Ashes to Ashes (TV Series 2008–2010) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error DCI Gene Hunt swaps the Ford Cortina for an Audi Quattro and joins the London Metropolitan Police to deal with the 'Southern Nancy' criminal scum. Creators: The question remains - did Gene hunt kill Sam Tyler? Alex needs to know and all is revealed in the final episode. Meanwhile the rest of the team are dealing with a Jewelry robbery and triple homicide... 9.0 The penultimate episode where the investigation of Gene Hunt is almost at an end, with Alex being pulled in two directions. Jim still wants to know whether Gene had anything to do with Sam Tyler's ... 8.6 A voice from the future tells Alex she must fight post-op infection, which she interprets as Summers. Hunt's grass 'Rock Salmon' Doyle is murdered after divulging an upcoming heist, which Alex ...

8.4 The 10 Best David Bowie Covers in the Year Since His Death 10 January 2017 5:30 AM, -08:00 | PEOPLE.com a list of 26 titles created 26 Nov 2010 a list of 45 titles created 13 Jul 2011 a list of 44 titles created 17 Jun 2013 a list of 30 titles created 01 Dec 2015 a list of 27 titles created 1 month ago Title: Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010) 8.2/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 6 wins & 23 nominations. See more awards » Videos After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973, the era of 'Sweeney' type policing, Mark III Cortinas, and flared trousers.

Stars: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White A present-day car accident mysteriously sends a detective back to the 1970s. An American remake of the BBC series. Stars: Jason O'Mara, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol Mad Dogs (TV Series 2011) Comedy | Crime | Drama Follows the reunion of four old sixth form friends. They head to Mallorca to visit the fifth member of the gang, but things take a dark turn. Stars: Max Beesley, John Simm, Marc Warren A motley group of London con artists pull of a series of daring and intricate stings. Stars: Robert Glenister, Robert Vaughn, Rob Jarvis The missions of MI-5, the UK's domestic intelligence organization. Stars: Peter Firth, Hugh Simon, Nicola Walker On the run accused of a terrible crime, Manchester Detective Marcus Farrow tries to prove his innocence while being hunted by his former friends and colleagues. Stars: Rosie Cavaliero, Daniel Jillings, Darren Whitfield Red Dwarf (TV Series 1988) Comedy | Sci-Fi The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.

Stars: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules Mock the Week (TV Series 2005) Comedy | Game-Show A comedic look at current events. Stars: Dara O'Briain, Hugh Dennis, Andy Parsons In the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder strives to win Her Majesty's favour while attempting to avoid a grisly fate should he offend her. Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny Gavin & Stacey (TV Series 2007) Comedy | Romance Gavin and Stacey have been continuing their romance on-line and by telephone for the last six months. Now they want to be together but will their friends and family let them? Stars: Joanna Page, Mathew Horne, Alison Steadman Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.

Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry State of Play (TV Mini-Series 2003) Crime | Drama | Mystery A thriller set in London, in which a politician's life becomes increasingly complex as his research assistant is found dead on the London Underground and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, a teenage pickpocket is shot dead. Stars: John Simm, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Nighy Edit Storyline DCI Gene Hunt is back, but he's no longer the self-styled "Sheriff of Manchester." Flanked by his faithful sidekicks, Ray Carling and Chris Skelton, and drawn by the action and intrigue of the London Met, Gene's turned his attentions to taking on the "southern nancy" criminal scum. However, Gene did not expect to be thrown together with a sexy, intelligent DI Alex Drake. Single mother to daughter Molly, Alex has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and, in the modern world of 2008, skillfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects. When Alex and her daughter are kidnapped, she makes a daring attempt at escape, resulting in a horrific incident.

Alex suddenly finds herself in 1981, interacting with familiar characters, not just from her own lifetime, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler, which Alex previously spent months poring over. Alex is ripped from her current world of sexual equality and respect in 2008, and finds herself opposite... Written by Ian Wylie The 80's are back and it's criminal. Genres: 7 March 2009 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Stereo (seasons 1-2)| Dolby Digital (season 3) Color: Did You Know? Trivia In season 2 of BBC's Ashes To Ashes, a corrupt senior police officer and a corrupt junior police officer are played by Roger Allam (Mackintosh) and Shaun Evans (Hales). In ITV's police drama, Endeavour, Allam and Hales play morally upright senior and junior police officers (Thursday and Morse, respectively) See more » Goofs The Audi Quattro used by Gene Hunt was not available for sale in the UK in 1981. He would have had to order it from continental Europe, thus it would probably be left-hand drive.

This is acknowledged to in the extras, which speculate that Hunt could have gotten the car as "a dodgy import." See more » Connections (United States) – See all my reviews So i wonder that if as a girl I was predisposed to like Ashes to Ashes more than Life on Mars. I will grant that the original, is just that, the original, and so in a way it's the better. More original, more groundbreaking. But personally I love Ashes to Ashes more. Keeley Hawes took an episode or two to really gel with what was going on, but I think it really works now, and I feel for the character. She's trying to get back to her little girl, you know she can't just stay in the past... and to also try and save her parents. It's interesting, I want to know what's going to happen. And then there's Philip Glenister, who is always a good actor, but whose role as DCI Gene Hunt is a role he'll FOREVER be known as... and good reason. He's a man's man, funny, gritty, and in this series, occasionally vulnerable.

