BBC Ashes to Ashes

Ashes to Ashes sees tough, non-PC Cop Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) posted to the Met in London. It's 1981 and there is no Sam Tyler this time, but Keeley Hawes plays time travelling DI Alex Drake, who, surprise surprise, is transported back to 1981. Gene Hunt nicknames her 'Bollinger Knickers'.

Gene Hunt has ditched his Ford Cortina GXL in favour of a red Audi Quattro. He's updated his image slightly, with some dodgy 80s ties. Some of this colleagues from Life on Mars have also followed him down to the Smoke. There's DC Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews).

DI Alex Drake knew Sam Tyler. She's heard about his encounter in 1973 with Gene Hunt and Co, but she thinks it's all in Sam's head. Now she gets a chance to meet Hunt for real, but is it only in her imagination?

Characters

Philip Glenister DCI Gene Hunt

Philip Glenister has a long-established television and film career and seems to have rather a liking for police dramas. Philip has appeared in an episode of Heartbeat in 1992 as Julian Cantley. He also featured in Bergerac in 1991, as a humble PC in Silent Witness in 1996, as DCI William Bell in State of Play (along with John Simm from Life on Mars) and also as DCI David Driscoll in two episodes of Vincent in 2005. His other roles also include the comedy romance, Love Hurts (with Adam Faith and Zoe Wanamaker) in 1992, ITV's Soldier, Soldier in 1996 and as Gunner Hobbs in ITV Hornblower series in 2001. He appeared as Mr Carter in the highly acclaimed BBC period drama Cranford. His film roles include the shy photographer, Lawrence Sertain, in award winning, Calendar Girls. He is currently working on a ITV drama The Last Van Helsing.

His older brother, Robert Glenister, is also a well-known actor, with roles such as Ash Morgan in Hustle and he too has also appeared in an episode of Heartbeat. Their father, John, is a retired film director.

Philip was born in Harrow in 1963 and is married to the actress, Beth Goddard, (amongst whose many roles include Suze Littlewood in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme) with whom he has two daughters, Milly and Charlotte.

See also www.philip-glenister.com and www.philip-glenister.com/blog.html

Keeley Hawes DCI Alex Drake

Like the rest of the cast of Ashes to Ashes, Keeley has a long, distinguished television career. Amongst her many credits are appearances in Heartbeat in 1996, ITV's The Blonde Bombshell in 1999, where she shared the role of Diana Dors with Amanda Redman, BBC1's period drama, Tipping the Velvet in 2002, where she played Kitty Butler, a male impersonator music hall star. She also starred in BBC1's Spooks as Zoe Reynolds from 2002-2004. Keeley has also appeared in comedy, where she played Rosie Kennedy, the sister of Harry Kennedy (Richard Armitage), who marries the Rev Geraldine Granger in the very last episode.

Keeley provides voiceovers for the Lara Croft Tomb Raider games and has also become the face of Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect range.

Keeley was born in London in 1977 and attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She is married to actor Matthew Macfadyen, with whom she has a daughter and son. She also has a son from her first marriage.

Unofficial fan site - keeley-hawes.com/

Marshall Lancaster DC Chris Skelton

Marshall was born in Macclesfield in 1974.

Marshall has recently appeared in six episodes of ITV's Coronation Street, as Slug. He seems to have a liking for medical dramas having also appeared in The Royal, Peak Practice, Doctors, Holby City and Casulaty. Marshall's other television appearances also include The Bill, The Street and Family Affairs.

Dean Andrews DS Ray Carling

Dean's first career was as a singer for twenty years. He often worked alongside Jane McDonald. His acting talent was discovered when Ken Loach came to Sheffield to film The Navigators.

Since then, he has gone on to appear in Eastenders, No Angels, Casualty, Wire in the Blood, and New Street Law. Besides reprising his role as DS Ray Carling, Dean has recently appeared in Jimmy McGovern's drama series The Street and BBC drama, Truth, Dare, Kiss.

Dean was born in Rotherham in 1963 and as a youngster, he went to school with James May of BBC Top Gear fame.

See also www.deanandrews.co.uk and www.deanandrews.co.uk/blog.html

Sean Harris Arthur Layton

Joining the cast as Arthur Layton, the man responsible for sending Alex Drake back to 1981, is established actor, Sean Harris. Sean has many television appearances to his credit. He starred alongside Life on Mars' John Simm in the 24 Hour Party People, as Joy Division's Ian Curtis, for which he was nominated for a Chlotrudis Award as best supporting actor. His other credits include appearances in The Bill, Judge John Deed and the role of Ian Brady in ITV's See No Evil: The Moors Murders in 2006.

Ashes to Ashes - top quotes

Gene Hunt quotes

"Let's fire up the Quattro"

Gene Hunt - episode 1

"Scum is scum wherever you go"

Gene Hunt - episode 1

"Phone cards - flash git!"

Gene Hunt - episode 1

"I'm bigger in every department"

Gene Hunt - episode 1

More Ashes to Ashes quotes

"New Romantics - bunch of suburban poofs with doyleys on their heads"

Ray Carling - episode 2

"That's crap and some of it was in klingon"

Ray Carling - episode 1

"I'm happy, hope you're happy too"

from Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie

"Woman DIs should be like a cross between Betty Turpin and HMS Ark Royal"

Ray Carling - episode 1

More on Ashes to Ashes

See the Wikipedia article on Ashes to Ashes - Wikipedia - Ashes to Ashes. There is also a separate Wikipedia page for Gene Hunt - see Wikipedia - Gene Hunt and for Sam Tyler, from Life on Mars, see Sam Tyler on Wikipedia.

See also:

• BBC Drama - Ashes to Ashes
• Ashes to Ashes Music