It's not hitting our screens until early next year, but the third and final series of Ashes To Ashes has now started shooting. So here's what we've got on the series thus far:

* The series will definitely be the final one for Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt, who has ruled out returning to the role once producing on Ashes To Ashes' third series is over. That's likely to end the franchise as it were once and for all, given that Gene Hunt has been at the heart of both Ashes and Life On Mars.

* The new series, once more, moves the action on a year. Thus, it'll be set in 1983.

* The show is being filmed in high definition for the first time, too.

* Rumour suggests that the third series will start screening in February 2010. It's running for eight episodes.

* An assortment of photos from the shoot have begun cropping up online. Here's a collection from Cathode Ray Tube.

* And here's the biggie: we're promised that series three will reveal just who Gene Hunt is, and what he's actually all about. Given the cliffhanger at the end of series two, it's fair to assume that there could be a little role reversal this time round for DCI Hunt, and it's going to be interesting to see just how that plays out.

More news on the show as we get it...