play a cat-and-mouse game throughout the series, trying to outwit each other. There are a lot of different sides to Keats and this causes confusion for all of the characters."
Pivotal to the Ashes To Ashes plot is the relationship between Gene Hunt and Alex Drake who, until now, have enjoyed a fiery and flirty bond with an underlying mutual respect for one another. However, the arrival of Keats causes a rift between the pair as Philip explains: "Keats subtly points Alex in the direction of Sam Tyler and she starts to investigate his death. "She no longer knows who she can trust and whether Gene is actually the person she thought he was. Keats certainly causes a lot of ripples throughout CID and hopefully the audience will have a hard time working out who they can trust."
Danny Mays is the acclaimed actor playing Keats but, despite the on-screen friction between Gene and Jim, Philip reveals they got on like a house on fire on set. "Danny is just a great, great actor," says Philip. "It was very clever casting because when I originally read the script I had a preconceived idea of who would be cast and Danny is an unusual yet brilliant choice. He plays Keats really well and I loved filming the scenes with him where he verbally spars with Gene."
While this series of Ashes To Ashes may be darker than previous ones, fans need not worry because it still retains moments of its trademark humour and the opening of episode two is a classic example. "As part of a dream sequence we had to sing Billy Joel's classic Uptown Girl which was kind of crazy," laughs Philip. "It's normally Ashley who writes these types of scenes – I'm sure he does it on purpose to embarrass us actors! However, it was good fun to shoot. Luckily we were all sent the music video and, while Billy Joel is an amazing singer, songwriter and pianist, he isn't the best dancer in the world so I got away with copying him. We would have all been in trouble if the song had been Thriller or something like that! Keeley managed to get the best part. She just had to sit in the car looking utterly gorgeous while we boys did all the work!"
Billy Joel's Uptown Girl wasn't the only highlight of filming episode two which also features Philip's actress wife, Beth Goddard. "Beth knows Matthew and Ashley really well and over the years they've mentioned a few times that they would write a part for her so it was funny when I was read the part of Elaine in episode two because I instinctively thought of Beth," explains Philip. "However, I didn't think anything more of it until I met our new director, David Drury, for a drink in Soho and he took a phone call about casting Beth Goddard. "When he got off the phone I said 'you do realise Beth's my wife don't you?' which he didn't but he immediately said 'God, I'd better cast her now!' It was quite funny and we loved working together."
Phil admits there has been a lot fun on set while filming this final series but it has been tinged with sadness as it marks the last time the whole cast and crew will work together. "It's been five years of my life and it's gone by so quickly," confesses Philip. "It's been enormous fun and a great privilege to help create and be this character but I'm going to miss playing Gene a lot, no doubt about it. I'll miss the giggles and the outtakes – Dean and Keeley were usually the worst offenders! The beauty of this series is that we knew it was our last one so we just threw ourselves into it and had fun. The camaraderie between the cast and crew was fantastic and I'm definitely going to miss the familiar faces. When you work that intensely they become your family."
So, with the set demolished and the Quattro safely in the garage, did Philip take any mementos to remember the Gene Genie by? "Well I was the only one who didn't have a plaque on my office door that could be removed so I couldn't take it with me. I did debate taking the door off its hinges and put it on my porch but I might have ended up with half of Richmond's police force on my doorstep asking for a cuppa so I thought better of it," chuckles Philip. "I did take Gene's snake-skin boots though and a firearms certificate which certifies Gene Hunt passed his firearms test in 1980. It wouldn't be issued now though, not after he accidentally shot Bols! I would have loved to have taken the Quattro too but the reality is it's a 30-year-old car which isn't cheap to look after. I think Audi should light it up and display it in their showroom on the M4."
Philip may have said his goodbyes to Gene Hunt but the actor doesn't stop working and he has currently moved on to a film project with Hollywood stars Uma Thurman and Robert Pattinson. "I'm playing Uma Thurman's husband in Bel Ami. I'm sure she's thrilled she's got little old me!" laughs Philip. "Filming has fitted in nicely after Ashes To Ashes, though, and it's a great supporting role. I do have other projects on the horizon but I can't talk about them yet – watch this space..."
