Radio Times

Before I begin, let's get one thing straight - series three of Ashes to Ashes is not a done deal. Everything is in place apart from one tiny, crucial detail - it has yet to be recommissioned.

I'd miss Ashes to Ashes if it didn't return, but then, I won't rend any garments if it fails to reappear, because I'm unconvinced the series has much more life left in it.

I'm enjoying bits of series two and have warmed to Detective Inspector Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) now that her shrieking, screamingly annoying series one personality has been toned down. I like, too, her mutually respectful professional relationship with Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) now that the supposed sexual tension between the two has quite rightly been pared down to the point of invisibility.

(Much is made of the supposed "Galex" aspect of Ashes to Ashes, a term so twee and affected it's nauseating, but I can only quote the delightful Philip Glenister who actually told me - honest, hand on heart, he was standing in front of me at the time, talking directly to me - that "Gene doesn't do romance".)

And I like and am very intrigued by the flashes Alex gets into her parlous 21st-century state as she appears to hover between life and death…all of that stuff with the roses and those seemingly throwaway mentions of Princess Diana, and "death of a princess".

So yes, I'm looking forward to the finale, though while we are on the subject of the much-discussed final episode, I hear from someone who knows that it won't answer all of our questions. I don't know about you, but I have a lot.

Anyway, my big problem with Ashes to Ashes is that it doesn't work as a crime drama. I get the feeling that all of the writers' imaginations have been channelled into Alex's story as it unfolds over the eight episodes. But as this takes up only odd bits here and there, the actual crime-of-the-week is a wan thing that would disgrace a standard episode of The Bill.

In effect, it's just a means of marking time and filling space until Alex has her moment, whatever that might be. Monday's episode is fairly typical - Alex has a good story as the shadowy stranger who's been dogging her footsteps turns up. But the crime-of-the-week is just padding. As it is the following week.

Gene certainly has been ill-served, his one-liners feel tired, in fact he's almost been sidelined as Alex's story dominates. And that's just wrong.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

Ashes to Ashes is my favourite TV programme in the world! I think the characters are great and the storys are fantastic. However, i'm also dissapointed about the lack of Galex moments in series 2. I hope the writers havent been listening to the critics! Listen to the fans!

Sorry Alison I don't agree I have watched both series & have loved every minute of them.The characters have devolped over time including the "minor" if that is the word ones. I watch very little TV but make sure I see this programme. As has been stated Gene is older & more experienced & Alex is now part of the team as a team player. Good dramas well written and acted don't come along very often but Life on Mars & Ashes to Ashes are two which has shown that the BBC can still cut it.One more series please.

I guess a spin off could be Gene Hunt gets shot and goes into the future...

Ashes to Ashes is a very good show, but not a patch on Life on Mars. Everything that we spent 16 hours working out in LoM is taken as read for Ashes to Ashes. Gene Hunt is a legend, but I am SO BORED of him now! I can't believe I am saying this, but I do not want to see a third series of this show. If it goes to 1983 we will be too close to the present day and it WILL NOT WORK.

Is it only me that realises that Ashes to Ashes is a near carbon copy of the theme of Life on Mars? This is like seeing a follow-up that has the same sequences as the original - but not done so well. Did no-one else see Life on Mars? That was clever drama.

So glad to see that others think Ms Graham has been watching another series (in another alternate universe/time-space continuum perhaps). The viewing figures are really very good for this enthralling series, even my old man manages to keep awake for most of the programme - trying to fill him in on what he has missed is very difficult though, makes me realise how deep and strange and totally weird the story line is, especially summers. Of course the sexual tension is all over every episode, particularly end of episode seven - methinks Ms graham is being provocative. Yes, of course series three, they'd be mad not to, and I would be devastated.

Honestly, Ms Graham, I am truly perplexed by your comments. Are we watching the same programme? I was more of a Life on Mars fan than lover of Ashes series one, but this time around, Ashes has been much darker, the narrative and characterisation far more assured and nuanced, and the story arc much more intriguing. The crime dramas are not always of equal quality, but they are always more than good enough to keep the narrative pace up.

