TV Gold

Seeing that some people here really enjoyed "Life On Mars" I thought I'd mention that its sequel "Ashes To Ashes" is due to launch in the UK on 7th February.

More details and a preview clip can be found here...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SA0WSK3MEWMAZQFIQMFCFFOAVCBQYIV0?xml=/arts/2008/01/26/sm_ashestoashes126.xml&page=1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/ashestoashes/

I'll certainly have a look at this as early 80s music is my era.

Gonna be watching Chris???

Oh Yes!

I have been waiting for this for so long! I loved Life on Mars but now its gonna be in the 80's!! Lets hope we hear some Human League tracks during the series!!

Admittedly there were some truely cringeworth moments ('lets fire up the quattro' and the Rainbow puppets as part of the plot) but generally on the whole (indeed with things like the Roxy Music ending and the Bowie clown) it seemed like a fairly good opener and I'm looking forward to next week.

On the strength of this first show would I welcome acquiring this series as a DVD box set? Well yeah I wouldn't mind!

I disagree with your comments that those moments were cringeworthy. 'Fire up the Quattro' is just another classic DI Hunt line and made me laugh. I also thought it was great to see the Rainbow puppets being used! - not that much different to the surreal use of the test card girl in Life on Mars.

I know this time round feelings around the web seem to be mixed. However, I think too many people are forgetting the level of humour that was in the previous series - I think many people need to re-watch it to realise Ashes is no more or less cringeworthy or funny than Mars.

I loved every minute of it and think that too many people are trying to compare it with its predecessor which, because nothing of its kind had been seen before, was refreshing and ground breaking for its time. Ashes had no choice but to cover old ground for its opening episode - I'm sure as the series continues it will find its own unique feet.

Yeah ok Chris you win on that! I guess it might be that I'm not into the whole concept that was originated with 'Life On Mars' and was a bit taken aback a bit but it's only a minor momentary blemish on a mighty fine series. I am certainly in complete agreement with you that it is definitely essential viewing, finally IMO something 'non Doctor Who' that's worth watching on BBC1!

Apparently a lot of media coverage can be seen here... http://pics.livejournal.com/ashes_in_print/, which should help to save a few pennies!!

oh, yeah and 'The Guardian' chipped in with this... http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/08/television.tvandradioarts

Oh dear this series seems totally beyond criticism making it difficult to say anything about such a contemporary British drama series however I'll offer this up for the second episode...

I was pleasantly surprised to hear Tenpole Tudor with 'Sword Of A Thousand Men', and Dexys Midnight Runners 'Geno' featured alongside other more predictable 80s offerings and it seemed like a good sequence in Blitz which I feel really captured what probably was the essential essence of the New Romantic scene at that time. Boy George was undoubtedly forgetable, it was only Alex offering her thanks that helped me to notice him. Of course it had to be 'Fade To Grey', a strong anthem of the time, good to see Steve Strange up on stage even though (understandably from what he's been through in his life) the make up rather makes him look fairly tired.

As to the story its yet another script that positively sparkles with dynamic, engaging character development and interaction, especially when we have the amazing development of Alex meeting her mother! Had to a bit of a doubletake about that especially the humourous way in which they first meet.

Regarding Danny when I first saw him I thought 'oh my god, its Tony Blackburn' and as for that silver Delorian its a good 'Back To The Future' movie tie-in.

I know it's only the second episode but, for me at least, 'Ashes To Ashes' continues to convey an engaging enjoyable British drama series which beyond the undoubted pleasures of using 80s music songs endemic to the surroundings it is certainly of the 'highest quality' and is definitely essential viewing.


Any more to say about this... Chris or anyone else???

With the series now 'in full swing' I wonder if places like this have seen a noticable increase in business...

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z152/saraht1102/Reflexthe80sbar-Southampton.jpg

Its located in one of the back streets at the top end of the main pedestrian area of Southampton City Centre. Anyone got similiar places anywhere near you???

Nice to see Human League making their mark on episode 4 this week!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/ashestoashes/episodes/s1_ep4_episode.shtml

I'll raise you your 'Love Action' and trump you with episode five's 'Don't You Want Me?' http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/ashestoashes/episodes/s1_ep5_episode.shtml

Coming soon is this... http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a90882/ashes-to-ashes-soundtrack-announced.html

Maybe it was a case that 'Don't You Want Me' was obviously too expensive(?)

God Knows. Its far from a complete soundtrack!

Roxy Music's Same Old Scene is missing too.

Loved the 'matter of fact' way that Alex delivered the line that she was 'working a cocktail bar' in last nights episode.

Lots on offer to make me laugh in this installment.

oh and yeah I agree Chris it certainly seems far from a complete song lineup, I also miss the inclusion of Roxy Music 'Same Old Scene', it was perfectly used as a closing number from one of the earlier episodes.

Play now have the DVD http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/5125856/Ashes-To-Ashes/Product.html and the CD http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/5214237/Various-Ashes-To-Ashes-Original-Soundtrack/Product.html listed

Just found this on YouTube...

'Ashes To Ashes - On Set' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmgtO6lppoE

...and this as well...

'Firing Up The Quattro' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49uvSEhW_M4

plus a nice episode one highlights one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVX2QiCGzbs&feature=related

So, with some months reflection; how do people rate Ashes to Ashes? I quite enjoyed it but was still a disappointment in that it wasn't anything like as good as Life on Mars.

It was curious as the series creators had mentioned that they wanted to quit Life on Mars on a high after two series..yet they go and make a markedly inferior "sequel"... Philip Glenister claimed in interviews that Ashes wasn't a sequel but an entirely different series - but no-one was buying that line!