Alex Drake gets a blast... to the past

After being shot, 21st century girl Alex Drake wakes up in 1981. But, as actress Keeley Hawes explains, her problems are just beginning...

Tell us about DI Alex Drake? She's ballsy, confident and bright and is more than a match for Gene. Alex was a psychologist to Sam Tyler and, when she gets shot, she realises she has been propelled into the past; into the new world of Gene Hunt and the boys. She believes she's re-imagining somebody else's creations."

What is Alex's main focus for getting home? "She does have moments that she really enjoys, like the different ways of policing, but ultimately, she wants to get back to her daughter, Molly, in 2008. She enjoys her relationship with Gene Hunt – it's sexy and fun, so there's an emotional pull both ways, but she does want to get back to Molly and modern times."

Gene is a tough nut to crack. How does Alex deal with him? "She usually knows she's right but she deals with Gene via a good sense of humour. Her knowledge of the future makes dealing with Gene easier for her. She doesn't have the awe and respect for Gene like the others, because she finds him a bit of a dinosaur. Instead, she finds the way he carries on quite amusing."

Gene and Alex have a real love-hate relationship. Do you think Alex could ever give in to Gene's charms? "Quite often, when people fancy each other, they dress it up as love-hate because it's easier to deal with. Gene and Alex go out for dinner and have a nice time and she's surprised to learn that it's possible for them to enjoy each other's company. It's what everyone will want to see - but it quickly goes horribly wrong."

What has been your favourite scene to film? "We shot some scenes with a DeLorean, which was fab – it felt really Eighties. There is nothing more Eighties than that car. It's just like the car in Back To The Future."

What are your most vivid memories of the early Eighties? "I was five or six, so I don't really have an enormous amount of memories of that time. Lace being worn in your hair and Madonna was much more my Eighties, which was slightly later down the line. I had a pair of awful, huge, hi-tech trainers; that wasn't a good look so I don't miss any of it, I have to say."