THE last scene to be filmed for the final series of Ashes To Ashes has just been shot and relief is written all over Keeley Hawes’ face.
It’s been a long, gruelling road for the cast and crew. Three years for Keeley playing Alex Drake and five in total for those also involved with Life On Mars, including Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt.
As is the way with filming, the last scene captured is not the final one viewers will see on screen. “It was a very strange ending to the whole thing,” explains Keeley.
"We finished shooting on February 10th, which is mine and Phil’s birthday, which is odd to begin with. And we were in a crematorium and it was a night shoot. So we all ended up outside this crem in a graveyard.
“There was a big cake for me and a big cake for Phil and some champagne - and we’re trying to be very quiet and respectful, whilst trying to celebrate a little bit. It was very odd, very surreal, a little bit dark and quite funny, which is all very appropriate for Ashes.
“It was a good way to end, a perfect ending, really. Ultimately you think, ‘God, it was such a big part of all our lives and so life changing for everybody in one way or another.’ But it’s also nice to think, ‘Right, we’ve done it, we’ve got to the ending.’”
A photo of Keeley taken moments later shows that relief. “Yes, you could say that,” she laughs. “Ashes has been extraordinary in lots of ways for me but I’m very relieved. I’m proud of it and I’m very pleased to have been there to tie up all the loose ends.
“It’s been a hell of a ride for me, and for all of us it’s just been mindblowing from beginning to end for lots of different reasons. We’ve come out of it with some great friends and some fabulous memories.”
The pipes are calling when Life On Mars meets
Ashes To Ashes (BBC1, Friday, 9pm), with Gene visited by his Manchester past as Det Chief Insp Derek Litton (Lee Ross) - an old rival from series one of Mars - arrives in Fenchurch East, along with Det Insp Geoff Bevan (Nicholas Gleaves).
They are looking for Manchester club comic Frank Hardwick (Roy Hudd), said to have run off with £2000 from the Police Widows’ Fund. But why are they really there? And what does Bevan know about the fate of time travel cop Sam Tyler (John Simm)?
There are just three episodes left after this one, with the “bigger picture” finally to be revealed about who these characters are and why modern day cop Alex appears to have gone back in time - just as Sam did.
The cast were let in on the secret mid-way through filming of last year’s series, with Manchester - the home of Life On Mars - still playing a crucial role.
Keeley recalls: “I found it much more upsetting reading it through all in one go, hearing it for the first time off the page and having everybody in there and knowing that was the last read-through. It was very emotional. Much more emotional than when we shot it, the very end scene with all of us.
“Because when you do that, it’s the winter, you’re freezing cold, you just want to get in a hot bath and get a glass of wine in your hand. And you’ve rehearsed it and you’ve read it and you’ve known it was coming. So actually the read-through was more emotional than the actual day.
“It’s a very, very nice eight minute goodbye. Which hopefully is long enough for anybody. It’s a beautifully written scene, the big scene. I think we did our bit. But, ultimately, it’s all in the writing with Ashes. Matthew (Graham) and Ashley (Pharoah) have done some of their best work ever on the last two episodes.”
Keeley, 34, faced sometimes personal attacks for her portrayal of Alex in series one from critics who failed to realise that’s the way she had been asked to play DI Drake.
But the former Spooks actress weathered the storm and proved that she is a moving pictures star, convincing millions that her character really is back in 1983 - or wherever it turns out to be.
Some fans have been concerned about what they see as the lack of “Galex” in this final series - the potential romantic relationship between “Bolly” and Gene, which Phil has always maintained can never happen.
“There isn’t an awful lot,” reflects Keeley. “But that’s down to a few factors. We’ve introduced the new Danny Mays character of Jim Keats. That had to have a certain amount of screen time given over to it, to make the ultimate ending work. But I think they’ll be getting a bit more Galex than they’re anticipating in the last two episodes.”
Det Chief Insp Keats has intrigued the watching audience. Is he an agent of the devil, Satan himself or someone else entirely?
“It’s not an easy thing to do, to come into the show, especially at this point four series later. He certainly didn’t have an easy job, as well I know. And he just slotted right in. Keats is a really big, powerful character.
“Some of the scenes in episode eight - he asked the producer if they were going to CGI (computer generated imagery) some of what he had to do, because the stage directions are quite extreme for him.
“And, of course, he was told no, because we’re not Doctor Who. So he really has to take it quite far with Keats. It’s a big surprise. And he has his work cut out. I’ve got so much respect for him. I thought he was brilliant before but he really pulled it out of the bag and it’ll all be very exciting.
“People will probably come up with the ending before they see it. The clues are all there to be had. So it will become more and more apparent what’s going to happen.
“I think the one thing that people won’t get is the reason Alex is there. They all end up with an outcome as to why they’re there. And Alex does too. But it’s not one that any of us will have imagined.”
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Fabulous work as ever, Ian. You have done such a great job of supporting this show and you deserve all the credit that's going for building up such trust and rapport with the cast and crew. I'm trying to avoid being spoiled for the ending and at this stage I wouldn't dream of reading any interviews or previews apart from yours.