Some don't like the way he is in this show, but I think it works. And the chemistry between Hunt and Drake really works, and it's interesting. I adore them. Finally maybe I like this because I love 80s music, and if you like that, this is a great series for you. It has a great soundtrack. Add that with the awesome quattro Hunt drives, and some fantastic cheesy, over the top moments (the boat showdown in episode 2 anyone?) and it's a show I find absolutely the best pure entertainment I've seen in years. Now all I need is for LoM to get released to DVD over here, and for this sequel to hit our shores so I can then get THAT on DVD and I'll be happy. 11 of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes Series 3: Episode 8 (Ashes to Ashes) | Life on Mars Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Series 3: Episode 8 (Ashes to Ashes) 326pages on The eighth and final episode of the third series of the British science fiction television series Ashes to Ashes was broadcast by BBC One on 21 May 2010. It was the final appearance of DCI Gene Hunt , DC Chris Skelton , WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger , DI Ray Carling and DI Alex Drake . Contents Edit Tension mounts in the final episode of Ashes to Ashes with DCI Gene Hunt and his team investigating a diamond heist following the murder of three London gang members. But DI Alex Drake is distracted and, with encouragement from DCI Jim Keats, she decides to pursue her own investigation to the bitter end – did Gene Hunt murder Sam Tyler? When Gene discovers that Alex has gone, he races after her leaving Ray Carling, Chris Skelton and Shaz Granger to plan an ambitious sting operation. As Gene desperately tries to reach Alex before she discovers the truth, Chris, Shaz and Ray's world completely falls apart.

It's time for Alex and the rest of the team to find out the truth about Gene Hunt... Plot Edit A brutal gang murder leads the team to investigate a European-wide jewel smuggling ring. Keats completes his report on the department and tries to turn the team against Hunt and transfer them to his control, revealing his true colours. Drake goes to investigate a house in Lancashire which she believes holds the secret of Sam Tyler's disappearance. She uncovers a body in a field, but, reading the ID card attached to it, discovers that it is a young Gene Hunt (as is the ghost of the murdered young PC haunting her). Meanwhile, Chris, Ray, and Shaz are given videos by Keats, which show them that they too are dead police officers—all their deaths were tragic, premature, and undeserved. Following the successful foiling of the jewel smuggling attempt, Chris, Ray, and Shaz move on to "eternal happiness", symbolised by Nelson the landlord and his pub " The Railway Arms ", which both appear on a London street-corner (despite being located in Manchester in Life on Mars ). Alex then comes to realize that she too is now dead.

After Gene reconciles her to the fact she will never see her daughter again, Alex enters the pub. Gene Hunt remains in Limbo (the missing word ending in "o", like "macho" which Keats was unable to utter), as Keats—ostensibly now the Devil—taunts him. Keats retreats to the shadows, having failed, but saying they will meet again. The episode ends as Hunt returns to his office to hear a new detective push through the doors asking, "Who are you and where is my iPhone?"—showing that Gene continues to help dead or dying officers from the 21st century. Gene's final line, "A word in your shell-like, pal", is also the first thing he says to Sam Tyler in episode one of Life on Mars . A post-credits sequence shows a clip from the 1950s police show Dixon of Dock Green , bidding the audience goodnight. The title character George Dixon was shot dead in an earlier film The Blue Lamp, despite the same character subsequently going on to star in the Dock Green TV series.

Cast Young PC -- James Mason (a.k.a.Mason Kayne) (final appearence) Cultural references Edit Oversized costumes of Alex and Gene appear on It's a Knockout, which was a competative games programme made by BBC TV from 1966–1987. "Top Town" (BBC radio and TV) mid 50s, "Campenile Sera" (Italy) late-,50s and "Interville" (France) in 1962 were the precursors of the inter-European competition "Jeux Sans Frontiere" (Games Without Frontiers). In 1965, each European country competing had its own weekly version of the show in which three towns from different countries competed against each other in a games format against the clock, the final winning Town- or City-team from the weekly "heats" would go on to represent their country in the annual "Jeux Sans Frontiere", Each country's programme had a different title; the UK's was It's A Knockout.

Stuart Hall is its most well known presenter, hosting the show from 1972–1987, much loved for his warm, articulate, and imaginative commentaries, his enthusiasm and energy, and his enormous and unrestrained gales of laughter whenever contestants mucked up the games. Co-incidently, the theme tune of It's A Knockout was "Bean Bag" by Gene's favourite—Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass. Gene says, "chinamen working on a railway", referencing the chinese migrant workforce who helped construct the first transcontinental railway in the US in 1869, and who in 1881 helped complete the Canadian Pacific railway. They were renowned for their tireless, disciplined, and energetic work under often difficult and dangerous conditions. Gene mentions Leon Spinks, born 11 July 1953. Spinks is a former US boxer. Overall record of 26 wins, 17 loses and 3 draws as a professional, including 14 knockout wins.

In only his eighth professional bout, Spinks won the undisputed world heavyweight championship when he beat Muhammad Ali on 15 February 1978, He lost the title to Ali seven months later. Chris mentions "Denim for Men", an aftershave lotion. Ray says, "write in to Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World", which was a 13-part half-hour film series looking at unexplained phenomenon from around the world, such as Bigfoot, flying saucers and crystal skulls, introduced by UK sc-fi author Arthur C. Clarke from his home in Sri-Lanka. It was made by YTV and was first broadcast 2 September–23 November 1980. The series was spoofed by UK comedy team The Goodies in their last TV series made by LWT in 1981. Jim says, "Gene's got a dark side; even Julie Andrews would struggle not to see that." Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (1935–) is an English film and stage actress, singer, author, theatre director and dancer. She was well known for her wholesome screen image in such films as The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins.

Shaz passes Alex an OS Map, OS standing for Ordinance Survey. After Chris reels off a list of the supects' aliases, Gene says, "Bloody 'ell! He could do The Generation Game all on his own." The Generation Game was a BBC game show during the 70s and 80s, in which four teams of two (people from the same family, but different generations hence the title) compete against each other to win prizes. One of its many catchphrase's was "Lets meet the eight who are going to generate" coined by Bruce Forsyth, the host from 1971–1977. Larry Grayson hosted from 1978–1982. Refering to the gangsters, Gene says, "not exactly Antiques Roadshow material, are they? I mean, they're gangsters, they don't go slicing each other up over a welsh dresser." Antiques Roadshow is a BBC TV series with antique dealers appraising objects from members of the public. It was first broadcast in 1979 (a pilot under a different title was screened in 1978). A Welsh dresser is an item of furniture.

