Fire Up the Quattro (Mini Episode)

Fire Up the Quattro (Children in Need special)
Written by:	N/A
Director:	N/A
Previous episode:	Alex's Big Day
Next episode:	Series 2: Episode 1

Fire Up the Quattro (also known as Top Gear Meets Ashes to Ashes) is a non-canon mini-episode of Ashes to Ashes made for Children in Need 2008. It guest starred (then) Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond as himself.

Plot

While admiring the Audi Quattro in 1981, Richard Hammond is caught on the scene by DCI Gene Hunt and demanded to raise his hands in the air. After revealing his admiration for the car, he asks politely for a test drive which Hunt reluctantly agrees to after discovering Hammond co-hosts a car show "with two other blokes" and that his nickname was "Hamster" due to his height and name. Hammond gets behind the wheel and "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers (which is also the Top Gear theme) plays as he slams the Quattro into reverse. He then pulls off two smooth J-turns, then pulls alongside DI Alex Drake and invites her to join and "meet the Stig". Due to Hammond's expert driving skill, Drake agrees and Hunt walks away humiliated, telling DC Chris Skelton to shut up.

Cast

The Manc Lion meets the Hamster

.

• DCI Gene Hunt - Philip Glenister
• DI Alex Drake - Keeley Hawes
• DC Chris Skelton - Marshall Lancaster
• DS Ray Carling - Dean Andrews
• Richard Hammond - Himself

Canonicity

This episode is non-canon because behind DCI Hunt, DI Drake, DC Skelton and DS Carling have cars and vans that would not be made until the 21st Century. It is also non-canon because Hammond refers to the 2002 format of Top Gear which DI Drake recognises as a programme of "boys with their toys".

Appearances

Characters	Creatures	Events	Locations
Organisations and titles	Vehicles	Weapons and technology	Miscellanea

Characters

Dramatis personae

DCI Gene Hunt DI Alex Drake DS Ray Carling DC Chris Skelton

Other characters

Richard Hammond (First appearance)

Locations

London car park (First appearance)

Organisations and titles

Top Gear

Vehicles

Audi Quattro Toyota Yaris Caravan

Miscellanea

The Manc lion Hamster Jeremy Clarkson (Mentioned) James May (Mentioned) The Stig (Mentioned) Pudsey Bear plush toy

Music

• The Allman Brothers — Jessica

Trivia

• The title of the episode of based on the quote "Let's fire up the Quattro" which DCI Hunt makes before him and the CID team set off to rescue the kidnapped WPC Sharon Granger (A2A Series 1: Episode 1).

See also

• Ashes to Ashes does Sport Relief

External Links

• The Children in Need website
• Fire up the Quattro on the Top Gear Wiki

Episodes of Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes

Life on Mars: Series 1 (2006): Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8 Series 2 (2007): Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Ashes to Ashes: Series 1 (2008): Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Series 2 (2009): Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Series 3 (2010): Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Mini Episodes: Fire Up the Quattro (2008)   Ashes to Ashes does Sport Relief (2010)