Series 1: Episode 1 (Ashes to Ashes)
Encyclopedia
Episode 1 is the first episode of series 1 of the British
science fiction
/police procedural
drama
television
series, which is the sequel to Life on Mars
. It began broadcasting on BBC One
on 7 February 2008.
tells the fictional story of Detective Inspector Alex Drake
(Keeley Hawes
), a police officer
in service with London
's Metropolitan Police
. After being shot in 2008, Drake awakens in 1981.
It is revealed by a police sergeant that the hostage taker is Arthur Layton and that he had recently left prison. Drake tries to tell the sergeant that she was trying to drive her daughter. But the sergeant informs her that Layton had asked for her.
Drake approaches Layton while the armed response team arrives. She helps the hostage escapes but is taken herself. Molly runs out worried for her mother. Layton takes Molly hostage and escapes. Drake gives chase and hears a bullet. Layton had disappeared and Molly was okay.
Later on Drake by herself sits in her car and repeats the lyrics “I’m happy hope you’re happy too” that Layton had spoken earlier. Then she discovers Layton in her back seat. He orders her to relax and drive.
He leads her through the docks. He rings up an unknown person and tells them that he has Tim and Caroline Price’s daughter; as Drake asks Layton, “How do you know my parent’s names.” But the call brings up nothing. Drake tries to question him when they were in a disused ferry on the Thames
where she is shot.
Drake sees images of the bullet and Layton, herself younger, her mum, a balloon, a clown, Layton, and the bullet. She begins to hear music (Vienna
by Ultravox
) and awakes on a brothel boat. She briskly runs off the boat as policemen rush past her. She tries to get help believing herself to just been shot, but they believe she is a prostitute and ignore her. She makes her way to a road where the Quattro appears speeding with music playing (Careless Memories
by Duran Duran
).
She is taken hostage by Edward Markham when she is surprised that DCI Gene Hunt, DS Ray Carling, DC Chris Skelton appear. Looking exactly like Sam described except for the updated clothes (1980s). She convinces Markham to surrender and is taken to the Metropolitan police station where she discovers that she has a life set up just like Sam Tyler. She believes she is hallucinating and that everyone is just imaginary constructs. The CID and Alex Drake discover that Drake is their new DI. Drake finds out the year is 1981; much to the CID’s surprise as they had thought that Drake was a prostitute.
Drake, believing that Layton is the key, follows evidence to convict Layton in 1981 as the CID is trying to uncover a crime gang. Layton is taken down by Hunt, much to Drake’s anger, as she believes that she had to tackle Layton herself to return to the future.
During the opening scenes of the first episode it is revealed that Alex Drake is a police psychologist who has been studying Sam Tyler's suicide and the records of his life in his 1973 world.
Upon Drake being shot during a hostage situation in 2008 she awakens in 1981, where she is amazed to meet Gene Hunt who was mentioned in Sam Tyler's case notes. As Drake has read the report of Sam Tyler's reality, she knows that telephones and radios carry messages from the present day to her and how she can see hallucinations of those that she loves.
During the course of the first series, it is revealed that Sam Tyler returned to Manchester in 1973 after committing suicide in 2006. Tyler spent a further seven years in this alternate timeline, before crashing his car while pursuing robbery suspects, with his body never being recovered.
with:
The Clown Angel of Death's pierrot costume is modeled on David Bowie's costume in the music video and record jacket of "Ashes To Ashes".
Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and others sing "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce
, a 1981 novelty hit which parodies Italian English.
The scene where Alex Drake first meets Gene Hunt has a shot framing Hunt between Alex's legs. This is a reference to the promotional poster for the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. The poster is seen later on the wall of Hunt's office.
The boat on which Alex awakens in the middle of a party is named Lady Di, according to the large name plaque she passes topside, and PS Viv James informs Gene by radio that Arthur Layton has a boat named Prince Charlie. The episode takes place in July 1981, days prior to the 29 July 1981 wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles which serves as a backdrop for the following episode.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/police procedural
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series, which is the sequel to Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
. It began broadcasting on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
on 7 February 2008.
Synopsis
Ashes to AshesAshes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
tells the fictional story of Detective Inspector Alex Drake
Alex Drake
DI Alexandra "Alex" Drake is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Keeley Hawes and as a child by Lucy Cole.-Character history:...
(Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
), a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in service with London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
. After being shot in 2008, Drake awakens in 1981.
Plot
DI Alex Drake is driving her car, while her daughter; Molly is reading Sam Tyler’s experiences in 1973 in a Police document. It is revealed that he committed suicide. Alex gets a call that a man has taken someone hostage. She tells Molly to stay in the car.It is revealed by a police sergeant that the hostage taker is Arthur Layton and that he had recently left prison. Drake tries to tell the sergeant that she was trying to drive her daughter. But the sergeant informs her that Layton had asked for her.
