Ashes to Ashes star: "I'd 'ave Phil Glenister"
20 April 2009
As the hot new series of Ashes to Ashes kicks off on BBC One tonight, Vijay Pattni catches up with Dean Andrews -aka Sergeant Ray Carling.
“Between Ray and Gene Hunt, Ray would probably let Gene win because he’s very loyal to him.
“But I’d ‘ave Phil in a fist fight because I’m from Yorkshire – he’s a southern softie.”
Straight-talking Yorkshireman Dean Andrews lets out a full-bellied laugh as he reveals all behind the scenes on the new series of Ashes to Ashes.
“Phil’s a tough guy on screen but off camera he’s a real funny fella’ – and a big softie.”
The northern star – who reprises his role as DCI Gene Hunt’s loyal sidekick Ray Carling – loved getting back into the role, even when it included his co-star Marshall Lancaster, who plays Chris Skelton, stripping naked.
“Marshall was parading around on set stripping for two and a half hours – it was hilarious.
“He had a box strapped over his crown jewels and the cast loved it – especially the ladies.”
Oh yes – the ladies, including a certain Keeley Hawes…
“Working with Keeley is not hard is it?” Chris says, laughing through his trademark northern tone.
“She’s far removed from ugly – she’s beautiful inside and out.”
Magnum
Surely Dean (pictured right) is a hit with the ladies himself – with his trademark moustache?
“Oh, you mean my ‘porn star’ moustache? I’m predicting it will make a return into men’s fashion by 2010.
“I’m not very good at growing them to be honest – this one took me four or five months, and it’s not even a proper ‘tache to be honest.”
And as he reveals, his on-screen 80s persona is a tough look to perfect.
“Along with maintaining the ‘tache, growing my hair and keeping it permed, I should be getting paid double.”
But his efforts have not been in vain, attracting some strange attention.
“A fan asked for a pair of my underpants once. Unwashed. I think ‘is name was Derek.”
Letting out a thunderbolt crack of laughter, Dean lets on. “It was a girl and it was a nice kind of weird, if you know what I mean.
“I was tempted to pop them in the post but my wife wouldn’t let me.”
The Dark Knight
It’s refreshing to see Dean’s kept his sense of humour, considering the new series promises to be ‘much darker and grittier’ than ever before.
“Everyone wanted it that way”, Dean explains, “and for me it was good to do. I actually like dark things to act in.
“My character, Ray, is getting aggravated about the Falklands war and starts questioning his place in the police force – it’s ticking him off in a big way.”
Thankfully, his co-stars provide a spot of light entertainment. “There’s a bit of romance going on between Chris and Shaz too.
“But let’s be honest: we get to shoot guns, watch girls get naked and drive fast in powerful cars – it’s a boy’s wet dream.”
And speaking of fast cars…Ashes has one huge supporting star: the rally-bred Audi Quattro.
“I used to work for a Vauxhall dealership after school and our depot supplied the rally cars”, Dean explains, “it was the Chevette at the time.
“Then the Quattro came along and blew us out of the water, so getting in one on Ashes after 20 years was tinged with the thought that, ‘you used to do us back then’.
“But it is a seriously sexy car.”
So sexy in fact, Phil won’t let anyone near it. “He’s like a big kid with it – won’t let nobody touch it. He is a pretty good driver though. I feel safe when he’s behind the wheel.”
Cry baby
But Dean would like to get behind the wheel of another famous motor to show up Phil on the track – Top Gear's reasonably priced Chevrolet Lacetti.
“I’d love to go on Top Gear with my co-star Marshall as a pair, and take on Phil’s time.
“We’d beat him by about ten seconds, and then he’d cry saying ‘oooh, the track was wet.”
But despite having not been asked by Top Gear, Dean stands a really good chance of getting on the show…
“I used to go to school with James May. We got together recently at a Radio Times party and he blurted out: “I was the geek, he was the sporty one’.
“We’d all have our Adidas sports bags and James May would walk around carrying a briefcase.”
The new series of Ashes to Ashes kicks off on BBC One tonight at 9pm.
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