Gene says to Alex, "your knickers headed south so fast they needed their own railcard." Railcards were introduced in the 70s originally to give reduced fares for students travelling by train. By the 80s this had been extended to all 17–25-year-olds. Gene refers to Shaz as "Mrs Alan Whicker". Alan Donald Whicker CBE (1921–2013) was a British journalist and television presenter and broadcaster. His career spanned almost 60 years, during which time he presented the documentary television programme Whicker's World for over 30 years. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005 for services to broadcasting. Trying to use the term for a person from Holland, instead of "Dutch", Ray calls them "Hollandais". "Hollandais" is actually the French word for "Dutch", but more commonly known to English speakers in the phrase, "Hollandaise sause". It first appeared in a Dutch cook book in 1593, though the French claim it was their invention.

Gene says to Jim, "the best porn's on VHS." Jim says he prefers Betamax because of its better recording quality. Of the two competing home video formats, Betamax (or just "Beta") created by Sony and VHS created by JVC, VHS became the dominant system mainly due to its wide availability, but as Jim says, Beta did have a slightly higher recording quality. In Jim's office, Gene sees footage of the BBC TV coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation that took place on 2 June 1953. The TV coverage was extensive and boosted the sales of television sets in the UK. The whole ceremony was tele-recorded, basically a film recorded off a TV screen, but in practice, technically more complicated. At the time the BBC had no video recording machines and it would be some four years before Ampex in the US invented a viable VTR recording system. Tele-recordings were also sent to the US and Canada, making it an international TV event. The main service took place at Westminster Cathedral and later that same year the conclusion of The Quatermass Experiment TV serial was set there, though this was confined to studio sets and photographic blow ups of the cathedral.

According to the calendar in Rachel's (the dead Air stewardess) flat, this episode is set in November 1983. Shaz objects to a copy of Razzle magazine in Chris's pigeon-hole. Razzle is a soft-porn magazine published by Paul Raymond, first seen on top shelves in UK newsagents' shops in 1983. Not to be confused with an earlier publication by Ritz publications from 1935–1957 that, although it contained a few topless female photographs, mainly contained saucy cartoons, in the Funny Half-Hour mould. Gene says his mentor P.C.Morrison was doing the "Oakey-Cokey with the locals". This is a song and dance invented in the 40s also known as the Hokey-Pokey in the US. Recounting his ordeal at the farmhouse, Gene says, "so he kicks the door open, you know, like John Wayne or Jimmy Stewart. Bam! In he goes... You see in here... [TAPS HIS TEMPLE] In here he's not some snotty kid in a uniform. Oh, no. He's Gary Cooper in High Noon.

He's the law." Once again Gene refers to famous US western film actors, and and the film High Noon. Chris says, "we swing in like Tarzan, like lots of Tarzans in cars." Tarzan is a character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. The "Lord of the Apes", he swung to the rescue using tree vines or creepers in a series of B&W US films starring Johnny Weismuller in the 1930s and 40s. Ray is watching Trooping the Colour on the tape Jim gives him. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and commonwealth armies. Since 1748 it has also marked the official birthday of the British sovereign. It is held in London annually on 2 June. On horse, guards parade by St James' Park, as the Queen travels down the Mall from Buckingham Palace in a royal procession with the sovereign escort of the household cavalary (or horse guards). After receiving the royal salute, she inspects the troops. BBC TV cover the event each year.

Note: In the original script, available to view at the Monastic Productions website, it states the date of the events on Ray's tape as being September 15th 1977. Chris says to Shaz whilst toting a sawn-off shotgun and wearing a pair of dark glasses, "like Lewis Collins, don't ya think?" Shaz replies, "more like Joan Collins" Lewis Collins played Bodie in the LWT series The Professionals and Joan Collins is a UK actress most famously associated with a series of comical Cinzano TV ads with Leonard Rossiter and for appearing in US soap opera Dynasty. Whilst Chris is watching his tape from Jim, his sergeant is seen blowing a police whistle. These had been phased out completely by 1974/75. Note: in the original script it states the date of the events on Chris's tape as being February 14th 1975. On Shaz's tape from Jim, the Oasis song "Wonderwall" can be heard. This was first released on the album (What's the Story) Morning Glory on 2 October and as a single on 30 October 1995.

Note: in the original script it states the date of the events on Shaz's tape as being 19 April 1996. Alex says, "the flight's at twelve—high noon", once again referencing the western film High Noon. Gene, refering to Terry, one of his DCs, says, "they call 'im Mr Magoo behind 'is back", refering to the US cartoon film character created in 1949 in the US by UPA animation. Mr Magoo is a short, elderly, bald man whose cronic short-sightedness gets him into sticky situations. Gene says, "useless bunch of wooden-tops." "Wooden-tops" is UK detective slang for uniformed PCs. Throughout this episode, clocks and watches show the time as 9.06, except for the clock in the corridor near the lift to Jim's department, which shows the time as 7.50. Gene says "Pronto Tonto" to Shaz. "Tonto" is the Native American companion of "The Lone Ranger", an American Western character created by George W. Trendie and Fran Striker. Chris mentions "Scratchings" and "Ringos".