Interview with Keeley Hawes (DI Keeley Hawes)
Sexy, sassy and more than a match for DCI Gene Hunt, DI Alex Drake is still trying to unravel the mystery of why she's stuck in Hunt's world. Does the new member of CID overseeing Hunt's empire hold the key, or is it his aim to turn Alex against Gene? Actress Keeley Hawes reveals what's in store for the feisty DI.
"This series starts with Alex back in what appears to be the present day," explains Keeley, "but it soon becomes apparent that things aren't as they seem and odd incidents start to happen. She realises that the reality she is in isn't real and the Fenchurch East gang start to call her back to 1983 where she has been stuck in a coma for three months."
After Gene rouses Alex from her comatose state, she returns to CID, desperate to try and solve the riddle of how to get back home to her daughter Molly. However, a new arrival at Fenchurch East starts to make her doubt the one person she thought she could trust. "DCI Jim Keats is played by Danny Mays and he's very charming to Alex," reveals Keeley. "She likes him, despite the fact Gene has a different opinion. Gene and Keats' relationship seems to take place behind closed doors and he acts very differently towards Gene than he does with the rest of the team. Keats tries to split up Gene and Alex's partnership. Slowly but surely he starts to drive a wedge between the two of them and Alex starts to wonder if she can really trust Gene," continues Keeley. "Alex also believes that, if she can solve the mystery surrounding Sam Tyler, she'll be able to get home and Keats points her in the direction of evidence which implicates Gene in his death."
There may be a question mark over Jim Keats' real intentions in Ashes To Ashes but Keeley reveals the actor playing him couldn't be nicer. "Danny is absolutely lovely!" she exclaims. "He has to play a very difficult role and I think he's done it brilliantly. I really enjoyed filming scenes with both Danny and Phil because they spar off each other so well."
Ashes To Ashes is set in the Eighties so throughout its three-year run Keeley has had to wear some amazingly colourful outfits. But what's been her favourite costume from this series and has she taken anything home with her? "Our costume designer has had more freedom this year and she's done a gorgeous job," reveals the London-born actress. "I really liked the outfit Gene gave to Alex in hospital which consisted of a t-shirt with the New York skyline on it and skinny jeans. I think it's been easier this year because we haven't been restricted to all the clothes for the series being originals from the period. There seems to be so much Eighties stuff in the shops at the moment that we actually went out and bought some clothes. The costume department also made a lot of things."
"I have taken a couple of pairs of boots with me," confides Keeley, "and I've got Alex's white leather jacket which I think I'll auction off for charity. "I've also got the most fantastic pair of red Dorothy-style sequined shoes with a bow on the front of them. They remind me of the moment when Dorothy clicks her ruby shoes to go home."
The finale of Ashes To Ashes is about to air and Alex Drake's journey looks set to come to an end – how does Keeley feel about the end of her journey working on the series? "It's very sad in some respects because I've been working with the cast and crew for so long, but it feels the right time to finally find out the mystery surrounding Alex's world. In this business you find people pop up all the time so you never know when you are going work with someone again."
Interview with Daniel Mays (DCI Jim Keats)
Up until now DI Alex Drake has been pretty much alone in DCI Gene Hunt's world. No one understands her situation and her desperation to get home; but then DCI Jim Keats arrives in CID. Keats is played by the hugely talented actor, Daniel Mays, who has just finished filming The Adventures Of Tintin in the US with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.
His character in Ashes To Ashes not only challenges Gene and all that he is and believes in, he also plays an integral part in tying up the story of Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, Gene Hunt and his kingdom. So, just a small role for the Essex born actor to take on...
Jim Keats arrives at CID with a huge task ahead of him; not only does he have to investigate the shooting of Alex Drake, he also has to infiltrate the team and determine if Gene should be allowed to carry on running his department. Daniel explains: "Jim's a real pen-pusher who does everything by the book. He's precise and methodical and oversees all investigations undertaken by CID so that he can compile a report on Gene Hunt and his team. "Jim is that guy looking over everybody's shoulder and telling them how to do things correctly which really gets under Gene's skin and leads to some great scenes of confrontation and conflict."
