Ashes To Ashes set visit November 2009
The rain was slanting down on the industrial estate in Bermondsey, South London, which houses Kudos Productions, when I arrived to interview some of the cast of Ashes To Ashes. Despite the rather uninspiring environment, Kudos are the people behind slick, sharp and ever-so-slightly sexy shows like Spooks, Hustle, Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes.
The cast and crew are almost halfway through filming the third – and final – series, and interviews must be slotted in between scenes. First up is Montserrat Lombard, who plays Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger.
The twists and turns in the ‘Ashes’ plot line are such that Montserrat, who will be seen in next year’s second St Trinian’s film (‘I play an unsuccessful emo!’) is nervous about giving too much away. At one point, she even has to whisper to her press officer – who’s sitting in on the interview – to check she’s not revealing too much!
Then I’m ushered back to a cheerless concrete bunker, well out of the way of being able to hear anything tantalising that’s being filmed on set, until it’s time to speak to the show’s leading lady, Keeley Hawes, who plays Alex Drake. She’s dressed in character, and looks stunning in her Eighties’ garb – no mean feat… Like all the cast, she’s sad to be saying goodbye to the show and the close friends she’s made over the past two years.
It turns out that Phil Glenister, who plays Gene Hunt, is caught up in filming, along with Daniel Mays, who joins the cast in the new series, so I decide to leave my chats with them for another day.
It’s been a rather frustrating day of hanging around, but I am completely cheered up by my final interview which is with Marshall Lancaster, who plays Chris Skelton, making up a charming double act with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Lola, who almost takes over the interview! When he’s not being distracted by his friendly canine sidekick, Marshall is a lovely interviewee, and reveals he’s hoping to return to Coronation Street to reprise his role of slippery shyster Slug. After all, Weatherfield is closer to home for the Cheshire-born actor than Bermondsey…