Pork scratchings is a traditional pub snack in the UK akin to the US pork rinds. Golden Wonder Ringos are a crisp snack invented in the 70s in a ring shape. Bacon flavour ones are mentioned in an episode of BBC sitcom Citizen Smith in 1977 by Wolfie's girlfriend Shirley. Chris says he'll spoof Ray to see who buys the first round of drinks at The Railway Arms . "Spoof" is a game of chance often played in pubs to establish who buys a round of drinks. It is basically a guessing game in which the participants place coins in their hands and an estimation of how many coins are collectively held by the group is made, until only two participents are left. Whoever wins/loses the last game buys the drinks. Jim sings "We'll Meet Again". This is a song written in 1939 by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles and sung by forces sweetheart Vera Lynn. It is also the title of a UK musical starring Vera Lynn in 1943. The song is also heard over the end sequence of shots of nuclear bomb explosions in Stanley Kubrick's UK film Dr.

Strangelove (1963), and the end titles of the last episode of Dennis Potter's Singing Detective TV series. PC George Dixon, played by Jack Warner, first appeared in the Ealing Studios feature film The Blue Lamp released in 1950. The film was written by ex-policeman T.E.B. Clarke (from a treatment by Jan Read and Ted Willis) and set in Paddington Green, London. The police are shown as the honest guardians of a decent society. Dixon is gunned down by delinquent, skinny, frightened youth Tom Riley (Dirk Bogarde) as he attempts to rob the Coliseum cinema ticket office. Dixon is taken to hospital where he later dies off-screen. Warner had appeared in many feature films prior to The Blue Lamp, including a trio of comedy films starring the fictional Huggett family, and so his character's death before the film's conclusion, at the time, was as unexpected as Janet Leigh's in Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). In 1955, TV writer Ted Willis resurrected George for the BBC TV series Dixon of Dock Green.

Willis created a a cosy, non-violent image around PC George Dixon, a policeman of the old school who helped old ladies across roads and gave delinquents a clip round the ear. He was a community copper before the term was invented, transported from the real Paddington Green to the fictional Dock Green. In the 50s, the series had a very simple theme tune, an unaccompanied solo-whistled version of the traditional tune, "Maybe its Because I'm a Londoner". Each episode would begin with Dixon delivering a monologue to camera, to set up the story, standing outside the police station beneath the station's Blue Lamp, and ended with another similar monologue to wrap up the story, often with the caption "The End" appearing as he walked back into the station. Appearances BBC - Press Office - Press Release Category: TV Drama ; BBC One ; Wales It's time to get your shoulder pads out of storage, start crimping your hair and get into the Eighites mood for the very last time... The award-winning BBC One drama, Ashes To Ashes, is back as filming begins on the eagerly-awaited final series.

The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes reprise 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) will also appear in the series as Discipline and Complaints Officer, Jim Keats, adding an exciting twist to the team dynamic. With the last series' cliff-hanger leaving audiences with the frightening image of Alex lying shot on a hospital gurney, the questions on everyone's lips are "will Alex survive?" and "how will her colleague and accidental assassin Gene Hunt dig himself out of that hole?" The smash hit drama, 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 four 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…? Jane Featherstone, Executive Producer, Kudos Film and Television, says: "Everyone has their own theory about who Gene Hunt is, and why Alex Drake and Sam Tyler ended up in his world. "Alex's journey is nearing its end and Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah have planned a fabulous finale. "We're now at the point where we can finally reveal some of the answers and we can't wait to hear what the fans think about it all." Ashley Pharoah, co-creator, writer and executive producer for Monastic Productions, adds: "Gene Hunt has delighted fans for almost five years. "Matthew and I have loved writing the adventures of Gene, Alex and the rest of the team and will be really sad to finally have to say goodbye to characters that have become a great part of our lives." Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, says: "Series three of Ashes To Ashes will have the same combination of thrilling crime drama, outrageous Eighties outfits and cutting one-liners.

"We'll be sad to see Gene and the gang go but the journey that will take us to that finale will be one of the most exciting, compelling and edge-of-your seat rides on TV!" Ashes To Ashes is written and created by Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, two creators of the award-winning Life On Mars. It is produced by Kudos Film and Television, in association with Monastic Productions and was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning. Executive producer duties will be split between Jane Featherstone, Simon Crawford Collins and Alison Jackson for Kudos Film and Television, Ashley Pharoah for Monastic Productions and Piers Wenger for the BBC. The producer is Howard Burch. Ashes To Ashes, 8 x 60-minute series for transmission on BBC One in 2010. PPR Learn and talk about Episode 1 (Ashes to Ashes series 1), 2008 television episodes, BBC Television programmes, Life on Mars (franchise) Plot[ edit ] DI Alex Drake is driving her car, while her daughter Molly is reading Sam Tyler's experiences in 1973 in a Police document.

It is revealed that he committed suicide. Alex gets a call that a man has taken someone hostage. She tells Molly to stay in the car. It is revealed by a police sergeant that the hostage taker is Arthur Layton and that he had recently left prison. Drake tries to tell the sergeant that she was trying to drive her daughter. But the sergeant informs her that Layton had asked for her. Drake approaches Layton while the armed response team arrives. She helps the hostage escape but is taken herself. Molly runs out worried for her mother. Layton takes Molly hostage and escapes. Drake gives chase and hears a bullet. Layton had disappeared and Molly was okay. Later on Drake by herself sits in her car and repeats the lyrics "I'm happy hope you're happy too" that Layton had spoken earlier. Then she discovers Layton in her back seat. He orders her to relax and drive. He leads her through the docks. He rings up an unknown person and tells them that he has Tim and Caroline Price's daughter; Drake asks Layton, "How do you know my parent's names?" But the call brings up nothing.