For most people walking into Gene Hunt's world would be an intimidating prospect but Daniel decided, from the outset, how he wanted to portray Keats. "The sparks really fly between the two of them and I made a choice to make Jim as strong, stoic and hard as Gene. I didn't want him to be seen as a pushover or wet in any way," reveals Daniel. "My character really challenges the dynamic between Gene and Alex but the thing that really winds Keats up is that Gene continuously calls him James which is quite disarming for him. However, I personally found it refreshing to play someone with authority because, in the past, I've played a lot of troubled characters. I definitely haven't played a disciplinarian before or someone so high ranking. The great thing about it is that you have to take on board the status of the character and the impact he has when he walks into a room which I quite enjoyed. It was certainly something new for me!"
But with character tensions put to one side, were Philip, Keeley and the rest of the gang open to an outsider joining their team? "They were all absolutely lovely," Daniel says, smiling broadly. "I'd worked with Keeley on a film called The Bank Job and worked with her husband, Matthew Macfadyen, on Middletown so she welcomed me with open arms and the rest of the guys were great to work with. It was quite strange walking into CID for the first time though," reveals Daniel. "The ceiling is very low and, while it is quite an oppressive office, the period detail is second to none. There were cassettes and old magazines lying around which made it a great environment to work in because the detail was top notch."
When offered the role of Jim Keats, Daniel admits he was slightly apprehensive because of the huge cult following for both Ashes To Ashes and its predecessor, Life On Mars. "The fans love both shows so much and they love what Gene Hunt stands for, his characteristics and his relationship with Alex," explains Daniel. "I think the great thing about Ashes To Ashes is that it is very much its own show. However, an interesting factor of this series is that Life On Mars bleeds into it and the mystery surrounding Sam Tyler will be resolved along with Alex's story."
Daniel is known for his gritty roles including award-winning Mike Leigh films All Or Nothing and Vera Drake, BBC drama White Girl, Channel 4 series Red Riding and BAFTA-nominated independent film Shifty, but the critically-acclaimed actor has recently made the leap to Hollywood. "I was lucky enough to be cast in Steven Spielberg's and Peter Jackson's new Tintin movie which we filmed in LA last year," reveals Daniel. "I play a double act with Mackenzie Crook, called Allen and Ernie, and it was shot on motion capture which was something I've never done before. It was a fascinating project and a once in a lifetime experience."
Episode one synopsis
The third and final series of Ashes To Ashes is back – and it's a real slap in the face for DI Alex Drake. Time-travelling copper Alex thought she'd made it home to the present day but wakes to find herself in a hospital bed back in 1983, having been shot by her boss, DCI Gene Hunt, three months ago.
Back in CID a lot has changed; with Gene on the run, Ray Carling has been promoted to DI and is running the show, DC Chris Skelton and WPC Shaz Granger have ended their romance and new Discipline and Complaints officer, DCI Jim Keats, is breathing down everyone's necks.
Jim has been sent by Scotland Yard to investigate the shooting of Alex, putting Gene and his team right under the spotlight. But it soon becomes clear that Gene and Jim have history as Keats throws some unexpected light on past events. Jim's presence puts strain on the team which is exacerbated when Gene is forced to turn in his badge until his name is cleared.
The team is working on the kidnap of a young girl, Dorothy Blonde, who was abducted as her stepmother walked her to school. With a £50,000 ransom demanded for Dotty's life the team has to work fast.
However, Dotty's father, David, wants to go it alone and when newly-promoted Ray panics while running the sting, it seems the family may have been better off without CID's involvement. Gene is forced to put his career on the line as he's unable to stand by and watch a young girl lose her life.
Meanwhile, Alex is being haunted by the ghost of a young policeman and with a gentle nudge from Jim she decides her only hope of getting home is to discover the truth about Gene Hunt and unlock the dark secrets of the past.
DI Alex Drake is played by Keeley Hawes, DCI Gene Hunt by Philip Glenister, DI Ray Carling by Dean Andrews, DC Chris Skelton by Marshall Lancaster, WPC Shaz Granger by Montserrat Lombard, DCI Jim Keats by Daniel Mays, Dorothy Blonde by Jadie-Rose Hobson, Marjorie Blonde by Tanya Franks and David Blonde by Simon Merrells.
Episode two synopsis
When DC Chris Skelton opens CID's post and discovers a human hand, DCI Gene Hunt and his team find they have a murder to solve.