Drake approaches Layton while the armed response team arrives. She helps the hostage escapes but is taken herself. Molly runs out worried for her mother. Layton takes Molly hostage and escapes. Drake gives chase and hears a bullet. Layton had disappeared and Molly was okay.
Later on Drake by herself sits in her car and repeats the lyrics “I’m happy hope you’re happy too” that Layton had spoken earlier. Then she discovers Layton in her back seat. He orders her to relax and drive.
He leads her through the docks. He rings up an unknown person and tells them that he has Tim and Caroline Price’s daughter; as Drake asks Layton, “How do you know my parent’s names.” But the call brings up nothing. Drake tries to question him when they were in a disused ferry on the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
where she is shot.
Drake sees images of the bullet and Layton, herself younger, her mum, a balloon, a clown, Layton, and the bullet. She begins to hear music (Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
by Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
) and awakes on a brothel boat. She briskly runs off the boat as policemen rush past her. She tries to get help believing herself to just been shot, but they believe she is a prostitute and ignore her. She makes her way to a road where the Quattro appears speeding with music playing (Careless Memories
Careless Memories
"Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981.The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at #37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the...
by Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
).
She is taken hostage by Edward Markham when she is surprised that DCI Gene Hunt, DS Ray Carling, DC Chris Skelton appear. Looking exactly like Sam described except for the updated clothes (1980s). She convinces Markham to surrender and is taken to the Metropolitan police station where she discovers that she has a life set up just like Sam Tyler. She believes she is hallucinating and that everyone is just imaginary constructs. The CID and Alex Drake discover that Drake is their new DI. Drake finds out the year is 1981; much to the CID’s surprise as they had thought that Drake was a prostitute.
Drake, believing that Layton is the key, follows evidence to convict Layton in 1981 as the CID is trying to uncover a crime gang. Layton is taken down by Hunt, much to Drake’s anger, as she believes that she had to tackle Layton herself to return to the future.
Continuity with Life on Mars
As with its predecessor, the show's name originates from a David Bowie song from the era in which the programme is set. In this case the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes."During the opening scenes of the first episode it is revealed that Alex Drake is a police psychologist who has been studying Sam Tyler's suicide and the records of his life in his 1973 world.
Upon Drake being shot during a hostage situation in 2008 she awakens in 1981, where she is amazed to meet Gene Hunt who was mentioned in Sam Tyler's case notes. As Drake has read the report of Sam Tyler's reality, she knows that telephones and radios carry messages from the present day to her and how she can see hallucinations of those that she loves.
During the course of the first series, it is revealed that Sam Tyler returned to Manchester in 1973 after committing suicide in 2006. Tyler spent a further seven years in this alternate timeline, before crashing his car while pursuing robbery suspects, with his body never being recovered.
Cast
- DCI Gene HuntGene HuntDCI Gene Hunt is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Philip Glenister in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, whereas in the American version he is portrayed by Harvey Keitel.The...
- Phillip Glenister - DI Alex DrakeAlex DrakeDI Alexandra "Alex" Drake is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Keeley Hawes and as a child by Lucy Cole.-Character history:...
- Keeley HawesKeeley HawesKeeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs... - DS Ray CarlingRay CarlingDC/DS/DI Raymond Milton "Ray" Carling is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.-Life on Mars:...
- Dean AndrewsDean AndrewsDean Andrews is a British actor.He is most famous for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC Television drama Life on Mars... - DC Chris SkeltonChris SkeltonPC/DC Christopher "Chris" Skelton is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.- Life on Mars :...
- Marshall LancasterMarshall LancasterMarshall Lancaster is a British actor. He has appeared in many television dramas, including Coronation Street, Holby City, The Lakes and Family Affairs, but is probably best known for playing DC Chris Skelton in the BBC time-travel police dramas, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.Lancaster is a... - WPC Sharon GrangerSharon GrangerWPC/DC Sharon "Shaz" Granger is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Montserrat Lombard...
- Montserrat LombardMontserrat LombardMontserrat Lombard is a British actress best known for playing WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger in the BBC Drama series Ashes to Ashes.Lombard was born in London. She is half Spanish and half Italian... - Luigi - Joseph LongJoseph Long (actor)Joseph Long is an actor. He has appeared in numerous BBC television productions including Doctor Who, Ashes to Ashes, The Bill and East Enders, He has also appeared in film, for instance in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers as film director Carlo Ponti. He portrayed Bernardino Drovetti in the...
- Desk Sergeant Viv James - Geff FrancisGeff FrancisGeoffrey "Geff" Francis, most known as Geff Francis is a Black British actor who portrayed Lynford, a hoodlum in For Queen and Country...
- Caroline Price - Amelia BullmoreAmelia BullmoreAmelia Bullmore is an English actress and writer. She was born in London and studied drama at the University of Manchester. Bullmore started working as an actor but turned to writing in 1995...