Drake tries to question him when they are in a disused ferry on the Thames , where she is shot. Drake sees images of the bullet and Layton, herself younger, her mum, a balloon, a clown, Layton, and the bullet. She begins to hear music (" Vienna " by Ultravox ) and awakens on a brothel boat. She briskly runs off the boat as policemen rush past her. She tries to get help, believing herself to just been shot, but they believe she is a prostitute and ignore her. She makes her way to a road, where the Quattro appears speeding with music playing (" Careless Memories " by Duran Duran ). She is taken hostage by Edward Markham, when she is surprised that DCI Gene Hunt, DS Ray Carling, and DC Chris Skelton appear, looking exactly like Sam described except for the updated clothes (1980s). She convinces Markham to surrender and is taken to the Metropolitan police station, where she discovers that she has a life set up just like Sam Tyler did. She believes she is hallucinating and that everyone is just imaginary constructs.

The CID and Alex Drake discover that Drake is their new DI, much to the CID's surprise (as they had thought that Drake was a prostitute). Drake finds out that the year is 1981. Drake, believing that Layton is the key, follows evidence to convict Layton in 1981 as the CID is trying to uncover a crime gang. Layton is taken down by Hunt, much to Drake's anger, as she believes that she had to tackle Layton herself to return to the future. Continuity with Life on Mars[ edit ] As with its predecessor, the show's name originates from a David Bowie song from the era in which the programme is set. In this case, it is the 1980 single " Ashes to Ashes ". During the opening scenes of the first episode, it is revealed that Alex Drake is a police psychologist who has been studying Sam Tyler's suicide and the records of his life in his 1973 world. Upon Drake being shot during a hostage situation in 2008, she awakens in 1981, where she is amazed to meet Gene Hunt, who was mentioned in Sam Tyler's case notes.

As Drake has read the report of Sam Tyler's reality, she knows that telephones and radios carry messages from the present day to her and how she can see hallucinations of those that she loves. During the course of the first series, it is revealed that Sam Tyler returned to Manchester in 1973 after committing suicide in 2006. Tyler spent a further seven years in this alternate timeline, before crashing his car while pursuing robbery suspects, with his body never being recovered. Cultural references[ edit ] There is an entire scene with the children's characters Zippy and George (from Rainbow ) talking to Molly Drake. The Clown Angel of Death's pierrot costume is modeled on David Bowie's costume in the music video and record jacket of " Ashes to Ashes ". Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and others sing " Shaddap You Face " by Joe Dolce , a 1981 novelty hit which parodies Italian English. The scene where Alex Drake first meets Gene Hunt has a shot framing Hunt between Alex's legs. This is a reference to the promotional poster for the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only . The poster is seen later on the wall of Hunt's office.

The boat on which Alex awakens in the middle of a party is named Lady Di, according to the large name plaque she passes topside, and PS Viv James informs Gene by radio that Arthur Layton has a boat named Prince Charlie. The episode takes place in July 1981, days prior to the 29 July 1981 wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles , which serves as a backdrop for the following episode. Original courtesy of Wikipedia: — Please support Wikipedia. This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia . A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia. We're sorry, but there's no news about "Episode 1 (Ashes to Ashes series 1)" right now. Limit to books that you can completely read online Include partial books (book previews) Oops, we seem to be having trouble contacting Twitter Support Wikipedia A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia. Please add your support for Wikipedia! Searchlight Group Digplanet also receives support from Searchlight Group. Visit Searchlight Copyright © 2009-2016 Digparty. All rights reserved.

Gene Hunt | Life on Mars Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Joaquín Gallardo Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (1934–1953 onwards) was the often brutal, self-important superior officer of DI Sam Tyler in 1973 and DI Alex Drake from 1981 to 1983 . In 1980 , following the apparent death of Tyler, he transferred from Manchester to Fenchurch East in London with his colleagues. In reality, he was a young police constable in 1953 who was shot dead and awoke in the same decade in the supernatural plane of existence which came to be known as Gene Hunt's World . Although he forgot or suppressed this fact, he believed it was his duty to assist those who had been victim of trauma to accept their death so they were able to progress to " the pub " and move on. Contents Edit The ghost of 19 year old Gene Hunt (played by Mason Kayne) ( A2A Series 3: Episode 1 ) Gene Hunt was born in 1934 in the south of the county of Lancashire (which today is the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester ).

His childhood was very harsh because his father was an abusive drinker who often beat him and his brother Stuart due to a "harsh Lancastrian upbringing". As a teenager, he discovered that his brother was a drug addict. Hunt attempted to reform him until he ran away from his family and was never seen again ( LOM Series 2: Episode 5 ). At the age of 17, he performed his National Service and joined the police two years later. In 1953 , at the age of 19, Hunt became a Police Constable (presumably for the Lancashire Constabulary. PC Morrison became his mentor and guide ( A2A Series 3: Episode 8 ). Death Edit During the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953 , on his first week on patrol as a constable, Hunt, Morrison, and their colleagues were on duty in Farringfield Green near the town of Horwich. When one of his colleagues gave PC Morrison whisky, he became inebriated and left to celebrate with the local villagers leaving Hunt alone. Hunt heard a noise from an isolated farm house and presumed that some young people had broken in so he decided to investigate.

In order to enter the property, he kicked the door open and was shot in the head by an unknown man with a shotgun (who was either an armed burglar or in fact the real owner of the house). To hide the evidence, his body, along with his uniform and his warrant card, were buried in a shallow grave beside a scarecrow and the man who killed Hunt fled the area. Gene Hunt's body was not discovered until 2008 by some travellers in the area ( A2A Series 3: Episode 8 ). Edit Following his death, Hunt awoke in the supernatural world known as " Gene Hunt's World " in the same decade as his death. For 30 years, he forgot about his death by drowning it with alcohol ( A2A Series 3: Episode 8 ). Eventually, he joined the Manchester City Police (which merged into the Manchester and Salford Police in 1968) where, as a young Manchester constable, he worked with Harry Outhwaite — a legendary D-Day veteran who was accepting bribes from a local gangster.

