Oh, How I love me some UK telly! And last Thursday saw the return of DCI Gene Hunt in the spinoff series from Life On Mars (which if you haven’t seen… DO!!), Ashes To Ashes.

This time, a police psychologist, one Alex Drake, wakes up to find herself in July of 1981, meeting characters she’s read about in the file of Sam Tyler. And much like Sam, all she wants to do is get home.

And if there was anyone who was worried that lightning wouldn’t strike twice, don’t worry, just seeing Hunt and his gang at it again, this time in my favorite decade, will put those worries to rest.

He’s still the same, and he’s awesome!

What I do like, and am now keen to go back through the two series of Life On Mars, are all the little Bowie nods that we see going on. Sure there are the series titles, both great Bowie tunes, but if there were more in the original series I haven’t found them (any help?). In this series, so far, the two that really jumped out at me were the fact that the first time we see the main baddie of the episode in the 80s, he’s got a Bowie shirt on. Then the really spooky one is the Bowie clown as seen on his Ashes To Ashes album cover reflected in the table top of the interrogation room. Spooky stuff!

But most of all, I was just happy seeing Gene back, doing what he does best, being the best cop he can be!

Ashes To Ashes airs Thursdays on BBC One.

Anyone else see it yet? What are your thoughts?