“SAM. I appear to have killed a man…”
The penultimate episode of Life On Mars highlights a cast and crew working together as a team at the very top of their form.
Screened on BBC1 at 9pm this Tuesday, the mystery of why modern day detective Sam Tyler is in 1973 Manchester continues to unfold.
DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is arrested for murder and asks Sam (John Simm) for help.
Is the arrival from Hyde of acting DCI Frank Morgan, played by Ralph Brown, significant?
Does this spell the end of the Gene Genie?
And why is the CID office so tidy?
One thing is certain – the final moments will have fans counting down the minutes to the last ever episode on April 10.
Month: March 2007
THERE’S no need to dig too deep into the TV schedules to find a real character with a passion for her subject.
Christine’s Garden was one of my favourite series of 2006 – and I wasn’t the only one who loved it.
Three million viewers were charmed by Lancashire-born and raised horticulturalist Christine Walkden and her garden.
Now she’s back for a second BBC2 series, along with next door neighbour Reg and her absolute love of growing things.
If you’ve not seen Christine before, then don’t miss tonight’s second episode in the new series at 8pm, filmed in late spring of last year.
HE’S one of Manchester’s finest exports – even if he was born in Wales.
Now Doctor Who writer and executive producer Russell T Davies wants to come home.
But not just yet.
There’s an interview with Russell in today’s edition of trade magazine Broadcast, in which he again says he’s fully committed to the Cardiff-based BBC1 show.
But he confirms that he will eventually be moving on and has been talking to Manchester-based Red Production Company.
“I’ve certainly got things lined up – I want to work with Nicola Shindler again, and I want to live in Manchester again. My house is in Manchester.
THERE was plenty of laughter when Sally Hawkins charmed a table of hacks at ITV1’s Jane Austen launch.
She stars this Sunday as Anne Elliot in Persuasion – the third and last of the network’s adaptations.
You may not instantly recognise the name, or the face, but Sally has almost certainly been in something you’ve seen.
Last year she played Manchester department store personal shopper Nathalie in BBC2 drama Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart.
Or perhaps you caught her in Vera Drake, Layer Cake, Fingersmith, Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, The Young Visiters or Tipping The Velvet?
Sally was an absolute delight to talk to – funny and refreshingly honest on the subject of having to kiss Persuasion co-star Rupert Penry-Jones (pictured below right).
IS television run by “a lot of fools”?
That’s the view of Life On Mars star Philip Glenister, who thinks television is “screwed up”.
In an interview with today’s Radio Times he also described reality shows as “sadistic” and said EastEnders was “up its own ****”.
You could be forgiven for thinking that Glenister had sent his no-nonsense Manchester cop DCI Gene Hunt along for the chat.
But he has always held strong views about the industry he works in and one he has known since an early age.
His father John was a cameraman turned TV director and elder brother Robert – star of Hustle – went into acting before him.
I’ve interviewed Phil several times and he’s always good company, with a sharp sense of humour.
And he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
THE final verdict may be in on Manchester drama New Street Law – and things don’t look good.
There’s always been a feeling that the BBC schedulers have had it in for the show, filmed on location in the city and on a set near Bolton.
The first series, made against a tight deadline, showed promise but could have done with further development.
Even so, BBC bosses did the drama no favours by screening it in early summer, when fewer people are watching TV.
Series two was streamlined with the production team learning lessons from series one.
But having asked them to again produce New Street Law for a pre-watershed 8pm slot, the BBC delayed transmission for several months before finally scheduling it on Wednesday nights at…9pm.
IT has been a real joy to write about Life On Mars.
We all see things in different ways. But, for me, it’s one of the greatest TV dramas ever to grace the small screen.
There are now just three episodes left on BBC1 before fans finally discover how the series ends.
I’ve been lucky enough to see all three – including episode eight of this second and final series.
I can’t, of course, reveal anything about the fate of Sam, Gene. Annie, Chris, Ray and co.
But I can say that I absolutely loved the ending.
JUST back from the world premiere of the third series of Doctor Who.
A few dozen fans, many with cameras, were gathered outside the Mayfair Hotel in central London to see the cast arrive, along with some other famous faces.
Tenth Time Lord David Tennant was there to introduce the Doctor’s new companion Freema Agyeman, 27, who plays Martha Jones.
Also arriving as I made my way in through the doors was Sophia Myles – David’s real life girlfriend, who played Madame de Pompadour in the second BBC1 series.
Having travelled to Cardiff for the last two series launches, this was the first one to be held in London.
Spotted under the grand chandelier was Manchester-based writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, sharing a joke with Jonathan Ross, who had brought along his three children.
WANT to know how former EastEnder Shane Richie ended up in the home of the real Albert Square?
Controller of Drama for ITV Productions in Manchester Kieran Roberts (pictured left) explained all when I spoke to him recently at Granada’s Quay Street HQ.
There wasn’t room to include the story in the interview with Kieran, published in the MEN last week. You can read that feature here.
Shane has been in Manchester to film a 90-minute comedy drama called The Good Samaritan, which is by Peter Whalley. He is Coronation Street’s senior writer with over 500 episodes to his credit.
Due on screen later this year, the new ITV1 drama could turn into a series if viewers like what they see.
Kieran is a former Corrie producer and now holds the post of executive producer, along with his other drama duties.
VERY early start today for a location visit in Manchester and interviews with the cast of True Dare Kiss.
The new BBC1 serial, written by Debbie Horsfield, is currently in the middle of filming in and around the city.
Making a TV drama is anything but glamorous, especially when your base is a chilly city centre car park.
Even so, there were plenty of smiles from cast members, including Lorraine Ashbourne (pictured), Esther Hall, Paul McGann and Pooky Quesnel.
I’ve already seen an early DVD taster of the six-part production, with some scenes filmed at Old Trafford.
Life of Wylie 