Seeing it was the right thing to do, Hunt reported Outhwaite to his superior officers, which resulted in Outhwaite's suicide due to humiliation and Hunt losing his reputation. A month later, he accepted his first bribe which he deeply regretted ( LOM Series 1: Episode 4 ). Prior to 1968, he entered a relationship with an unnamed woman and married her. In 1968, when the Manchester and Salford Police was formed, Hunt was promoted to Detective Inspector and transferred to "A" Division, CID of the Stopford House police station under DCI Harry Woolf, who became his mentor. Before Sam Tyler's arrival in 1973 , Hunt was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector by Woolf (who had been promoted to Detective Superintendent) ( LOM Series 2: Episode 1 ). As the archangel of his own "kingdom", he was joined by DS Ray Carling , DC Chris Skelton , WPC Annie Cartwright and several other police officers who had been killed in the near future whom he would help reach " the pub ".

( A2A Series 3: Episode 8 ) Life in 1973 "A word in your shell-like, pal" - Hunt introduces himself to DI Sam Tyler . ( LOM Series 1: Episode 1 ) As the Detective Chief Inspector of Manchester CID, Hunt is respected by the subordinate members of his team. When DI Sam Tyler arrives at CID in the first episode of the series, Hunt is quick to make it clear that he is Tyler's superior. He demonstrates his willingness to accept bribes from criminals — a practice which he continues until local crime boss Stephen Warren murders a girl for helping Tyler in Series 1: Episode 4 . In episode 2 of the show's second series , it is discovered that Hunt's mentor Harry Woolfe is corrupt and was the mastermind behind several robberies. Hunt, despite his fierce loyalty, brings down Woolfe. Although Hunt's method of policing is brutal at times, he goal is very clear: locking up bad people. He is initially disdainful of female police officers, however he tolerates WPC Annie Cartwright promotion to CID in the second series, and accepts her as a part of the team.

Hunt's major rivals in the police force are DCI Litton (Lee Ross) of the Regional Crime Squad, and DCI Frank Morgan (Ralph Brown), who replaces Hunt when he is accused of killing a man in Series 2: Episode 7 . In the show's final episode, Morgan goes so far as to set up Hunt and his team to confront train robbers without arranging the promised backup, in the hope of eliminating Hunt by killing him. The 1980s Edit It is revealed in the first episode of Ashes to Ashes ("Deja Vu") that, following the events of Life on Mars , Hunt worked with Sam Tyler for another seven years before Tyler's apparent death during a high-speed pursuit. Shortly thereafter, Hunt transferred out of the Greater Manchester Police, to the Metropolitan Police Service, alongside Detective Sergeant Ray Carling and Detective Constable Chris Skelton. Set in 1981, Ashes to Ashes sees Hunt divorced, and having replaced his trademark Cortina with an imported Audi Quattro .

Hunt remains as determined as ever to crack down on crime in his area, but has become somewhat more professional in his behaviour, secure in his authority, and organised in his approach since the 1970s. He has embraced some aspects of modern policing, but is convinced that old-school policing methods are on their way to being excised from the force, along with the officers who still practice them. Hunt meets Alex Drake during a police drugs raid on a party, unaware that she, like Tyler, has traveled into his time-line from the future. Believing her to be a prostitute, he takes her in for questioning, only to discover that she is his new Detective Inspector. It later appears that Hunt was the officer who took Drake's hand when she was a child, following her parents death from a bomb explosion—which leads Drake to believe that Hunt may in fact be real, rather than a figment of her imagination. In the last episode of Ashes to Ashes , it is revealed that Gene Hunt was shot in 1953 in his first week as a policeman. It is he who was the young PC with facial gunshot wounds that Alex Drake has visions of.

1981 Edit The second series, set in 1982, introduces a new storyline in which Hunt and Alex Drake work together to expose corruption within Fenchurch East CID. As well as the corruption storyline, Drake is stalked by Martin Summers (Gwilym Lee & Adrian Dunbar) who also claims to be from the future. After several discoveries and unofficial investigations led by Hunt and Drake, it is revealed that the newly introduced character, Charlie Mackintosh (Roger Allam) is heavily involved in the corruption. During episode four , after finding out that Hunt and Drake know about his corruption, Mackintosh shoots himself and with his dying words warns Hunt and Drake of "Operation Rose", but dies before he can reveal more details. Summers, also involved in Operation Rose, plants a tape stolen from Drake on Hunt's desk on which she had questioned his existence and motives. After playing the tape, Hunt furiously demands an explanation from Drake, who is forced to explain that she is from the future, which enrages Hunt, thinking that she has taken him for a fool. During the series, Hunt and Drake begin to notice that files and evidence have gone missing.

Eventually it is revealed that Chris Skelton had been paid large sums of money to undermine the investigation into Operation Rose, and had done so in order to pay for his wedding to Shaz Granger (Montserrat Lombard). Without informing those involved in Rose that Skelton has been discovered, Hunt uses him to gain information. It is revealed that Rose is the code name for an upcoming robbery of a van carrying gold-bullion, masterminded by corrupt officers. After a heated argument with Drake, Hunt suspends her and confiscates her warrant card, threatening to kill her if he finds her involved in the following day's events. During the finale, Hunt shoots Martin Summers dead in order to save Drake's life and accidentally shoots her afterward. With no witnesses, Hunt is accused of attempted murder. After being shot, Drake awakes in the present day to be greeted by her surgeon and her daughter Molly, but observes Hunt screaming at her through hospital TV screens to wake up. She realises that she is now in a comatose state in 1982, and that the 2008 world she has woken into is illusory.

