“FOR heaven’s sake, sit down,” pleads John Lennon’s estranged father.
“I’ve not sat down since 1962,” his son replies.
Lennon Naked (BBC4, 9:30pm tonight) is a marvellous film with another top class performance by Christopher Eccleston.
Although the one-off 90-minute drama begins in the middle of black and white Beatlemania, it mainly focuses on the years 1967 to 1971.
Including the break-up of The Beatles and John’s life changing meeting with Yoko Ono, played by Torchwood star Naoko Mori.
IT was one of those moments where you can’t quite believe what is happening.
The nation sat down last night to watch England’s first match in the 2010 World Cup against the USA.
In pubs, clubs, living rooms, kitchens and back gardens across the land.
Some, like me, were watching ITV1’s coverage on their HD channel.
Four minutes into the game, the picture suddenly switched to an ad for one of the sponsors of ITV’s World Cup coverage.
Cutting back to the football as England captain Steven Gerrard was embraced by team mates after scoring a goal an estimated 1.5 million out of 15 million viewers missed.
HE stars tonight – and the next three nights – in Father and Son.
One of the best dramas you’ll see on ITV1 this year.
I met up with Dougray Scott on the banks of the Thames in London at the end of April to talk about his role as reformed gangster Michael O’Connor.
Having also spoken to him at BAFTA last year for Day of the Triffids.
You can read more about Father and Son in my MEN feature here.
We also chatted about the future, including Dougray’s reported involvement in a revival of ITV’s classic 1960s series The Saint.
PREPARE yourself, Coronation Street fans.
Weatherfield has something rather special for us next week.
Including new titles and a fresh version of the theme music.
I was among journalists invited to a London preview yesterday of the Corrie Siege episodes.
Also involving the closing days of Gail Platt’s murder trial.
And found myself sat directly behind three Street stars whose characters are caught up in crazed escaped killer Tony Gordon’s (Gray O’Brien) plan to exact deadly revenge:
ALEX Drake finally made it back to the present day this afternoon.
Or rather Keeley Hawes, who played DI Drake in Ashes To Ashes.
She appeared at a London press launch for her new six-part ITV1 drama series Identity.
But only after getting stuck in traffic on the day the Queen was just down the road at Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament.
IF The Railway Arms is Heaven, I’m staying away from lifts and taking the stairs from now on.
The emotional last ever episode of Ashes To Ashes appears to have had a powerful effect on the majority of the watching audience.
There have been lots of tears and sleepless nights as fans continue to digest the brilliance of those final 60 minutes.
So I’m guessing a few people may like to read the edited transcript of my interview with co-creator Matthew Graham, when he was able to talk freely for the first time about the Mars and Ashes Genieverse.
DIXON Of Dock Green provided the black and white postscript to the last ever episode of Ashes To Ashes.
“So it was all sorted out in the end. And no bones broken, luckily,” said a reassuring PC George Dixon.
It was, after all, only a TV show. But a very special one.
Time for supper and then up those stairs to bed.
A fitting farewell for a drama many obsessed over, with online fan forum The Railway Arms going into meltdown after each episode was screened.
The final emotional hour revealed almost all about DCI Gene Hunt and his world but left just enough ambiguity to keep those web servers humming for some time to come.
If you’ve yet to see the Ashes’ farewell, which finished a few minutes ago, do NOT read any further.
I spoke at length to Ashes co-creator Matthew Graham earlier this week – the first interview he had given where he was able to speak freely about the secrets of Gene’s world and those who found themselves drawn into it.
Keeping a promise he made to me just over three years ago when we conducted a similar interview for use after the final episode of Life On Mars.
“THOSE two should either get a room or kill each other.”
It’s the morning after the night before. Alex is confused and Gene is angry.
The last ever episode of Ashes To Ashes is a real knockout from the opening minute.
Moving on to, among other things, Farringfield Green, a scarecrow, those video tapes and Wham!
Before we reach The End.
Gene Hunt promised “one hell of a last chapter” and he is a man of his word.
Written by co-creator Matthew Graham, it’s an epic farewell that packs a strong emotional punch.
“DON’T lean on the pillar. It’s not real,” warns producer Matthew Bird.
Set visits are often surreal affairs, whether in a studio or out on location.
The mix of reality and make-believe can be striking when you’re standing behind the cameras.
As witnessed yet again back in February when I travelled to Salford to interview the cast of new BBC2 drama Worried About The Boy.
The one-off film – screened this Sunday – tells the story of the young Boy George from school days to Top Of The Pops.
HERE are the BBC photos released ahead of the final episode of Ashes To Ashes.
Not including the image above, which is from earlier in the series.
The pics don’t give away any major clues to the “bigger picture” revealed in episode eight – to be broadcast on BBC1 a week on Friday.
But if you’re avoiding spoilers of any kind ahead of eps 7 & 8, please do NOT click to open this blog or scroll down any further if you’re arrived straight on to the full page.
My blog on the last ever episode of Ashes will be published next week.
Life of Wylie 