Marshall Lancaster plays the over-cautious DC Chris Skelton in the crime drama set in London circa 1981. He’s a bit of a geek at heart and loves the advancing technology of the Eighties, but he also likes to play the tough guy whenever he can, although always in the shadow of DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) and DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews).

Chris still likes to think of himself as one of the boys, but he has a love interest in the form of WPC “Shaz” Granger (Montserrat Lombard) and he knows that she won’t stand for the boys’ sexist, backward opinions. So, he often changes his tune when she’s around, much to Ray’s disgust. Marshall talks to Programme Information about practical jokes, skinny jeans and Chris falling in love…

How does Chris fit into the CID team?

Chris is a natural dogsbody, eager to please and loyal to Gene Hunt. It is only the arrival of DI Drake (Keeley Hawes) that upsets the “normal” running of CID. Chris is eager to learn, but avoids work when possible. He enjoys practical jokes and is easily led.

What’s his relationship with Shaz like?

I think Chris has an interesting relationship with Shaz as I think she genuinely loves Chris; he becomes her hero after rescuing her in episode one. Shaz is a “modern” Eighties woman, however, and won’t stand for any sexism or homophobic comments and makes Chris suffer accordingly. Read more & comment »

Ashes To Ashes actor has admitted that he loves to swear and finds being foul mouthed highly addictive.

Philip told The Radio Times:

“I love swearing. I find swearing highly addictive.”

Glenister then described a conversation that he and his six year old daughter had on a recent morning. He said: “I know you don’t want to get up, I don’t want to go to f***ing work’.

“She replied ‘I know, daddy. I don’t want to go to f***ing school’. She timed it beautifully, though.” Read more & comment »

Life On Mars spinoff, Ashes To Ashes is said to have been granted a third series to air some time next year.

Originally Phil Glenister hinted that the second series of the show would be the last, as cops like Gene Hunt couldn’t cope with the political correctness of the nineties. But a show source has revealed to The Sun:

“In the Eighties cops like Gene were on the way out. It will take a part three to show that.”

Ashes To Ashes actor, Phil Glenister has revealed that so covetted is he by BBC bosses, that they don’t actually allow him to drive his characters car, in case he crashes.

Philip, 45, admitted to The Sun: “We have become a commodity now, so they let us do very little driving.”

“When we first did Life On Mars I had the Cortina.

“I did quite a lot of driving in the first series and come the second series a bit less. Before they didn’t care if we injured ourselves. Now I am a bit precious.”

So when you are watching the show tonight, and Gene inevitably calls “Fire up the Quattro”, it will actually Read more & comment »

It’s Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding, and DCI Gene Hunt is determined that nothing is going to ruin her big day, as the drama starring Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes, and set in London circa 1981, continues.

When a family’s protest against the London Docklands re-development becomes increasingly volatile, and a dog falls victim to an explosion in the same area, Gene is hell bent on keeping a lid on the situation – at least, until Lady Diana walks down the aisle.

A threat of more trouble comes from the London Liberation Front, leading Gene and feisty colleague DI Alex Drake to believe that Thatcherite playboy Danny Moore’s life is in danger. Danny soon charms Alex, much to Gene’s distaste, and before he knows it, she’s whisked off for a drive in his very cool DeLorean car. Read more & comment »

Ashes To Ashes actor, Phil Glenister is said to be furious after learning that ITV have banned all mention of the hit BBC show on their entertainment shows.

In a fit of jealousy, ITV bosses are said to have banned GMTV’s Richard Arnold from making it his Pick Of The Day.

Well we think that’s just sour grapes guys!

Ashes To Ashes actor, Phil Glenister has revealed that he receives bags of fan mail from British cops who would like to dole out justice the Gene Hunt way.

Phil told The Sun: “The success of Life On Mars has led to Gene Hunt becoming a hero to many policemen.

“He’s a throwback to the days when there wasn’t so much paperwork and fewer restrictions.

“Gene may behave in a way they’d like to – given half a chance. He nails the bad guys but I’m not sure how long he’d survive in the modern era.”

So, before Life On Mars ended, DCI Sam Tyler sent a recording of his experiences to “this officer, she’s collecting stuff from colleagues who’ve suffered trauma”. Before pitching himself off a roof in order to prolong the coma that transported him to 1973.

It turns out this officer is DI Alex Drake, a psychological profiling expert in London’s Metropolitan Police. The first episode of Ashes To Ashes opens with her daughter reading Sam’s words from a transcript.

Unfortunately, Alex Drake’s time in 2008 is about to end. She is called to a crime scene, where a desperate criminal is holding a gun to a busker’s head. During the fracas, Drake attempts to calm the situation down, but the man points the gun at her instead. Drake’s daughter, who was in the car, witnesses this and jumps out to protect her mother. The gunman, Arthur Layton, grabs the girl and takes her down a flight of steps. A gunshot is heard and Drake runs down in pursuit - her daughter is fine, but the gunman has disappeared.

Read more & comment »

Ashes to Ashes actor, Philip Glenister, has revealed that he was blown away when he saw the final cut of the show on dvd recently.

“Ashes To Ashes is very much of it’s own making, it has a completely different feel to Life On Mars,” he said.

“We didn’t want to remake Life On Mars, there’d be no point, so the writers were adamant about making it its own show, and having seen the DVDs of the final show, they were totally right. I was blown over.”

Ashes to Ashes launches, Thursday 7 February, 9.00-10.00pm on BBC One.

Life On Mars spinoff show, Ashes To Ashes, is due to kick off next week on BBC One. But for those of you that just can’t wait that long, here is a preview clip to whet your appetite!