1983 Edit During the first episode , it is revealed that, following Hunt's accidental shooting of Alex Drake, he was accused of attempted murder and fled to the Costa Brava and Isle of Wight for three months. After waking Drake from her comatose state, Hunt is suspended by Jim Keats , from the Discipline and Complaints Department (D&C), who has been sent to assess Fenchurch East CID in the wake of Drake's shooting and as part of Operation Countryman. Keats unofficially assures Hunt's team that he will file a good report about them, before privately telling Hunt that he "hates him", "knows what he did three years ago" and will "dismantle the station around him". Also, the nature of Sam Tyler 's death is questioned by Drake and Keats. Drake conducts an unofficial investigation into the events, and requests old witness statements and reports on Tyler's death along with the leather jacket Tyler was seen wearing during Life on Mars . Drake later finds Hunt burning the files and jacket. As well as this, Drake is haunted by a police officer with injuries to his face, and finds a picture of the officer taken earlier without injuries in Hunt's desk.

In Episode 6 , Hunt leads a riot control unit into the HM Prison Fenchurch, to quell a major riot. However, the overwhelmed officers are forced to retreat, and, in the confusion, Sergeant Viv James is captured by the rioters. Hunt later sends Ray and Chris in undercover as reporters, but they are exposed and captured. The orchestrator of the riot, Jason Sachs, consequently ties Ray, Chris, and Viv to an electrified metal wall, which will be activated when the riot control unit led by Keats storms into the building to rescue the hostages. A prisoner who escaped during the chaos, Paul Thordy, reveals that Viv actually supplied Sachs with a firearm. Gene and Alex then turn off the electrics in the building, saving Chris and Ray. After freeing them, Gene pursues Sachs, who has taken Viv hostage: Sachs then fatally shoots Viv, who is discovered by Keats, and dies, much to the devastation of a distraught Gene, who blames himself for Viv's death. During the penultimate episode, Drake asks Hunt if he killed Sam Tyler, with Hunt explaining that Tyler had been acting "weird" and asked for Hunt's help in faking his own death.

However, the vision that Drake has of the police officer with injuries to the side of his face is connected to Tyler's presumed death, and a roll of undeveloped film apparently reveals where the policeman is supposedly buried. Along with this, Shaz, Ray, and Chris all have visions of stars, as if looking up at the sky, and hear strange voices as described by Chris as Nelson (Tony Marshall), the publican from Life on Mars, asking him what he would like to drink. Gene is left on his own outside the Railway Arms Finale Edit During the last episode , Hunt is revealed to be part of a supernatural world, a form of limbo , populated by dead police officers. His role has been described as an "archangel", helping the souls in a place between "earth and heaven" to get where they wanted to be . His role is to take them "to the pub"—moving on to a "heaven" beyond. It is later revealed that Hunt had done this for many officers before, including Sam Tyler and, presumably, Annie Cartwright. It is revealed that the main characters of the show are all dead.

Shaz Granger was stabbed during the 1990s while trying to stop a car thief, Chris Skelton was shot dead during a firearms incident. Ray had killed a young man and his DCI had covered it up. The guilt overwhelmed him, leading to his suicide. Because of the period of time each had spent in limbo, they had all forgotten their previous lives, something which had also happened to Hunt. The uniformed police officer haunting Drake is revealed to be Hunt, killed as a young constable after a week in the police by an armed burglar on Coronation Day in 1953. His body is buried where Drake expects to find Tyler's body, but instead she finds Hunt's original warrant card. In reality, Hunt's grave is left undiscovered until 2008 when it is found by a group of travellers. Hunt characterizes his younger self as "skinny," headstrong, and full of male bravado; he confesses that he'd completely forgotten about his past.

Keats, confronting Hunt along with the rest of his team, destroys his office to reveal the universe outside and accuses Hunt of manufacturing his own fantasy world, in which he'd entrapped the souls of Shaz, Chris, Ray and Alex. Keats then convinces everyone else except Alex to accept a "transfer" to his own department, but with Alex's help Hunt persuades them to return. Afterward, Hunt takes Ray, Chris, Shaz and Alex "to the pub"— The Railway Arms , a favoured hangout in Life on Mars, where they are greeted outside by Nelson . Ray, Chris, and Shaz enter, but Keats appears and tries to persuade Alex to come with him. This attempt fails when Alex realizes, observing Keats' wristwatch frozen at 9:06, that she has also died in the real world. Hunt is able to persuade Alex to accept her death and enter the pub, but not before they share a kiss.

In the closing moments, the series comes full circle back to Life on Mars as another officer from the future appears wondering, like Alex and Sam, who has changed his office, and wondering where his mobile is, and Gene Hunt ventures out to greet him in his usual fashion—using exactly the same words he used to greet Sam Tyler in his first ever scene in Life on Mars: "A word in your shell-like, pal." After 1983 "A word in your shell-like, pal" - Hunt greets his new DI in his final appearance scene. ( A2A Series 3: Episode 8 ) Following the departure of his former colleagues, Hunt returned to his office in Fenchurch where he was immediately approached by a New Arrival who had died in the year 2009 . Presumably, he worked alongside Hunt as his Detective Inspector just as Tyler did in 1973. In 2008 , shortly before the death of Alex Drake , the body of the young PC Hunt was discovered by some travellers at Farringfield Green ( A2A Series 3: Episode 1 ). Characteristics Edit DCI Hunt as he appeared in Life on Mars.

Bantam Press have published two books written from the in-character perspective of Hunt; The Rules of Modern Policing , and The Future of Modern Policing . The character is portrayed as a "politically incorrect chauvinist" who has no qualms about using violent tactics in order to get a result. He has a love/hate relationship with his Detective Inspectors, Sam Tyler ( John Simm ) and Alex Drake ( Keeley Hawes ), the lead protagonists of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes respectively, whilst commanding fierce loyalty from his junior officers, DS Ray Carling ( Dean Andrews ) and DC Chris Skelton ( Marshall Lancaster ). The character received much critical and public acclaim for his role in Life on Mars, being dubbed both a "national hero" and an unlikely sex symbol, as well as being voted Britain's favourite TV hero. Ashes to Ashes provoked more negative reviews, with accusations of repetition of material, alongside mounting concern that Hunt's bigoted ideals made him a "pin-up boy for the Daily Mail".

