One Flash of Light But No Smoking Pistol: BBC America Acquires "Life on Mars" Sequel "Ashes to Ashes"

Christmas has once again come early. Fans of British import drama Life on Mars can look forward to the launch of its sequel Ashes to Ashes on BBC America in the new year.

The digital cabler announced today that it had acquired sixteen episodes of Ashes to Ashes, starring Keeley Hawes, Philip Glenister, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster, and Montserrat Lombard, and plans to launch the series in March 2009.

Ashes to Ashes, from creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, is set after the events of Life on Mars. The series follows Detective Inspector Alex Drake (Hawes), a London police profiler who finds herself seemingly sent back in time to 1981 after she's shot in the head. In 1981, she comes face to face with none other than Gene Hunt (Glenister), whom Alex recognizes from Sam Tyler's descriptions after his "return" to the present day, and becomes enmeshed in solving the mystery of who murdered her parents, even as she attempts to return home to her young daughter. Hunt, meanwhile, has left Manchester--along with flunkies Ray (Andrews) and Chris (Lancaster)--and transferred to the Metropolitan Police in London. (He's also traded in the old Cortina for a red Audi Quatro.)

While I've already seen the outstanding first season of Ashes to Ashes in full (click here to read my review of the first episode and my very spoiler-laden review of the first season finale), I am thrilled that BBC America will finally air this brilliant and nail-biting series. And I'm hoping--given the acquisition of the sixteen episodes comprising Seasons One and Two--that BBC America will air the two seasons of Ashes to Ashes consecutively as they have with fellow imports Skins and Gavin & Stacey.

UPDATE: BBC America has confirmed to me that they will be airing Season One and Season Two of Ashes to Ashes back-to-back.

Ashes to Ashes is set to launch on BBC America in March 2009.