Dust to Dust
Ashes to Ashes creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah tell us about finally closing the case on Gene Hunt & co
There was a heavy irony about the last days shooting of Ashes to Ashes. "It was in a very cold crematorium car park in Chiswick," says co-writer Ashley Pharoah. "Actually, it was a bit anti-climatic,” he admits. Writing partner Matthew Graham adds, “We all raised a quick glass. We managed to find a bar somewhere. We usually do…"
Twelve years earlier, the duo had come up with an idea for a TV show about a cop who travels back to the Seventies. The concept, originally a comedy wehicle for Neil Morrisey, eventually ended up on screen in 2006 as Life on Mars, starring John Simm as Sam Tyler (named after Rose Tyler in Doctor Who) and Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt (named after The New Avengers star Gareth Hunt – honest!)
Sequel series Ashes to Ashes followed in 2008, with Keeley Hawes as the time-slipped ‘tec Alex Drake, who was stuck in the Eighties. And now, it’s all coming to an end. “It’s a very emotional episode,” says former EastEnders scribe, Matthew. “A lot of the balance between light and shade is the same we had at the finale of Mars.”
This is the ending we wanted to do,” says Ashley, who also created ITV1’s Wild at Heart. “It can in now way please everyone. But I can tell you theres a definite finishe to both Alex and Sam’s stories. And you learn who Gene Hunt is.”
Matthew agrees. “Yes, there’s something about him that I don’t think anyone’s guessed, but when you see it, you’ll go ‘Oh yeah, I get that!’”
How do Ashley and Matthew feel after four years of speculation and support from fans of both shows? “It’s been amazing,” says Ashley. “They’ve kept us on our toes. I really, really hope they like the ending.”
“But if they don’t,” adds Matthew, “can I ask them to give it some time. Think about it. Come back to it in a week. Because it’s the right ending.
Farewell from the cast:
There was a heavy irony about the last days shooting of Ashes to Ashes. "It was in a very cold crematorium car park in Chiswick," says co-writer Ashley Pharoah. "Actually, it was a bit anti-climatic,” he admits. Writing partner Matthew Graham adds, “We all raised a quick glass. We managed to find a bar somewhere. We usually do…"
Twelve years earlier, the duo had come up with an idea for a TV show about a cop who travels back to the Seventies. The concept, originally a comedy wehicle for Neil Morrisey, eventually ended up on screen in 2006 as Life on Mars, starring John Simm as Sam Tyler (named after Rose Tyler in Doctor Who) and Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt (named after The New Avengers star Gareth Hunt – honest!)
Sequel series Ashes to Ashes followed in 2008, with Keeley Hawes as the time-slipped ‘tec Alex Drake, who was stuck in the Eighties. And now, it’s all coming to an end. “It’s a very emotional episode,” says former EastEnders scribe, Matthew. “A lot of the balance between light and shade is the same we had at the finale of Mars.”
This is the ending we wanted to do,” says Ashley, who also created ITV1’s Wild at Heart. “It can in now way please everyone. But I can tell you theres a definite finishe to both Alex and Sam’s stories. And you learn who Gene Hunt is.”
Matthew agrees. “Yes, there’s something about him that I don’t think anyone’s guessed, but when you see it, you’ll go ‘Oh yeah, I get that!’”
How do Ashley and Matthew feel after four years of speculation and support from fans of both shows? “It’s been amazing,” says Ashley. “They’ve kept us on our toes. I really, really hope they like the ending.”
“But if they don’t,” adds Matthew, “can I ask them to give it some time. Think about it. Come back to it in a week. Because it’s the right ending.
Farewell from the cast:
Daniel Mays (DCI Jim Keats) |
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Five clues to the finale:
We put the thumbscrews on Matthew and Ashley to squeal on the ending.
We put the thumbscrews on Matthew and Ashley to squeal on the ending.
- Fans have correctly guessed 80 per cent of the story, but no-one person has the whole situation
- Sam Tyler has a role to play; he has a presence in the finale
- A big clue was planted early on in the series; there was a very important audio clue in episode three
- A dead body is recovered; it’s the body Alex has been looking for
- The very last scene is in black and white and the last thing you see is the word ‘Police’
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