Rising from the Ashes, Gene Genie's back in 2009

Retro fans can get excited... Filming has begun on the second series of BBC One's time-travel hit Ashes to Ashes.

All of the original cast will appear in six new hour-long episodes due to air in spring 2009.

Series two of the award-winning BBC drama will open in 1982 and find DCI Gene Hunt, played by Life on Mars' Philip Glenister, and Keeley Hawes as DI Alex Drake.

It also features Roger Allam, who has previously appeared in Spooks and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, as DS 'Supermac' Macintosh.

Producer Beth Willis says: "We are so pleased to be coming back for a second series with the same brilliant cast. The new series moves in a slightly different direction"

And the makers of the show are looking forward to developing tensions between the characters from the first series.

"Gene and Alex's relationship is so complex; it is very sparky and they obviously care for each other in a grudging manner, so it'll be interesting to see how this evolves," said Beth.

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales added: "Series Two combines the same mix of compelling crime stories, outrageous fashion and blistering one liners with some bold and brilliant new plot twists."

Ashes to Ashes, which grew out of the 2006 series Life On Mars, drew an audience of eight million when it premiered in February.