And now my imagination is working overtime! Danny thought they'd have to CG his stuff? OMG! (And you were right, he really is tremendous). And an eight-minute goodbye scene! I wish so much that there was some way I could watch that all by myself rather than sharing the room with OH and three teenage/pre-teen boys.
I think Keeley's doing a fabulous job in this series; I really hated series one Alex, but that's obviously not her fault.
And "the clues are all there to be had." You'll have to excuse me now while I run over to TRA and read the crazy speculation threads again!
FABULOUS interview...I absolutely adored Alex from the off, and Keeley's performance has truly been something to behold - she IS a film star, beautiful, natural, ubertalented and with a range of emotions and comic timing that has knocked me off my feet. I'll miss Alex more than any other character... I never thought I'd be able to say this about anyone else, but I love her more than I love Lizzy Bennet, and of course "Galex" even more than "Lizzy and Darcy"!! (I love what Keeley's stated about Alex/Gene too, and the last two episodes...VEEERY exciting indeed!!)
I'm so glad Keeley's had a wonderful time. Her criticism in series 1 was the most absurd, unfounded and undeserved stuff ever. A sad reflection on the state of the media and an uncovering of that fact that maybe times really HAVEN'T moved on as much as we thought, with regards to acceptance of certain types of "Very, VERY strong women...and flawed heroines" like Alex ...and this has come from both men AND women... I try to think that it doesn't matter, and I hope Keeley thinks the same and has more than brushed it off, but the one thing that really annoys me is that, whilst it doesn't matter that she's been criticised, it also means that she hasn't been praised nearly enough. She is extraordinary, and I could write an essay on it, but I'll stop before I annoy myself and others!!
This interview has almost made me want to rush through the next two weeks to get to those latter eps, but I know tomorrow's is to be an absolute blinder, and will enjoy every second of what's left to come!! I'm desperate for the ending, but I'm heartbroken at the same time. Ashes to Ashes is something very, very special, and I hope that everyone involved knows just how much it is loved, and just how much it will be missed.
Thank you Ian, Lovely interview with the amazing Keeley! :) Thank you so much for all your previews and interviews for Ashes To Ashes. It's always so nice to read them knowing there won't be too many spoilers.
I don't understand why Keeley would get any bad press. I liked her through the 3 series. She did the job so well! She has the power to move people. She is so incredibly talented!
Daniel Mays has been amazing so far. I still can't figure out Keats which is great! My brain is hurting thinking about clues and theories. I'm looking forward to see some more Galex too in the final 2 episodes.
I can't wait to see the last 4 episodes but at the same time I'm terribly anxious and sad to see it end. I know it's going to be a good ending because I trust the writers. The LOM/A2A journey has been such a great ride! I've never felt so touched by a series ever. It really is something special!
Armedxlove
i absolurly agree with you charlie!
i have loved ashes to ashes straight from the beginning and i think alex has been a fantastic character and added something different to ashes to ashes making it more of its own even being a spin off from life on mars. i loved the initial connection between gene and alex and i still love their little arguments and moments :) im a masssive glaex fan all the way so im really glad that keeley has said there is more towards the end!! in some ways id love to skip and watch ep8 after this interveiw, im so excied but at the same time i want to make it laast as it will all be over soon. ashes has been an amazing show and i think its such a life changing experience for all the actors/actresses too! i think keeley is a natural talent and is absolutely fantastic. she puts everything into that character and it makes everything so brilliant to watch and real!! i too cannot beleive all the bad press keeley first got, it was ridicuous! they didnt even look at keeley as an actress it was just an attack on her as alex's character sort of tried to put gene more in his place and people didnt like that. yes it is going to be different to life on mars as alex is female. but to be quite honest ive loved ashes more as i prefer the relationships the team have with alex and the impact she has on them. I really hope keeley didnt take it to heart because those people do not realise just how talented she is and how many supportive, loyal fans she has! i hope she knows shes amazing because we all think so! id love to get the chance to meet her one day and will continue to follow her fantastic work, starting with identity which i hope will be on our screens soon :D anyways sorry for the essay haha, i get passionate when it comes to ashes!! haha oh and follow keeley on twitter :D kcj100 if your not, do it now! :) lol
beth ball
I've loved every minute of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes and am really sad that it's to come to an end, even though I understand that if the story is told, it's told...
I'm with Dorset Girl - rather like David Tennant's final episode(s) in Doctor Who earlier this year, I am dreading the final scenes as much as looking forward to (in this case) learning what it was really all about... like most of us, I have my theories and if I am anywhere close with my theories then I had better buy a BIG box of tissues!!
I'd like to also say thanks for the highly enjoyable reviews and blogs, Ian; when the dust has settled I intend going back and re-reading them all from Day One, just to re-live the excitement of it all! I actually missed out on that with Series One because for some inexplicable reason I didn't catch Life on Mars until the re-runs... but I was there for Series Two and all of Ashes, and its been just brilliant. Fabulous stories, production and performances from the casts of both series. I find it hard to imagine a world before 'Life on Mars'.... I was a teenager in the seventies so I remember David Bowie's 'Life on Mars' and have always liked it. I can never hear it now though without instantly thinking of the show. And I must add that the incidental music has been fabulous - especially the mournful notes that just say 'Life on Mars' in the way that nothing else can... it's like bottled emotion!
Edzel 13th May