The only defining feature on the severed limb is a strange burn mark and DI Alex Drake and the team discover there have been a string of single women murdered across the country, each left with the same crescent moon shaped burn. It seems all the women had one thing in common – they were members of the Crescent Moon Dating Agency.
When Alex registers with the agency and gets nowhere she decides to take matters into her own hands and invents speed-dating, much to the distaste of the agency's owner, Elaine Downing.
As Luigi's fills up, Alex does her best to play the lonely single woman. DI Ray Carling and Chris find themselves an attractive pair of twins to charm, while Gene on the other hand is struggling to attract anyone of the opposite sex.
Meanwhile, WPC Shaz Granger, feeling let down by the force, has handed in her notice. However, Gene manages to persuade her to take on one final operation and go undercover to catch the man they believe is the killer. But as Shaz puts herself in the firing line it seems this may be her last sting in more ways than one...
Also, Alex is still working to discover the truth behind Sam Tyler's death after her tip-off from Jim Keats that Gene had something to do with it. But when Gene discovers what she's up to he can't help but intervene.
DC Chris Skelton is played by Marshall Lancaster, DCI Gene Hunt by Philip Glenister, DI Alex Drake by Keeley Hawes, Elaine Downing by Beth Goddard, DI Ray Carling by Dean Andrews, WPC Shaz Granger by Montserrat Lombard and Jim Keats by Daniel Mays.
1983: The Brinks Matt robbery. The A-Team. Michael Jackson's Beat It. And the year of the HuntIt's time to get your shoulder pads out of storage, start crimping your hair and get into the Eighties mood for the very last time because the award-winning BBC One drama, Ashes To Ashes, is back for Spring 2010.
The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawesreprise their roles as that most un-PC of policeman, DCI Gene Hunt, and his sassy partner DI Alex Drake, along with Dean Andrews as DI Ray Carling, Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton and Montserrat Lombard as WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger.
As well as the much-loved regular faces, Daniel Mays (The Street, Plus One) joins the series as Discipline and Complaints officer, Jim Keats, adding an unsettling twist to the team dynamic.
The smash hit drama (eight x 60-minutes), made by Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions, finally unravels many of the mysteries from the previous two series of Ashes To Ashes, as well as those first experienced by the initial time-travelling copper, Sam Tyler, in the groundbreaking BBC One series Life On Mars some five years ago.
Will Alex finally discover why she's been sent back to the Eighties? Does anything tie Alex and Sam Tyler together? And who exactly is Gene Hunt…?
Foreword by Ashley Pharoah
Ashley Pharoah, one of the writers and creators of both Ashes To Ashes and Life On Mars, explains how Gene Hunt's journey began and hints at what lies in store for our favourite characters...
"The journey started some 13 years ago in a Blackpool hotel when Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and I came up with the idea for Life On Mars. The first eight years of this journey consisted of broadcasters telling us how spectacularly rubbish the idea was, so it was something of a pleasant surprise when Life On Mars started on BBC One in 2007 and almost immediately became a critical and ratings hit. The journey very nearly hit the buffers when John Simm told us he couldn't do a third series of Life On Mars. What should we do? Just end it in a blaze of glory or try and find another existence for our characters, somewhere else for them to live and breathe? In the end we decided that we – and Gene Hunt in particular – had more to say, and thus Ashes To Ashes was born.
"In this third and final series of Ashes to Ashes we open briefly but disturbingly in Alex Drake's 'present', before she finds herself back in London, this time in 1983. The world has moved on from the bright New Romantic colours of the earlier series into a slightly more sombre palette, both literally and emotionally. This is reflected in some of the story-of-the-week areas we chose to explore: a fireman with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Falklands conflict; the ANC in exile in London; a vicious prison riot that ends in the death of one of our team. It's a darker, more bruised palette, a more dangerous place that reminded us of watching Life On Mars. Almost as if Ashes To Ashes was remembering where it came from, those dark Manchester streets of the 1970s.
"Alex Drake shares this interest in Life On Mars. She decides her only way of escaping this world and getting back to her present – and her daughter Molly – is to find out what happened to Sam Tyler. He is the only person she knows who has undergone similar experiences to herself. She starts looking into Sam's disappearance and alleged death but comes up against a very stubborn obstacle – DCI Gene Hunt. It becomes obvious that Gene does not want her to discover the truth about Sam. But why? One shocking answer is provided by a new arrival in Fenchurch East, Discipline and Complaints Officer Jim Keats.