Whilst Gene isn't the young, guns blazin' manc lion 'sheriff' he was in LoM, this is perhaps because he's supposed to be ten years older, a bit more cynical and tired, and no longer quite so sure of his place in a changing world. It's called character development. However entertaining 70s Hunt was, it would be absurd and boring to have him remain the same this time around.

In my opinion, this series is as much about the relationship as it ever was in Life On Mars, and because we have a male-female lead, this obvious includes a mostly implicit, sometimes explicit sexual tension. To say it isn't there is simply ridiculous. Its not bodice ripping Mills and Boon, or Moonlight cliche, thank God, but neither is it 'invisible'.

The fact you have any questions whatsoever about a drama produced by the BBC that does not have its protagonists originally featuring in the pages of a 19th century novel or have characters which are little more than mouthpieces for the current gritty, hackneyed 'isshue', or designed to appeal to hormonal teenagers, is enough to make Ashes stand out from 99% of the BBC's drama output. I will be disappointed not to have this original, entertaining and engaging series properly finished, but not surprised given the dross which mostly makes it onto our television.

I think Ashes to Ashes is great, one of the few things on tv that is worth watching any more. The characters are all brilliant as are the weekly cases. As a previous poster stated the crimes are just padding it is not meant to be anything but that. The characters are great and have developed well throughout the series. Much has been made of the chemistry between Gene and Alex, It may be just me, but has anyone considered that they may be husband and wife in Alex's 'real world', hence the chemistry between the characters. As usual the fashions and great soundtrack have me both cringing and remanising in equal measure. All in all, a great series that will be missed.

I can't believe that someone could mention Heartbeat in the same sentence as Ashes to Ashes. Heartbeat is a comfy cosy Sunday teatime drama with "enough sedation to kill a pensioner" (quote: Harry Hill). Ashes to Ashes is an innovative brilliantly written series, which interweaves the character's journeys across the series with a well constructed crime story each episode. I vehemently disagree with this article and say it wholeheartedly does work as a crime drama. I also wonder if Alison was watching a different programme to me regarding the relationship between Gene and Alex. The sexual tension on screen is palpable! Its a testament to the writers and the actors. This programme has many many devoted fans - these are people who recognise quality drama when they see it.

I happen to think this is the most involving show on television right now. The mysteries are nexted nicely and while the "crime of the week" often provides only the framework for the characters to evolve and give hints at the greater mystery, I actually prefer it that way.

This is more a character drama than a straight procedural. They're not taking stories "ripped from the headlines." This is straight police work, with a huge twist.

I do like the fact that Alex has settled in and I think KH has really brought it this year (improved writing helps.) I have to love a show that ropes me in and makes me think. I haven't solved it yet but I'm far more invested in A2A than LOM.

There's quite a lot that I could take issue with in Alison's post, but most of the points that I would have made have been comprehensively covered by Susanna, Gem and Genny.

Anyway, I don't think that Alex has been deliberately toned down. She has adapted more to the '80s now and the events of the last episode of series 1 did much to change her perception of her situation. This has led quite naturally on to a more nuanced relationship with Gene. However, she is still prepared to fight her corner when she has to.

I don't think Gene has been sidelined. The focus of Ashes has always been the 'time traveller'. Throughout Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, Gene has always been presented as slightly mysterious-we are never given asn insight into his home life, for example. He has mellowed (slightly)between 1973 and 1981/2, but this is natural progression. How many people would complain about the lack of character development, if he was exactly the same in Ashes to Ashes as he had been in Life on Mars? And he still has some cracking lines.

I don't think that the Galex or sexual tension has been 'pared down to the point of invisibility'. I think it is still very much there. I don't think it is just sexual tension this series, though. It seems to go much deeper than that for both Gene and Alex. I'd do a list of examples, but there isn't room!

