IT starts on the day Alex Drake was shot by Arthur Layton.
Ending with a stunning revelation for the Detective Inspector trapped in 1982.
I have just watched the first episode of Ashes To Ashes series two.
And I’m still trying to get my breath back.
The long wait has been worth every single nano-second – here’s the exclusive first review.
Gene has returned to his table in Luigi’s and all is well with the world.
On the evidence of the first hour, series two is more assured, hitting its sure-footed stride with a menacing dark edge.
Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes act their nylon socks off.
At ease with each other in a terrific TV double act.
With superb support from Dean, Marshall and Montserrat.
In among some delicious detail for those trying to work out “the bigger picture”.
Author: ianwylie
THE Ashes To Ashes series two press pack has arrived.
Be warned…there are spoilers ahead.
So don’t read on unless you want to know.
Firstly the press pack reveals “the face from the past” which we were asked to keep quiet about.
Step forward Manchester newspaper reporter Jackie Queen, played by Ruth Millar.
She appeared alongside Gene Hunt in episode six of Life On Mars series one – the Manchester Gazette siege.
And will return to meet up again with Gene in episode four of the new Ashes series.
More than that, I cannot say…just yet.
VIEWERS may be shocked to learn that ITV is to axe the 2009 staging of the National Television Awards.
But all may not be lost…yet.
We won’t be turning up as usual at the Royal Albert Hall in London on a chilly night in October.
ITV’s current cash crisis has led it to postpone the big night, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald.
It’s yet another visible sign of just how troubled ITV is.
Also, of course, reflecting what’s happening elsewhere.
ITV is currently in the process of cutting 600 more jobs and reducing its programme budget by £135m over the next three years.
That’s already led to the axe for Wire In The Blood.
CORONATION Street beer – it’s official.
From next month fans will be able to sup a Corrie pint, a nice chap at ITV told me today.
But there’s a catch.
The “quality draught ale” will only be available in the chain of pubs run by Manchester brewer JW Lees.
ITV has signed a new license which allows the brewer to create and distribute the 4.2 per cent cask ale.
You’d have thought Newton & Ridley might be quite bitter about this development.
But it seems not.
Back in the glory days of the now long gone Granada Studios Tour, you used to be able to buy all manner of Corrie merchandise.
Yes, I know…they are possibly the five most boring words on the web at the moment.
“I am now on Twitter.”
I’m still to be convinced that Twitter is not a triumph of hype over actual substance.
And possibly a step too far into our computer screens.
But I am now on here.
Updating regularly with yet more “inside” info about the Life Of Wylie, among other things.
While also, of course, blogging away here – with exciting developments ahead.
Thanks to all of you lovely readers, The Life Of Wylie blog recorded a million page views in 2008.
ANGELA Griffin made quite an impact when she returned to Waterloo Road this week.
The former Coronation Street star told me it was a big episode for her character Kim Campbell.
And she wasn’t kidding.
Filmed in Rochdale, Waterloo Road is one of those dramas which is often ignored by TV critics.
Which is a shame – because it’s a cracking midweek watch.
It knows what it is and does its job very well.
When I met up with Angela recently, she confessed: “Waterloo Road is one of those programmes where, for some reason I think that I shouldn’t like it.
SIR Alan Sugar was on good form at the press launch for a new series of The Apprentice.
“You’re sounding like that Geordie,” he told me.
A reference to one of the 15 new boardroom wannabes in the fifth series, which begins on BBC1 next Wednesday.
Sir Alan got my home town of Newcastle upon Tyne right.
But he was less keen on my question.
Sadly, a growing number of the viewing audience for The Apprentice will either have recently lost their jobs or be worried that they’re about to join the dole queue.
Unemployment today having gone over the two million mark.
So his famous phrase “You’re fired” will carry extra resonance for many.
DON’T get too excited.
The embargo is still in place on Ashes To Ashes material.
But I spoke again this afternoon to Dean Andrews (Ray) and Montserrat Lombard (Shaz).
Along with the rest of the cast, they’ll be busy this week filming a special BBC1 trailer for the second series.
Having already been hard at work on finishing touches to the eight new episodes, including dubbing.
Quite aside from other promotional work.
Everyone connected with Ashes knows that fans are frustrated and desperate for news.
SOAP fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was all part of ITV’s plans to cut costs.
Especially if they switched on their TV in the middle of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
For there was Ant McPartlin starring as a new cast member in Coronation Street.
With Declan Donnelly joining the Emmerdale regulars in The Woolpack.
But rest easy for the moment.
Despite their troubles, ITV has no plans – as far as I know – to get more value for their millions by parachuting Ant and Dec into their soaps.
If you saw Saturday’s show, you’ll know it was all part of the latest Ant v Dec challenge.
SHEILA Hancock was being brutally honest.
Her husband John Thaw was one of Britain’s favourite actors when he died in 2002.
But she believed that as future generations moved on and new stars emerged, he would mostly be forgotten.
It’s a sad inevitability that young viewers of the future will not know anything of John.
Unless they catch repeats of the likes of Inspector Morse, The Sweeney and the wonderful Goodnight Mister Tom.
Or read her moving book The Two Of Us – My Life With John Thaw.
There’s another book on John which I contributed a chapter to.
But as none of the contributors were paid in a saga that ended up on BBC1’s Watchdog, I don’t recommend you buy it.
Life of Wylie 