"He tells Alex that Gene murdered Sam Tyler and that his task – and hers, if she has the courage – is to bring Gene Hunt down. So Alex is torn between a burgeoning sexual and emotional attraction to Gene and the terrible fear that he could be a cop killer, that he could be stopping her from getting home.
"By the end of this series we will finally know the truth about Gene Hunt, where he came from and what he knows. Our other regulars – Chris, Ray, Shaz – will also find out some shattering truths about themselves. As, indeed, will Alex Drake.
"We didn't always know the details of how this show would end but we always knew our broad destination. Not many writers get to wrap up their own creations in series television – they're normally just cancelled during the hiatus! – so Matthew and I have been both grateful and excited to pull all the ends together. Not that we will dot every i and cross every t – one of the pleasures of both series is that they retain some ambiguity and can be open to different interpretations. We wouldn't want to spoil anybody's fun! But what isn't ambiguous is that this is the end of the road for Gene and Alex and the others. The last lines have been uttered. The sets are down. The Audi safe in its garage.
"As writers we will miss the show enormously. Where else do you get to write for Gene Hunt? Where else do fantasy and emotion and time travel and cop show and metaphysical head-spin and crocodile shoes and 'uptown Girl' and will-they-won't-they exist in one place? We'll miss it but we're proud of it.
"The journey has reached its conclusion. From initial frustration through immense excitement and now to this rather sad moment when it's time for Gene to walk off into the sunset. It's a journey none of us would have missed for the world. So fill your chunky whisky glass with something blended and let's have one last toast – to Ashes To Ashes and Life On Mars. It's been one hell of a ride. As ever, Gene Hunt will have the last word: 'Oi! You lot! You nasty pinko journalists! Move along. There's nothing left to see here.'
Interview with Philip Glenister (DCI Gene Hunt)
He's a cultural phenomenon who has cemented his place in TV history but the time has come for the Gene Genie to take off his snake-skin boots and park up the Quattro. Actor Philip Glenister, who has breathed life into Gene Hunt over the past five years, reveals what's in store for the brash DCI in the final series of Ashes to Ashes.
"Well, in typical Gene style he blames Bolly for getting in the way of the gun," laughs Philip, as he describes his character's reaction to accidentally shooting Alex Drake at the end of series two. "Gene realises he's in big trouble and does a runner while Alex is left in a coma in hospital. He doesn't run for long, though, because he realises he needs her help to clear his name and soon the duo are back working as a team."
However, things are not quite as clear cut as Gene Hunt hoped. Back in CID time has moved on and Gene is no longer the only sheriff in town. "Discipline and Complaints Officer, Jim Keats, is an operative brought in to oversee wrongdoings in the force," explains Philip. "He's also a DCI, which doesn't thrill Gene, and his modern approach really riles him; Gene quickly realises he's not going to get on with him! Keats poses a threat to Gene," continues Philip, "and they seem to play a cat-and-mouse game throughout the series, trying to outwit each other. There are a lot of different sides to Keats and this causes confusion for all of the characters."
Pivotal to the Ashes To Ashes plot is the relationship between Gene Hunt and Alex Drake who, until now, have enjoyed a fiery and flirty bond with an underlying mutual respect for one another. However, the arrival of Keats causes a rift between the pair as Philip explains: "Keats subtly points Alex in the direction of Sam Tyler and she starts to investigate his death. "She no longer knows who she can trust and whether Gene is actually the person she thought he was. Keats certainly causes a lot of ripples throughout CID and hopefully the audience will have a hard time working out who they can trust."
Danny Mays is the acclaimed actor playing Keats but, despite the on-screen friction between Gene and Jim, Philip reveals they got on like a house on fire on set. "Danny is just a great, great actor," says Philip. "It was very clever casting because when I originally read the script I had a preconceived idea of who would be cast and Danny is an unusual yet brilliant choice. He plays Keats really well and I loved filming the scenes with him where he verbally spars with Gene."