While the 'Rose Tyler/Doctor Who' origins of Sam's surname are well-documented, it seems at least possible that Gene may have been named with the graphic Cockney rhyming slang "Berkshire Hunt" in mind. Key Life Events TV review: 'Ashes to Ashes,' BBC America - SFGate TV review: 'Ashes to Ashes,' BBC America Tim Goodman Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, March 4, 2009 Photo: Kudos, BBC Close Image 1 of 1 PHILIP GLENISTER as DCI Gene Hunt and KEELEY HAWES as DI Alex Drake in "Ashes to Ashes." PHILIP GLENISTER as DCI Gene Hunt and KEELEY HAWES as DI Alex Drake in "Ashes to Ashes." Photo: Kudos, BBC TV review: 'Ashes to Ashes,' BBC America 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Ashes to Ashes: Drama. 9 p.m. Sat. on BBC America .

All you have to do is look at ABC every Wednesday to know that the British series "Life on Mars," about a present-day cop who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973, was a big enough hit to inspire a copy on these shores - with big-time actors, a budget that pays for the rights to some 1970s-era classics and more money in promotion than it probably took to make the original series. "Life on Mars" captivated audiences in Britain, but the American version has had a slightly more difficult time attracting viewers. Those who watched the original incarnation know how it ends; the entire story wrapped up conclusively after two relatively short seasons on British television. ABC announced this week that they're canceling the series with closure - meaning people will find out about Detective Sam Tyler 's fate. But the Brits have moved on. On Saturday, BBC America will premiere "Ashes to Ashes" - yes, titled after another David Bowie song - the sequel to "Life on Mars." The show employs many of the same actors who played cops in the original series, including Philip Glenister as Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt .

In fact, Glenister's virtuoso performance as the ethically challenged, punch-first-and-plant-evidence-later Hunt is precisely why there's a sequel. Begins in 2008 Only now the series begins in 2008, and in place of Tyler we get Detective Inspector Alex Drake ( Keeley Hawes ), who has worked her way up in the London Metropolitan police force as a psychological profiler and hostage negotiator. She's a single mother, tough and confident in her abilities. But after a hostage situation goes wrong, Drake finds herself on the wrong end of a bullet, clinging to life. When she wakes up - and whether she does is, of course, the crux of the series - it's 1981. Now, this is a particularly difficult trick to pull off a second time, as you might imagine. Much of the novelty in the original "Life on Mars" was watching Tyler (wonderfully played by John Simm ) struggle with the confusion of his predicament. He'd left behind a girlfriend; everything in 1973 seemed foreign - no cell phones, eight-track tapes, dubious ethics on the police force, no modern crime-solving techniques, etc.

He was hallucinating; his television speaking to him, voices coming out of nowhere. The central question was existential. Everything else was just a great wink-wink to old school '70s British police shows and the clash of clothes, music, culture, etc. British viewers ate it up. New twists In "Ashes to Ashes," the novelty is certainly gone. But the new version adds some interesting twists while suffering from a being a little too self-aware. The twist that propels "Ashes to Ashes" is that Drake was studying the files on Tyler. Her background in psychology leavens her stunned reaction when what happened to Tyler happens to her. With no perfect way to pull off a sequel, this leap comes pretty close. The Drake character is less befuddled than Tyler because she knows she's been shot, that her brain is constructing a familiar universe of characters as it calculates the damage. "I might be one second away from life or one second way from death," she reasons. Understanding that it's a dream state helps her cope, but it doesn't make it go away.

The emotional stakes have been raised: She has a daughter to get back to and, as it turns out, 1981 is the year her lawyer parents were killed by a car bomb. The weaker part of "Ashes to Ashes" is that the series - built to capitalize on viewers who loved the Gene Hunt character - is too hell-bent on idolizing his renegade reputation. Hunt has been transferred from Manchester to London, bringing his goon squad of Ray Carling ( Dean Andrews ) and Chris Skelton ( Marshall Lancaster ) down south with him. Now he's driving an Audi Quattro and putting the fear of his fist into drug dealers infesting London, random thugs and the occasional yuppie. While Margaret Thatcher -led England and the early 1980s certainly means more to the locals than to the Yanks, you'll probably catch a lot of '80s music references and can once again laugh at the clothes. But the writers have made Hunt's larger-than-life personality a little too large. Where "Life on Mars" felt like a send-up of '70s cop shows, "Ashes to Ashes" feels like a send-up of Gene Hunt's reputation.

And despite the acting chemistry between Hawes and Glenister, hints of a romantic relationship between their characters seem initially forced. British critics seemed to love this spin-off as much as the original, and the audience certainly tuned in. Glenister is still riveting, naturally, and Hawes is a real gift. Maybe that's enough to offset the smaller issues, like the cartoonish hero worship of Hunt (three quarters of the way through the pilot, there's a moment where you half expect a laugh track to kick in). "Ashes to Ashes" had a nearly impossible task in furthering a fanciful, original premise. Will Americans join the Brits in riding this two-trick pony again? They might as well, particularly if they haven't bought into Sam Tyler's prolonged existential crises over on ABC. "Ashes to Ashes" may not be moving in the direction all viewers will like, but at least it's moving. Latest from the SFGATE homepage: Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.

Question: In which BBC crime series did the characters 'Ray Carling', 'Chris Skelton' and 'Alex Drake' appear?
Answer: 'ASHES TO ASHES'