ONCE there were five. Now only four remain.
Viewers saw police detective Jon Young (second from right) killed off in Sunday’s first episode of ITV1’s He Kills Coppers.
But actor Liam Garrigan didn’t mind his short-lived role.
“I get to be the catalyst for what happens in the second and third episode,” he told us at the series press launch.
Rafe Spall (also pictured below) is another one of the cast members.
The son of Timothy Spall plays troubled and corrupted Sixties’ police detective Frank Taylor.
Frank begins the search for police killer Billy Porter in next Sunday’s episode, with the action then moving on from 1966 to 1971.
Jake Arnott wrote the novel on which this three-part drama is based and was also responsible for BBC2’s The Long Firm.
He explained the background at that press launch.
Author: ianwylie
WHEN the TV awards are handed out next year, two names should be at the head of the list.
Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes have brought Gene Hunt and Alex Drake alive on screen.
Which is quite an achievement when you step back and consider the basic premise of Ashes To Ashes.
The relationship between Gene and Alex ranges from exasperation to genuine affection and love.
No more so than in this week’s series finale.
If you haven’t done so already, you can read my preview of the final episode here.
Regular readers will know of my admiration for Keeley Hawes’ acting.
FORMER Coronation Street star Bruce Jones admits he’s found it hard to escape the shadow of layabout Les Battersby.
In a revealing edition of Celebrity Wife Swap tomorrow night, he says his wife Sandra calls him Les every morning.
She even reckons her idle husband – axed from the show last year – must have written some of the Corrie scripts.
“He wasn’t acting,” insists Sandra.
Bruce broke down in tears while filming the swap with former pop star Sinitta, as you can read in the online version of yesterday’s MEN Pg 3 story here.
Our Good Friday story – see image below – has been picked up by others today.
It’s also sparked a debate on the main MEN site about whether Street bosses should have a change of heart and bring Les back.
ALEX Drake takes the long way home in the final episode of Ashes To Ashes.
Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes said it would be a very good and satisfying ending.
They weren’t wrong.
The final hour of series one, written by Ashley Pharoah, is a classic.
Among many highlights is a speech from the unbreakable Gene Hunt destined to be carved in the annals of TV history.
He also provides a last line to warm the hearts of Gene fans across the globe.
Chris ends up locked in a cell with, among others, Lord Scarman and music star Tom Robinson.
As with Life On Mars, there are echoes and mirrors from the very first episode.
And a revelation that turns Alex’s view of the world upside down, much like the camera angle in the opening moments some eight weeks ago.
THE headline today seems pretty clear.
“Corrie to plan a stage musical.”
But before you rush off to buy best available in the Royal Circle, I should let you know something.
It’s not true.
The tabloid responsible for the story about a Coronation Street invasion of the West End is just a touch off key.
ITV executive Dawn Airey often talks about exploiting the network’s key brands in more effective and creative ways.
And she was thinking aloud recently about what might follow the example of Bad Girls: The Musical.
Dawn was quoted as saying: “Loose Women would be ideal.
LIFE behind the cameras is often not what you might expect.
Actors are real human beings, with all the flaws and insecurities that go with that.
Never make the mistake of confusing performers with the characters they play on screen.
It is all, quite literally, an act.
Never more so than with Steptoe and Son.
Manchester-raised Harry H. Corbett and co-star Wilfrid Brambell were loved by millions.
But they became trapped together by the very success that made them national treasures.
Whatever your plans for tonight, do not miss The Curse Of Steptoe (BBC4, 9pm).
It’s a brilliant drama about the tragedy of Harry and Wilfrid, with marvellous performances from Jason Isaacs and Phil Davis.
RAISED eyebrows at 8am today as the nominations were revealed for next month’s BAFTA TV Awards.
Cranford deservedly received the most nominations and should do well on the night.
But this year it’s also about who was NOT nominated.
No Ant and Dec this year or Jonathan Ross, on top form in 2007 but perhaps too rude for BAFTA.
And nothing for Coronation Street – left out of the battle for Best Continuing Drama for the first time in a decade.
So no trip to London for the Rovers Return regulars. They’ll have to watch the glittering ceremony on the telly.
Meanwhile EastEnders, The Bill, Holby City and last year’s winners Emmerdale get to sit in the posh seats.
The Corrie snub is set to spark quite a debate, not least on the pages of the MEN.
YOU see it unfold with a horrible inevitability.
And then comes the sense of stunned disbelief.
Episode seven of Ashes To Ashes contains a big shock.
I’m not going to spoil the work of series co-creator and episode writer Matthew Graham by discussing the circumstances.
And I would advise fans to avoid any tabloids who may be tempted to run further details about this week’s episode.
Last Thursday’s end titles trailer left viewers with a sense of foreboding about what may lie ahead.
As this week’s episode begins, the Clown warns Alex: “Something dreadful is going to happen. I’m going to take someone.”
IT may be a dark Monday evening in Britain but there’s a dash of sunshine on the other end of the line.
Jill Scott is trying to order some lunch, which is why her hotel room phone has been engaged.
Eventually we hook up. She’s in the middle of an American tour and I’ve just finished watching a preview DVD of The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Grammy award-winning singer Jill, 35, takes the lead role of Precious Ramotswe in the feature length BBC1 film.
Based on the novel by Alexander McCall Smith – the first in a much loved series of books – it’s a very big deal on both sides of the Atlantic.
Both Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis are involved in the production, with a full series of films to follow.
You can read more in the online version of today’s MEN TV feature interview with Jill here.
And here’s a taste of some of the material I couldn’t squeeze into the feature.
Read reviews of Jill’s concerts and you’ll see her described as a “saucy soul sister” with a “sweet humble air”.
A touch of frost at today’s Dancing On Ice finalists press conference.
Not between Suzanne Shaw, Chris Fountain and Zaraah Abrahams.
No evidence of all that nonsense in the tabloids about backstage tension, which was also denied by all three this morning.
But the atmosphere did turn a little icy when judge Jason Gardiner was asked which one of them deserved to win.
He returned to the issue of bookmakers’ favourite Chris’s ice hockey experience, with the Hollyoaks star sat just a few feet away.
Happily, there was much more to report from all three finalists.
There’s a feature on Pg 9 of tomorrow’s MEN – I’ll post a link here when it goes online.
Update: The online version is here.
I note it’s already being reported elsewhere that Jason’s “attack” on Chris today means he doesn’t think he deserves to win.
Well, make up your own mind.
Life of Wylie 