Thankfully, that wait will come to an end on March 7th.

If you’ve somehow managed to restrain yourself up ’til this point and don’t already know the storyline of “Ashes to Ashes,” here’s the deal: just as Sam Tyler was a modern-day cop transported back to the ’70s on “Life on Mars,” now it’s single mother and Detective Inspector Alex Drake who finds herself back in 1981…and, yes, she’ll be facing everyone’s favorite politically incorrect cop, Gene Hunt.

Music-wise, I’m particularly excited to hear what tunes will be offered up, given how many ’80s songs have been part of the soundtrack of my life, and it sounds like co-creator and writer Ashley Pharaoh has got quite a treat in store.

“In actual time, I was 21 in 1981, so I sadly was a New Romantic and had too much makeup and ribbons in my hair, so it was very dear to me, that stuff, and it was always going to be the soundtrack of ‘Ashes to Ashes,'” said Pharaoh. “Actually, we recreate a very famous New Romantic club from Soho: The Ritz Club. And Steve Strange, who ran the Ritz Club, guested in the episodes. Steve very Strange, we think he is, though.”

One of the first things Pharaoh wanted to do with a “Life on Mars” sequel was to change the male-male dynamic of the original series and bring a woman right into the heart of things.

“‘Life On Mars’ references back to sort of very male, British cop shows in the ’70s,” he explained, “and we wanted more sort of a ‘Moonlighting”’ feel, a brighter sense. And we thought it would be really good fun to take Gene Hunt on a journey with a very strong woman, feminist, intellectual from our time. The actress, Keeley Hawes, I’d worked with her before; I did a Thomas Hardy adaptation with her, ‘Under the Greenwood Tree,’ and I was knocked out. Whenever we met the producers and the writers with our little short list of actresses, she was always on the top, so it was a no-brainer, really, and I think it was a wonderful performance she gives as Alex Drake.”

Pharaoh seemed surprised when a critic suggested that “Ashes to Ashes” has a darker feel than its predecessor. “I think it’s funnier and brighter,” he said, “and the palette is brighter. In the early ’80s, it’s so inherently funny and silly, and people’s clothes were so ridiculous that it was very hard not to keep laughing.” (He admitted, however, that the second season of the show, which is in production right now, is definitely darker, tackling police corruption.)

Lastly, if you’re wondering, both Pharaoh and Glenister have been keeping tabs on the American version of “Life on Mars,” with the former having seen up through the eighth episode.

“They invited me up for the read-through in New York,” said Pharaoh, “and I was back there a month ago and was sort of hanging around on set. We have a fantastic relationship with them. They’re very generous, very interested in what we did, the mistakes we made, and the decisions we made. It feels part of the ‘Life On Mars’ family; I’m very proud of it. I was lucky enough to meet Harvey (Keitel) at the read-through, and there aren’t many actors I meet in my life…apart from Philip, obviously…who I’m nervous about meeting, and it was amazing to meet him and on his home patch, and the first thing he said to me was…”

“‘How is Phil?'” interrupted Glenister.

“He thought it was an awesome performance,” said Pharaoh. “And he borrowed my phone and phoned you, didn’t he?”

“He did,” Glenister confirmed. “I spoke to Harvey, and he was fantastic. I turned into a bit of what we call a bit of lovey over here. And he asked me…can you believe Harvey Keitel asked me, ‘Any notes about playing Gene Hunt?’ And I said something very silly like, ‘Oh, just enjoy, Harvey. Just enjoy.’ And he promised that he would wear the white slip-on shoes as an homage to me, which is one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever been paid, quite frankly.”

“I think in a later episode they blow up a restaurant called Glenister’s.”

“What do you mean, blow it up?” demanded Glenister, with mock outrage. “That’s not a very good sign, is it?

“A homage to you,” Pharaoh assured him.

“Ashes to Ashes” makes its US premiere on BBC America on March 7.