While this series of Ashes To Ashes may be darker than previous ones, fans need not worry because it still retains moments of its trademark humour and the opening of episode two is a classic example. "As part of a dream sequence we had to sing Billy Joel's classic Uptown Girl which was kind of crazy," laughs Philip. "It's normally Ashley who writes these types of scenes – I'm sure he does it on purpose to embarrass us actors! However, it was good fun to shoot. Luckily we were all sent the music video and, while Billy Joel is an amazing singer, songwriter and pianist, he isn't the best dancer in the world so I got away with copying him. We would have all been in trouble if the song had been Thriller or something like that! Keeley managed to get the best part. She just had to sit in the car looking utterly gorgeous while we boys did all the work!"
Billy Joel's Uptown Girl wasn't the only highlight of filming episode two which also features Philip's actress wife, Beth Goddard. "Beth knows Matthew and Ashley really well and over the years they've mentioned a few times that they would write a part for her so it was funny when I was read the part of Elaine in episode two because I instinctively thought of Beth," explains Philip. "However, I didn't think anything more of it until I met our new director, David Drury, for a drink in Soho and he took a phone call about casting Beth Goddard. "When he got off the phone I said 'you do realise Beth's my wife don't you?' which he didn't but he immediately said 'God, I'd better cast her now!' It was quite funny and we loved working together."
Phil admits there has been a lot fun on set while filming this final series but it has been tinged with sadness as it marks the last time the whole cast and crew will work together. "It's been five years of my life and it's gone by so quickly," confesses Philip. "It's been enormous fun and a great privilege to help create and be this character but I'm going to miss playing Gene a lot, no doubt about it. I'll miss the giggles and the outtakes – Dean and Keeley were usually the worst offenders! The beauty of this series is that we knew it was our last one so we just threw ourselves into it and had fun. The camaraderie between the cast and crew was fantastic and I'm definitely going to miss the familiar faces. When you work that intensely they become your family."
So, with the set demolished and the Quattro safely in the garage, did Philip take any mementos to remember the Gene Genie by? "Well I was the only one who didn't have a plaque on my office door that could be removed so I couldn't take it with me. I did debate taking the door off its hinges and put it on my porch but I might have ended up with half of Richmond's police force on my doorstep asking for a cuppa so I thought better of it," chuckles Philip. "I did take Gene's snake-skin boots though and a firearms certificate which certifies Gene Hunt passed his firearms test in 1980. It wouldn't be issued now though, not after he accidentally shot Bols! I would have loved to have taken the Quattro too but the reality is it's a 30-year-old car which isn't cheap to look after. I think Audi should light it up and display it in their showroom on the M4."
Philip may have said his goodbyes to Gene Hunt but the actor doesn't stop working and he has currently moved on to a film project with Hollywood stars Uma Thurman and Robert Pattinson. "I'm playing Uma Thurman's husband in Bel Ami. I'm sure she's thrilled she's got little old me!" laughs Philip. "Filming has fitted in nicely after Ashes To Ashes, though, and it's a great supporting role. I do have other projects on the horizon but I can't talk about them yet – watch this space..."
Interview with Keeley Hawes (DI Keeley Hawes)
Sexy, sassy and more than a match for DCI Gene Hunt, DI Alex Drake is still trying to unravel the mystery of why she's stuck in Hunt's world. Does the new member of CID overseeing Hunt's empire hold the key, or is it his aim to turn Alex against Gene? Actress Keeley Hawes reveals what's in store for the feisty DI.
"This series starts with Alex back in what appears to be the present day," explains Keeley, "but it soon becomes apparent that things aren't as they seem and odd incidents start to happen. She realises that the reality she is in isn't real and the Fenchurch East gang start to call her back to 1983 where she has been stuck in a coma for three months."
After Gene rouses Alex from her comatose state, she returns to CID, desperate to try and solve the riddle of how to get back home to her daughter Molly. However, a new arrival at Fenchurch East starts to make her doubt the one person she thought she could trust. "DCI Jim Keats is played by Danny Mays and he's very charming to Alex," reveals Keeley. "She likes him, despite the fact Gene has a different opinion. Gene and Keats' relationship seems to take place behind closed doors and he acts very differently towards Gene than he does with the rest of the team. Keats tries to split up Gene and Alex's partnership. Slowly but surely he starts to drive a wedge between the two of them and Alex starts to wonder if she can really trust Gene," continues Keeley. "Alex also believes that, if she can solve the mystery surrounding Sam Tyler, she'll be able to get home and Keats points her in the direction of evidence which implicates Gene in his death."
