TV series
Crime drama series featuring Life On Mars' DCI Gene Hunt. After being shot in 2008, DI Alex Drake lands in 1981, where she finds herself in familiar company.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Ashes to Ashes is available to stream on Britbox, Britbox (Via Amazon Prime), Prime Video, Amazon Freevee, The Roku Channel, and Tubi in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Crime drama series featuring Life On Mars' DCI Gene Hunt. After being shot in 2008, DI Alex Drake lands in 1981, where she finds herself in familiar company.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
When a dead man is found in a Soho strip club, it looks like a sex game has gone wrong. So when the deceased is discovered to be a police officer, Gene and Alex are ordered to keep the case under wraps.
Directed by Catherine MorsheadWritten by Ashley PharoahGuest stars Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, Adrian Dunbar, Joseph Long, Diane Langton, Janet Whiteside
Episode 2
The team is on the hunt for major vehicle thief Jed Wicklow, but when a car chase leads to his death, Gene stands accused of causing it through reckless driving. Alex is adamant that there was something wrong with Jed at the wheel and wants to prove that the crash wasn't Gene's fault. The deceased Jed was a Romany gypsy, and hostilities run high on the camp as CID heavy-handedly try to uncover the circumstances of his death. But in an investigation that's already met with resistance, someone in the police force also appears to be standing in their way.
Directed by Catherine MorsheadWritten by Matthew GrahamGuest stars Joseph Millson, Roger Allam, Adrian Dunbar, Joseph Long, Declan Rodgers
Episode 3
Animal rights activists have threatened a series of attacks in London and the first victim, the daughter of a commercial laboratory owner, is in hospital. Gene orders his team not to sleep until those responsible are behind bars. Their first stop is a prison where Robin Elliot, a known animal rights campaigner, is serving time for killing a scientist in the 1970s. Alex is convinced that Robin knows about the planned attacks, but with no contact with the outside world, there doesn't appear to be any way for him to be involved. Robin's eerily prescient knowledge of the future makes Alex think that he could be involved not only with the case, but with her own fate; having heard the voices of ambulancemen, Alex worries that hope is fading for her survival in the present day.
Directed by Ben BoltWritten by Nicole TaylorGuest stars Roger Allam, David Bradley, Joseph Long, Rory Kinnear
Episode 4
A face from Gene's old stomping ground of Manchester shows up called Jackie Queen. Jackie is a reporter who is investigating teenagers who traveled to London from the north and have disappeared.
Directed by Ben BoltWritten by Ashley PharoahGuest stars John Bowe, Roger Allam, Adrian Dunbar, Joseph Long, Ruth Millar, Adrian Schiller
Episode 5
When a violent burglary occurs at Alex's in-laws' house, she comes face-to-face with their son Peter, the 14-year-old future father of Molly! Alex is desperate to help Molly's grandparents all she can, but Gene wants a big collar to bury the press stories of police corruption, and dismisses the case as trivial. When the fingerprints from the crime scene reveal the burglar was George Staines, a notorious gangster, now supposedly dead, Gene realises this could be the catch he was after. Alex remembers hearing stories about the burglary, and is convinced that she would remember if the culprit was as infamous as Staines. Gene is determined to uncover the truth and get the headline he deserves. Alex finally meets the mysterious man who has been leaving roses in her apartment and office. He tells her that she can go home to see her daughter again, but involves her becoming corrupt.
Directed by Philip JohnWritten by Julie RutterfordGuest stars Sara Stewart, Adrian Dunbar, Perry Millward, Joseph Long, Rita Davies, Rory MacGregor
Episode 6
After a dead body is found in the canal it is identified as Colin Mitchell. Alex is certain that the dead man's wife Donna is not telling everything and she is determined to uncover the truth. Back in 2008, Alex has surgery to remove the bullet from her brain.
Directed by Philip JohnWritten by Jack LothianGuest stars Adrian Dunbar, Tom Georgeson, Joseph Long, Geff Francis, Daisy Haggard, Sam Spruell
Episode 7
CID find a body buried in concrete as they investigate a drugs drop at a building site. Alex thinks she is getting better and will soon wake up in her own time. Working on the case though starts to clash with her wish to be back home.
Directed by Catherine MorsheadWritten by Mark GreigGuest stars Amelia Bullmore, Adrian Dunbar, Joseph Long
Episode 8
After Alex catches an infection back in 2008, she knows the doctors think she wont pull through. Distance grows between Alex and Gene and their relationship is put under the greatest strain yet.
Directed by Catherine MorsheadWritten by Matthew GrahamGuest stars Adrian Dunbar, Joseph Long
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Keeley HawesAlex Drake
Philip GlenisterGene Hunt
Dean AndrewsRay Carling
Marshall LancasterChris Skelton
Montserrat LombardShaz Granger
Daniel MaysJim Keats
Geoffrey PalmerLord Scarman
John BoweRalph Jarvis
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
BBC Cymru WalesUnited Kingdom
