DON’T blow those candles out yet.
As Gene Hunt told Alex Drake: “It’s all about timing, this life.
“We’ve still got things to learn, adventures to have.”
That includes the Ashes To Ashes series one DVD – out on May 5.
You may have all eight episodes archived on hard drive, DVD, iPod or VHS.
You may have watched each one several times.
But if you’re an Ashes fan, the box set is an essential purchase.
Thankfully, there’s no repeat of the Life On Mars’ Wild Horses / Lay Down DVD music substitutions.
At least in terms of what I consider to be – Ashes To Ashes aside – the three most important music tracks:
Author: ianwylie
IT’S a fine life when there are people like Jodie Prenger to interview.
I caught up with Jodie yesterday afternoon, ahead of the third live I’d Do Anything studio show on BBC1 tonight.
She’s one of the final 10 contenders in the search for a Nancy, who will star in a new West End stage production of the musical Oliver!
Off screen, Jodie does not disappoint.
She has all the Oom-Pah-Pah needed to play Nancy.
And that includes a serious side also required for the role.
We’ll get a taste of that this evening.
There’s a news story on Pg 6 of today’s MEN – the online version is here.
As you will read via that link, Jodie has her eyes firmly set on becoming Nancy, along with a career in the West End.
THERE’S a regular Coronation Street kite flyer in one of the tabloids today.
The headline screams: “Corrie’s legends face large axe.”
It’s an old favourite on a quiet news day.
Wait for a new producer to arrive, in this case Kim Crowther.
Add in whatever you want in terms of cast members facing the axe – young, old or Schmeichel the dog.
And then stir.
It won’t surprise you to learn that today’s story is a load of old hot pot.
Up to five of Weatherfield’s longest serving actors could be gone by the end of the year, it claims.
It’s billed as both a “cost-cutting cull” and a move to “freshen up” the soap.
GENE Hunt really will be ‘avin ‘oops after a new TV deal with Italy.
BBC Worldwide has sold both series of Life On Mars to Italian state broadcaster Rai Due.
So it’s spaghetti hoops all round for Manchester police team Gene, Sam, Ray, Chris and Annie.
And surely our good friends in Italy will also want to follow this purchase up with a double helping of Ashes To Ashes?
Though what they will make of Luigi’s 1981 Italian Trattoria is anyone’s guess.
Life On Mars has now been sold to over 40 international broadcasters, including Australia – where the final episode has just been screened.
Aussie newspaper The Age said it came close to qualifying as the best ending ever.
SHE’S the bedrock of the family, the one who holds it all together.
But just who is this girl?
Read on to find out…
So did you guess?
Yes, it’s the Chatsworth estate’s Debbie Gallagher.
She looks very different in the Shameless series finale, screened on E4 tomorrow night and on Channel 4 next week.
Actress Rebecca Ryan was transformed as part of father Frank’s fantasy world.
JUST back from tonight’s launch for series four of Doctor Who.
We saw episodes one and two, followed by a Q&A with David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Russell T Davies.
The talk was of Doctor Who’s daughter, the Time Lord and Donna Noble just being “mates” and the return of the Sontarans.
Both David and Russell refused to comment about their futures with the show after this 13-part series and four further specials.
Catherine also said she couldn’t comment when asked if she was in the specials.
OK, looking now at the clock, the launch was technically last night.
As it’s late, I’ll take events in chronological order ahead of more in the MEN over the next few days.
Controller of BBC Fiction Jane Tranter introduced the screening at a cinema in London’s West End.
She pointed out that the Doctor Who team had been involved over the last four years with 56 episodes, including this year’s yet to be filmed Christmas special.
DAVID Renwick is a comedy genius.
He’s the writer who created classic shows like One Foot In The Grave and Jonathan Creek.
David is also the man behind that absolutely pitch perfect delight which is Love Soup.
I first heard his name over 30 years ago when, aged 19 and a few months out of journalism college, I took up a job as junior reporter on the Luton News.
On my first day, the news editor informed me that I was sat at the very same desk once occupied by another young man called David Renwick.
David had sold jokes to BBC Radio, Cliff Richard and The Two Ronnies.
And two years before my arrival, he had vacated this reporter’s desk to pursue a full time TV writing career.
IT is all go once again in Cranford.
The first Monday morning of British Summer Time brought some good news…about Christmas 2009.
That’s when we’ll see a new two-part BBC1 Cranford Christmas special.
Sadly, there can be no return for Philip Glenister, Sir Michael Gambon or Dame Eileen Atkins.
Their characters all died in the original award-winning serial, screened last year.
But Dame Judi Dench will reprise her role as spinster Miss Matty Jenkyns in the serial based on three novels by Knutsford-raised Elizabeth Gaskell.
She will be joined by Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Francesca Annis and Julia McKenzie for the special.
Mrs Gaskell, who later lived in Longsight, based Cranford on Knutsford and told the story against the backdrop of the Manchester railway on its way to Cheshire.
IF you were hooked by Ashes To Ashes, then there’s one essential bookmark to have on the world wide interweb.
Fans at The Railway Arms have been able to take ownership of both Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes.
At the same time they’ve exposed some of the nonsense spouted by certain headline-grabbing TV “critics”.
It demonstrates a healthy shift in power from those with an axe to grind and column to fill, to viewers who are more intelligent than many in the media and TV world think.
As Alex Drake said: “Imagine that.”
A number of the posts are more eloquent and perceptive than anything you will read elsewhere.
Is Gene Hunt real? Will the clown return for series two? And did you realise Philip Glenister’s eyes are the colour of the sea?
CAST members have been talking about it for some time.
But here is the actual official announcement of a second series for Ashes To Ashes.
Series two begins filming, as expected, this summer and will be on screen next year.
Below is the release issued just a few minutes ago.
Also click here for the online version of today’s final MEN series one feature.
Life of Wylie 