There may be a question mark over Jim Keats' real intentions in Ashes To Ashes but Keeley reveals the actor playing him couldn't be nicer. "Danny is absolutely lovely!" she exclaims. "He has to play a very difficult role and I think he's done it brilliantly. I really enjoyed filming scenes with both Danny and Phil because they spar off each other so well."
Ashes To Ashes is set in the Eighties so throughout its three-year run Keeley has had to wear some amazingly colourful outfits. But what's been her favourite costume from this series and has she taken anything home with her? "Our costume designer has had more freedom this year and she's done a gorgeous job," reveals the London-born actress. "I really liked the outfit Gene gave to Alex in hospital which consisted of a t-shirt with the New York skyline on it and skinny jeans. I think it's been easier this year because we haven't been restricted to all the clothes for the series being originals from the period. There seems to be so much Eighties stuff in the shops at the moment that we actually went out and bought some clothes. The costume department also made a lot of things."
"I have taken a couple of pairs of boots with me," confides Keeley, "and I've got Alex's white leather jacket which I think I'll auction off for charity. "I've also got the most fantastic pair of red Dorothy-style sequined shoes with a bow on the front of them. They remind me of the moment when Dorothy clicks her ruby shoes to go home."
The finale of Ashes To Ashes is about to air and Alex Drake's journey looks set to come to an end – how does Keeley feel about the end of her journey working on the series? "It's very sad in some respects because I've been working with the cast and crew for so long, but it feels the right time to finally find out the mystery surrounding Alex's world. In this business you find people pop up all the time so you never know when you are going work with someone again."
Interview with Daniel Mays (DCI Jim Keats)
Up until now DI Alex Drake has been pretty much alone in DCI Gene Hunt's world. No one understands her situation and her desperation to get home; but then DCI Jim Keats arrives in CID. Keats is played by the hugely talented actor, Daniel Mays, who has just finished filming The Adventures Of Tintin in the US with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.
His character in Ashes To Ashes not only challenges Gene and all that he is and believes in, he also plays an integral part in tying up the story of Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, Gene Hunt and his kingdom. So, just a small role for the Essex born actor to take on...
Jim Keats arrives at CID with a huge task ahead of him; not only does he have to investigate the shooting of Alex Drake, he also has to infiltrate the team and determine if Gene should be allowed to carry on running his department. Daniel explains: "Jim's a real pen-pusher who does everything by the book. He's precise and methodical and oversees all investigations undertaken by CID so that he can compile a report on Gene Hunt and his team. "Jim is that guy looking over everybody's shoulder and telling them how to do things correctly which really gets under Gene's skin and leads to some great scenes of confrontation and conflict."
For most people walking into Gene Hunt's world would be an intimidating prospect but Daniel decided, from the outset, how he wanted to portray Keats. "The sparks really fly between the two of them and I made a choice to make Jim as strong, stoic and hard as Gene. I didn't want him to be seen as a pushover or wet in any way," reveals Daniel. "My character really challenges the dynamic between Gene and Alex but the thing that really winds Keats up is that Gene continuously calls him James which is quite disarming for him. However, I personally found it refreshing to play someone with authority because, in the past, I've played a lot of troubled characters. I definitely haven't played a disciplinarian before or someone so high ranking. The great thing about it is that you have to take on board the status of the character and the impact he has when he walks into a room which I quite enjoyed. It was certainly something new for me!"
But with character tensions put to one side, were Philip, Keeley and the rest of the gang open to an outsider joining their team? "They were all absolutely lovely," Daniel says, smiling broadly. "I'd worked with Keeley on a film called The Bank Job and worked with her husband, Matthew Macfadyen, on Middletown so she welcomed me with open arms and the rest of the guys were great to work with. It was quite strange walking into CID for the first time though," reveals Daniel. "The ceiling is very low and, while it is quite an oppressive office, the period detail is second to none. There were cassettes and old magazines lying around which made it a great environment to work in because the detail was top notch."
When offered the role of Jim Keats, Daniel admits he was slightly apprehensive because of the huge cult following for both Ashes To Ashes and its predecessor, Life On Mars. "The fans love both shows so much and they love what Gene Hunt stands for, his characteristics and his relationship with Alex," explains Daniel. "I think the great thing about Ashes To Ashes is that it is very much its own show. However, an interesting factor of this series is that Life On Mars bleeds into it and the mystery surrounding Sam Tyler will be resolved along with Alex's story."