I can quite believe Phil Glenister when he says that 'Gene doesn't do romance'. He doesn't, in the sense that hearts, flowers, chocolates etc would be incompatible with his image as the tough talking Guv. However, Gene does seem to 'do' love. He'd deny it, of course!

I'm not impressed by this review which suggests that a great series, Ashes To Ashes, shouldn't have a third series. The viewing figures are good. Let the public enjoy what they want to see. I have always bought the Radio Times but probably won't in future whilst pointless negativity about a popular BBC series is printed.

Unfortunately the crime of the week was a particularly good one this week which rather weakens Alison's argument.

I love it, it's great. I love the lines of Gene Genie and the fact he really likes Alex despite his "Bolly" remarks. If I had one criticism, and although it's the main part of the drama, I do find the whole voices from the past, and the TV/people suddenly saying things just a bit too weird. As a backdated cop drama, much like heartbeat was when it first came out, I think it's brilliant. It's a shame that bit is the background scene setting and not the foreground.

Great programme very funny and if you work in that arena even funnier. I too love Fawlty Towers however, its been on more times than I care to remember at least Ashes to Ashes is new. Some people just want to be entertained their not too interested in any in depth analysis

Re Viqui, yes there is a different writer each week, this weeks was penned by Julie Rutterford.

As for Alison's comments I can only say she's in a very small minority of watchers. Gene is still as smart and witty as he was in Life on Mars....he has changed but wouldn't you be different in '81/82 than you were in 1973?.

As for Simon's comments if you don't like it don't watch…there is such a thing as the off button you know ;-)

I have to agree with Simon - have they changed writers? The dynamic between Alex and Gene Hunt is not the same. He doesn't seem to have the same edge and brusqueness he did before. They have definitely toned down the characters. It does seem there isn't anywhere else to go with this series.

It's stuff like this that makes me stop buying the Radio Times. "Doesn't work as a crime drama"??? That's nonsense. Boundaries are never fixed and it takes a creative mind to do something interesting with them.

And Alex is not shriekingly annoying - and her character doesn't seem to have been toned down at all. What's not to like - she's a character designed to be everything Gene isn't. Opposites attract and all that. If you want to level criticism at the show, find something that demonstrates a critical mind, rather than a subjective projection. There's a difference.

i love this programme and would despair at thought of it not returning for a third series the characters are well developed and as far as im concerned the gene genie is still the man, the legend.

Agree with Simon for the most part I'm afraid. I thought two seasons of Life on Mars was one too much really and it is certainly the case with Ashes to Ashes. But the TV era we live in means good things are done to death now. Should take a leaf from John Cleese and Fawlty Towers.

The nostalgic aspect of Ashes To Ashes is much more in tune with contemporary culture than was the case with the (superior) Life On Mars. The dynamics between the characters are still highly entertaining and Keely Hawes certainly works for me! I do wonder where Evan has gone to and I still have a strange thought that Sam Tyler might yet make a comeback..!

The nostalgic aspect of Ashes To Ashes is much more in tune with contemporary culture than was the case with the (superior) Life On Mars. The dynamics between the characters are still highly entertaining and Keely Hawes certainly works for me! I do wonder where Evan has gone to and I still have a strange thought that Sam Tyler might yet make a comeback..!

Actually, the show is all about Alex-just as Life on Mars was all about Sam Tyler. The whole cop thing is what we call 'setting' and of course the crime of the week is just padding.

It's a very tired re-hash of Life on Mars. What they've done to the Gene Genie is a disgrace, the whole thing is tired and embarressing and should be put out of it's misery as soon as possible.

I had never seen this before or Life on mars. Some one has the complete series on CD, so i watched the 1st episode of Ashes to Ashes. I now watch this every week and when i get the chance i will sit down and watch Life on Mars and The first series of Ashes to Ashes. I feel like i have gone back in time myself, the 80's were my youth before i had children! sigh! Keep it up great programme