- Molly Drake - Grace Vance
- Evan White - Stephen Campbell MooreStephen Campbell MooreStephen Campbell Moore is an English actor, best known for his roles in the Alan Bennett play The History Boys and its subsequent film.-Career:...
- The Clown - Andrew Clover
- Arthur Layton - Sean HarrisSean HarrisSean Harris is a British actor, who is best known for his performance as Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in the film 24 Hour Party People. He grew up in Norwich, Norfolk, where he lived until he was 23....
- Young Alex - Lucy Cole
with:
- Edward Markham - Adam JamesAdam James (actor)Adam James is a British actor. His credits include Band of Brothers, The Mother of Tears, Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire, Bonekickers, Henry VIII: The Mind of a Tyrant and the Doctor Who episode Planet of the Dead, as well as an episode of ITV2 drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl...
- Jimmy - Darren Machin
- Police Sergeant - Max Dowler
- Zippy operated by Ronnie Le DrewRonnie Le DrewRonnie Le Drew is a puppeteer who was born in Toronto, Canada and trained at the Little Angel Theatre, London under John Wright. His association With the Little Angel spans over thirty years as performer, and later as director...
- George operated by Mark Mander
- Voices of Zippy and George - Roy SkeltonRoy SkeltonRoy William Skelton was an English actor and voice artist, whose voice was more familiar to television viewers than his name...
Cultural References
There is an entire scene with the children's characters Zippy and George (from Rainbow) talking to Molly Drake.The Clown Angel of Death's pierrot costume is modeled on David Bowie's costume in the music video and record jacket of "Ashes To Ashes".
Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and others sing "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce
Joseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
, a 1981 novelty hit which parodies Italian English.
The scene where Alex Drake first meets Gene Hunt has a shot framing Hunt between Alex's legs. This is a reference to the promotional poster for the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. The poster is seen later on the wall of Hunt's office.
The boat on which Alex awakens in the middle of a party is named Lady Di, according to the large name plaque she passes topside, and PS Viv James informs Gene by radio that Arthur Layton has a boat named Prince Charlie. The episode takes place in July 1981, days prior to the 29 July 1981 wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles which serves as a backdrop for the following episode.
Music
Music featured in the episode includes :- "Ashes to AshesAshes to Ashes (David Bowie song)"Ashes to Ashes" is a single by David Bowie, released in 1980. It made #1 in the UK and was the first cut from the Scary Monsters album, also a #1 hit. As well as its musical qualities, it is noted for its innovative video, directed by Bowie and David Mallet...
" - David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s... - "Are 'Friends' Electric?Are 'Friends' Electric?"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a 1979 song written by Gary Numan, released under the name of his then-band Tubeway Army as a single and on the album Replicas...
" - Tubeway ArmyTubeway ArmyTubeway Army were a London-based punk rock and new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the post-punk era to have a synthesizer-based hit, with their single Are 'Friends' Electric? and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK Album Chart in mid-1979.-Line-up:The... - "Vienna" - UltravoxUltravoxUltravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
- "Same Old SceneSame Old Scene"Same Old Scene" is a Roxy Music single. The song was released in 1980 and peaked at #12 on the UK charts and #35 in Australia. The song was taken from the album Flesh and Blood. It contains a drum machine rhythm backing and intricate bass guitar work that would become ubiquitous in many Roxy...
" - Roxy MusicRoxy MusicRoxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson... - "No More Heroes" - The StranglersThe StranglersThe Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
- "I Fought The LawI Fought the Law"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets and became popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a top-ten hit for the band in 1966 and was also recorded by The Clash in 1979...
" - The ClashThe ClashThe Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly... - "I'm in Love with a German Film StarI'm in love with a German film star"I'm in Love with a German Film Star" is a song by the British pop band The Passions. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart. It was the band's only single to reach the charts. Sam Taylor-Wood recorded a cover version which was released a single...
" - The PassionsThe PassionsThe Passions were a British band which formed in 1978, and disbanded in 1983. They were one-hit wonders with their misty song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star". which was released in early 1981.-Career:... - "Careless MemoriesCareless Memories"Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981.The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at #37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the...
" - Duran DuranDuran DuranDuran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States... - "Shaddap You FaceShaddap You Face"Shaddap You Face" is an Australian novelty song written and performed by Joe Dolce in 1980. It has set a number of sales and longevity records. The song was full of broad Italian humour and included a recognizable chorus.-Sales and chart positions:It went to Number 1 on the Australian pop charts...
" - Joe DolceJoe DolceJoseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
(performed by Marshall LancasterMarshall LancasterMarshall Lancaster is a British actor. He has appeared in many television dramas, including Coronation Street, Holby City, The Lakes and Family Affairs, but is probably best known for playing DC Chris Skelton in the BBC time-travel police dramas, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.Lancaster is a...
, et al.)