Daniel is known for his gritty roles including award-winning Mike Leigh films All Or Nothing and Vera Drake, BBC drama White Girl, Channel 4 series Red Riding and BAFTA-nominated independent film Shifty, but the critically-acclaimed actor has recently made the leap to Hollywood. "I was lucky enough to be cast in Steven Spielberg's and Peter Jackson's new Tintin movie which we filmed in LA last year," reveals Daniel. "I play a double act with Mackenzie Crook, called Allen and Ernie, and it was shot on motion capture which was something I've never done before. It was a fascinating project and a once in a lifetime experience."
Episode one synopsis
The third and final series of Ashes To Ashes is back – and it's a real slap in the face for DI Alex Drake. Time-travelling copper Alex thought she'd made it home to the present day but wakes to find herself in a hospital bed back in 1983, having been shot by her boss, DCI Gene Hunt, three months ago.
Back in CID a lot has changed; with Gene on the run, Ray Carling has been promoted to DI and is running the show, DC Chris Skelton and WPC Shaz Granger have ended their romance and new Discipline and Complaints officer, DCI Jim Keats, is breathing down everyone's necks.
Jim has been sent by Scotland Yard to investigate the shooting of Alex, putting Gene and his team right under the spotlight. But it soon becomes clear that Gene and Jim have history as Keats throws some unexpected light on past events. Jim's presence puts strain on the team which is exacerbated when Gene is forced to turn in his badge until his name is cleared.
The team is working on the kidnap of a young girl, Dorothy Blonde, who was abducted as her stepmother walked her to school. With a £50,000 ransom demanded for Dotty's life the team has to work fast.
However, Dotty's father, David, wants to go it alone and when newly-promoted Ray panics while running the sting, it seems the family may have been better off without CID's involvement. Gene is forced to put his career on the line as he's unable to stand by and watch a young girl lose her life.
Meanwhile, Alex is being haunted by the ghost of a young policeman and with a gentle nudge from Jim she decides her only hope of getting home is to discover the truth about Gene Hunt and unlock the dark secrets of the past.
DI Alex Drake is played by Keeley Hawes, DCI Gene Hunt by Philip Glenister, DI Ray Carling by Dean Andrews, DC Chris Skelton by Marshall Lancaster, WPC Shaz Granger by Montserrat Lombard, DCI Jim Keats by Daniel Mays, Dorothy Blonde by Jadie-Rose Hobson, Marjorie Blonde by Tanya Franks and David Blonde by Simon Merrells.
Episode two synopsis
When DC Chris Skelton opens CID's post and discovers a human hand, DCI Gene Hunt and his team find they have a murder to solve.
The only defining feature on the severed limb is a strange burn mark and DI Alex Drake and the team discover there have been a string of single women murdered across the country, each left with the same crescent moon shaped burn. It seems all the women had one thing in common – they were members of the Crescent Moon Dating Agency.
When Alex registers with the agency and gets nowhere she decides to take matters into her own hands and invents speed-dating, much to the distaste of the agency's owner, Elaine Downing.
As Luigi's fills up, Alex does her best to play the lonely single woman. DI Ray Carling and Chris find themselves an attractive pair of twins to charm, while Gene on the other hand is struggling to attract anyone of the opposite sex.
Meanwhile, WPC Shaz Granger, feeling let down by the force, has handed in her notice. However, Gene manages to persuade her to take on one final operation and go undercover to catch the man they believe is the killer. But as Shaz puts herself in the firing line it seems this may be her last sting in more ways than one...
Also, Alex is still working to discover the truth behind Sam Tyler's death after her tip-off from Jim Keats that Gene had something to do with it. But when Gene discovers what she's up to he can't help but intervene.
DC Chris Skelton is played by Marshall Lancaster, DCI Gene Hunt by Philip Glenister, DI Alex Drake by Keeley Hawes, Elaine Downing by Beth Goddard, DI Ray Carling by Dean Andrews, WPC Shaz Granger by Montserrat Lombard and Jim Keats by Daniel Mays.
Original article can be found here.
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