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It's time to get your shoulder pads out of storage, start crimping your hair and get into the Eighites mood for the very last time...

The award-winning ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One drama, Ashes To Ashes, is back as filming begins on the eagerly-awaited final series.

The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes reprise their roles as that most un-PC of policeman, DCI Gene Hunt, and his sassy partner DI Alex Drake, along with Dean Andrews as DI Ray Carling, Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton and Montserrat Lombard as WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger.

As well as the much-loved regular faces, Daniel Mays (The Street, Plus One) will also appear in the series as Discipline and Complaints Officer, Jim Keats, adding an exciting twist to the team dynamic.

With the last series' cliff-hanger leaving audiences with the frightening image of Alex lying shot on a hospital gurney, the questions on everyone's lips are "will Alex survive?" and "how will her colleague and accidental assassin Gene Hunt dig himself out of that hole?"

The smash hit drama, made by Kudos Film and Television in association with Monastic Productions, finally unravels many of the mysteries from the previous two series of Ashes To Ashes, as well as those first experienced by the initial time-travelling copper, Sam Tyler, in the groundbreaking ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One series Life On Mars some four years ago.

Will Alex finally discover why she's been sent back to the Eighties? Does anything tie Alex and Sam Tyler together? And who exactly is Gene Hunt…?

Jane Featherstone, Executive Producer, Kudos Film and Television, says: "Everyone has their own theory about who Gene Hunt is, and why Alex Drake and Sam Tyler ended up in his world.

"Alex's journey is nearing its end and Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah have planned a fabulous finale.

"We're now at the point where we can finally reveal some of the answers and we can't wait to hear what the fans think about it all."

Ashley Pharoah, co-creator, writer and executive producer for Monastic Productions, adds: "Gene Hunt has delighted fans for almost five years.

"Matthew and I have loved writing the adventures of Gene, Alex and the rest of the team and will be really sad to finally have to say goodbye to characters that have become a great part of our lives."

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Wales, says: "Series three of Ashes To Ashes will have the same combination of thrilling crime drama, outrageous Eighties outfits and cutting one-liners.

"We'll be sad to see Gene and the gang go but the journey that will take us to that finale will be one of the most exciting, compelling and edge-of-your seat rides on TV!"

Ashes To Ashes is written and created by Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, two creators of the award-winning Life On Mars.

It is produced by Kudos Film and Television, in association with Monastic Productions and was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Drama Commissioning.

Executive producer duties will be split between Jane Featherstone, Simon Crawford Collins and Alison Jackson for Kudos Film and Television, Ashley Pharoah for Monastic Productions and Piers Wenger for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳. The producer is Howard Burch.

Ashes To Ashes, 8 x 60-minute series for transmission on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One in 2010.

PPR