At the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour today, at the beginning of the panel for Ashes to Ashes -- the sequel series to the original UK version of Life on Mars -- Philip Glenister ("Gene Hunt") and series creator Ashley Pharoah (appearing via satellite) were asked if they would eventually run out of David Bowie songs to reference in the titles. The two laughed, joking about eventually reaching the Tin Machine era of Bowie.

Clips from the series, which is coming to BBC America on March 7th, showed how the story follows Detective Inspector Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), a modern day police profiler. Alex is familiar with the case of Sam Tyler, the main character from Life on Mars, and is sure his story about traveling to the 1970s was all imagined – until she is shot, and wakes up in 1981. There she meets none other than Gene Hunt (Glenister, reprising his Life on Mars role), along with others matching the description given by Sam. Forced to work with him, Alex's psychological take on criminality is at odds with Gene, who is as old school as ever.

Pharoah said that when it came time to conceive Ashes to Ashes, "Our earliest decision was to change the male/male dynamic [of Life on Mars] and get a female at the center of the story." He explained that where Life on Mars, "referenced cop shows of early 70s," to reflect the 80s setting, he "wanted something more like Moonlighting" for Ashes to Ashes, adding, "We thought it would be very fun to take Gene Hunt and pair him with a very strong female; an intellectual from our time."

Pharoah had worked with Hawes before, and said he was "knocked out" by her talent. When it came time to cast Ashes to Ashes, he revealed, "She was always at the top of the list. It was a no-brainer, really."

Compared to Life on Mars, Pharoah said he felt Ashes to Ashes is "funnier and brighter. I think the palette is brighter. If we did learn a lesson, the early 80s are so inherently funny and silly, and people's clothes are so ridiculous, that it's very hard not to keep laughing." In England, Season 1 of Ashes to Ashes has already aired, and he explained that during the first season, "We went for humor too much, because it's almost too easy. The second [season] is definitely darker – it's about police corruption." He noted that Life on Mars was something that took many years of development to make it to TV, meaning they had time to really cultivate it, whereas with Ashes to Ashes, "We learned a bit as we were filming."

Gene Hunt has become a very iconic, popular character, especially in the UK. Asked about when he first was in talks for the role, Glenister said, "I enjoyed the script for Life on Mars so much. I was determined that I was the only actor who could play this part. It didn't occur until later the impact that this character would have on the public."

Pharoah admitted that when it came to the portrayal of the often brutal, always gruff Gene, "I was taken aback when he became sort of the pinup boy for the right wing press here. None of us knew Gene Hunt would become this sort of monster, in some ways. It's been a very interesting journey with him." Pharoah said he found it a bit grimly amusing to see that Gene Hunt has "Entered the political language" in the UK, noting sometimes he'll see someone say that it was "time to bring more Gene Hunts" into the police force to get the job done.

Asked what he thought of the new US remake of Life on Mars, Pharoah said he admired it, but that they were very different. Noting how short the run of the original was, he said that by its nature, it was a "more poetic show; a denser show," adding, "the textures are very different."

Glenister revealed he'd spoken on the phone to Harvey Keitel, who is playing Gene Hunt in the new version, "and he was fantastic," noting he was awed to have the acclaimed actor ask him if he "had any notes on playing Gene Hunt." His response? "I said something like, 'Just enjoy Harvey, just enjoy." Glenister said that he hoped to go to New York soon to meet Keitel and the rest of the American Life on Mars crew.

Pharoah was asked if he had an overall plan for the mythology of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, and if it was leading to a big reveal at the end. Replied Pharoah, "There is a larger mythology. Right from the start, we knew how we wanted to end. When the whole franchise comes to an end, we have a terrific ending." He added that this plan was, "Very different from the American Life on Mars," revealing that he had gotten drunk with the producers of the American version and "Swapped stories in a bar – they know my ending and I know theirs."

Asked how much longer he thinks the story could go, and if a third series set in another era was a possibility, Pharoah said no, explaining, "Two [seasons of] Life on Mars and three Ashes to Ashes would be a wonderful journey. [Then] we'd probably say thank you very much, and bow out."