Ashes to Ashes: UPDATE!

Spoke to Kudos Productions this afternoon. I can officially confirm that Gene Hunt, Alex Drake & all of the Ashes to Ashes crew will be back in a BRAND NEW SERIES to be aired some time in late 2010 / early 2011 on BBC Wales, BBC 1 and BBC HD. The series will be in two parts, each comprising 8 episodes.

The new show will focus around Gene Hunt, who in 1982 falls under suspicion of shooting Alex Drake, who is now critically ill & near to death. Alex is the only one who can clear Alex's name, as corrupt coppers are keen to see Hunt go down and have well & truly framed him - 'Stitched me up like a kipper' as we will hear Hunt say!

Hunt goes on the run - but somehow manages to visit Alex, who's wired up in hospital and in a deep, unsurvivable coma. He tries to get thru to her - but he can't - she's too far gone!
 

Meanwhile, in 2010, Alex is spending time with her daughter and getting used to her 'real; life, but things aren't right. She sees Gene where ever she goes, and she knows he's in big trouble. somehow, she has to get back to 1982 to save him. After all, if she could have done... she would have done!

Alex becomes unsure of what reality is - is she really from 1982, or 2010, and who, or what is Gene Hunt? And how can she get back to 1982 without risking everything she has in 2010?

Well, I don't know... and we'll have to wait for the new series to find out. The show may be called 'Hunt!' or 'Hunt on the run!', but this has far from been decided.

Watch this space - you'll hear it first here!

Ashes to Ashes... Letter to Kudos Production Team

To Kudos & BBC Cymru (named contacts):

I never initially liked 'Ashes to Ashes' - I think I'd been spoiled by the totally excellent 'Life on Mars' and the amazing John Simm. It took me a while to get used to Alex Drake - and I hated her tongue-in-cheek approach to 'life' in the 80's which we saw thru much of Series 1.

However, just like with LOM, I got totally adicted by the show - as indeed has everyone I know. I've never heard so much discussion & comment on a drama production before, much of it almost at a 'spiritual' level. Fantastic show, fantastic production, great characterization and a totally innovative idea.

Thanks for LOM & A2A... genuinely great TV which gave so many of us so much pleasure!

The ending of LOM I never fully understood, but A2A was different. We now have a paradox: Alex Drake permanently existing in either 'life' or 'coma' modes, with two real 'realities' existing independently.

It's totally clear to me that there's so much scope for another show. Hunt's such a popular character - and the only TV character who can get away with anything, due to the unique nature of his role. He's now a fugitive in 1982 - his only hope of being cleared is Alex Drake, who lies in a coma, and yet if she recovers, she leaves 2009, perhaps for good.

A great show 'Hunt on the run' or similar... great 80's action, lots of very funny non-PC stuff (love it!) - and our favorite characters back in action.

So, to cut to the chase, do you / BBC Cymru have any plans for a new show? If not, are discussions planned, and when would any commissioning decisions be made? Let's have more. There's scope. There's more mileage. There's so much more to discover & see!

Please advise & put me out of my misery - preferably with a 'YES' or at least, a 'MAYBE'!

Best wishes,

Chris T

Ashes to Ashes concludes! Bring on Gene Hunt!

Wow! What a show!!

Ashes to Ashes, Series 2 concluded tonight in the UK. As I 'predicted' and revealed earlier, there WAS a massive twist tin the plot, but my 'snout' had not given me the exact story-line, surprise surprise!

After 8 superb episodes in which Alex Drake really established herself as a credible character in this off-the-wall 1980's police drama, we finally reach a conclusion, of sorts. I'll not go into the detail in case you haven't yet watched it, but Alex has her wish - and returns to 2009 as a result of being shot in 1982.

As she recovers, she is delighted and clearly emotional to be reunited with her daughter and the team of surgeons who saved her. But something feels wrong, and she's edgy. Shockingly, the hospital monitor crackles & jumps into action, and on the screen is...
 

GENE HUNT!

Gene is still back in 1982, but is a real person. He is by Alex's bedside in the HDU. Alex is... in a coma. The Police think Gene shot her > and they're after him. He's on the run. Gene begs her to wake up. She can't > she's in a deep coma. Gene shakes her. He's visibly on every TV, every monitor, every PC in Alex's world. Alex leaves the 2009 hospital in a shocked panic. She doesn't know what's real... 2009, or 1982.

There's clearly MUCH scope for a new series, which will explore Hunt on the Run. We'll discover more about Gene, and who.. or what he really is!

I'll be speaking to Kudos tomorrow. I'll keep you posted >> but what a series finale!!