I know, it’s completely absurd at my age to be obsessed by a television programme, let alone one apparently scripted by hormonal teenage boys and based on the infantile premise of time travel. However: Keeley Hawes’ Eighties detective in Ashes to Ashes is so straightforwardly fabulous that I defy anyone to resist. Last night even the supercool DCI Gene Hunt appeared to be quivering internally as the lovely Hawes turned the full force of her puppy-dog eyes on his pock-marked face (that’s what a diet of oxtail soup and fags does to you).

Crucially, no one works the Eighties flashback trend as successfully as Hawes. This time it was a black jumpsuit, boots and a white leather jacket, worn with considerable panache. Most significant of all, however, was Hawes’s blue eyeshadow, a masterpiece of shading and feathering.

Blue eye make-up has a bit of a reputation. In the Fifties and Sixties it was worn by strung-out housewives; in the Eighties it became the preserve of blonde Sloanes, accessorised with Sun-in and that other Eighties classic, Ultraglow (remember Ultraglow? It made everyone the colour of terracotta tiling, and they also did those weird neon lipsticks that changed shade when you put them on). The trouble is, blue eye make-up is only really successful on brunettes or darker skins — it looks especially good on black or brown skins. It eventually evolved into the more forgiving plum, an excellent choice for hazel or green eyes.

Aspiring DI Drakes might like to try Avon SuperShock Mascara in teal, above right, £8 (avonshop.co.uk), a seriously vibrant shade of bluey-green. For eyeliner, try MAC Technakohl Liner in Auto-de-blu, £11.26 (maccosmetics.co.uk). On lips it has to be Bobbi Brown Metallic Lip Colour in gilded pink, right, £14.68 (bobbibrown.co.uk): shimmer like you’ve never seen before, featuring a unique combination of high-shine emollients and light-reflective pearls.

Hairwise, it can only be bendy rollers. Astonishingly, you can still buy these from Boots: Essentials Bendy Rollers, £5.60. Boost that barnet with John Freida Volume Thickening Mousse (£5.37) and finish with the obligatory cloud of Elnett (£4.17) — all available nationwide or via boots.com. Soopadoopa, as the man says.

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