The BBC have confirmed the “next chapter” in the Life on Mars saga – Ashes To Ashes – a spin-off set in 1980’s London.
The new series, due to air next year, catches up with DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) and his faithful sidekicks Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) and Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) – now a technological whizz-kid in the squad’s surveillance team.
However, Gene does not expect to be thrown together with sexy, intelligent, DCI Alex Drake. Single mother to daughter Molly, Alex has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and, in the modern world of 2008, skilfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects.
When Alex and her daughter are kidnapped she makes a daring attempt at escape, resulting in a horrific accident.
Alex finds herself in 1981 interacting with familiar characters, not just from her own life-time, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler, which Alex has previously spent months pouring over.
Alex is ripped from a world of sexual equality and respect in 2008 and finds herself opposite an arrogant fellow DCI in a Two Tone, New Romantic Eighties London with a soundtrack of Adam Ant, Roxy Music and The Human League ringing in her ears.
Frustrated by each other’s stubbornness, the friction between Alex and Gene heats up. However, as the two titans collide, it becomes apparent there is more than just a professional tension emerging.
Julie Gardner, BBC Wales Head of Drama, says: "e;Sam Tyler took us on an amazing journey with Life On Mars but his story always had a definite life span.
"e;However, fans will be excited to learn that Gene Hunt lives on through Ashes To Ashes and we’re certain they will love his Eighties escapades."e;
Jane Featherstone, Executive Producer for Kudos describes the series as "e;a touch of Moonlighting teamed with a measure of Miami Vice."e;
