'Life On Mars' spin-off details announced

Fresh from his Life On Mars exploits in 1973 Manchester, Gene Hunt will be fast forwarding to 1981 London for a new spin-off, Ashes to Ashes.

Alongside Philip Glenister's return as the brash and brutal Hunt, Dean Andrews and Marshall Lancaster will be returning to reprise their roles as sidekicks Ray Carling and Chris Skelton respectively. However, Gene will be swapping his iconic Ford Cortina for an Audi Quattro, Chris will be a surveillance supremo and Ray is destined to be seduced by perms and London nightlife.

The series will follow the same format too, with a modern day police officer transported back in time after suffering a horrific accident. Whilst Sam Tyler will not feature, his presence will be felt as the new lead character - DCI Alex Drake - spent months studying Tyler's psychological evaluations after he emerged from his coma, where he detailed Hunt and his team.

Drake, a single mother, has yet to be cast but is described as "sexy and inteliigent" by the programme's makers and is an expert in psychological profiling. A romance is also hinted at between Drake and Hunt.

Named after a David Bowie song like its predecessor, Ashes To Ashes will also be developed by the same writers - Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharaoh - and the same co-production between Kudos, Monastic Productions and the BBC.

“Ashes to Ashes is the next chapter in the life of Gene Hunt, as seen through the eyes of a modern, no nonsense woman," stated Executive Producer Jane Featherstone. "It’s a touch of Moonlighting teamed with a measure of Miami Vice! The search for Gene’s sexy side-kick is definitely on; she’ll hopefully give him a serious run for his money!”

The Life On Mars sequel is scheduled to begin filming in London this summer for transmission on BBC One early in 2008.