'Ashes To Ashes' to end after next series

Ashes To Ashes has been recommissioned for a third and final series, it has been announced.

The cop drama - a spinoff of Life On Mars starring Phil Glenister and Keeley Hawes - concludes its second series on BBC One tonight.

"Fans have theorised since Life On Mars and throughout Ashes To Ashes about who Gene Hunt actually is and what his alternative world really means," said a spokesperson for the show. "The climax of series three will finally reveal all in a stunning finale."

Simon Crawford Collins, executive producer at Kudos, said: "Will Alex make it back home, why is she living in this parallel '80s world, what will become of bullish Gene Hunt and will we ever discover what actually happened to Sam Tyler? Viewers will not be left disappointed because the series promises to finish with a bang!"

The eight-episode third series begins filming this Autumn for transmission in 2010.