For our next trick.. EXCLUSIVE The stars of TV's top-rated show on their chemistry.

Byline: BY MARK JEFFERIES and SARA WALLIS

THE simmering sexual tension between them has helped make New Tricks one of the hottest shows on TV.

Twenty years after Amanda Redman and Dennis Waterman had a passionate fling in real life, the ex-lovebirds are reigniting their dynamic relationship onscreen - in the drama about a mismatched squad of ageing detectives.

And the couple's unique chemistry is proving a massive ratings hit - New Tricks is the BBC's most watched show this summer.

But what do Amanda (who plays DS Sandra Pullman) and Dennis (DS Gerry Standing) really think of each other? Here they share the secrets of their close friendship...

New Tricks, Monday, BBC1, 9pm

FROM The Sweeney to Minder, Dennis Waterman has always been something of a babe magnet on the silver screen.

So it's no surprise that the sexual sparks are flying between his New Tricks character, bad boy detective Gerry Standing, and boss Sandra, played by Amanda Redman.

Of course, the fact that Dennis, a father of two, once had a fling with Amanda has, he says, nothing to do with it!

"I'm lucky that my relationship with Amanda on the show has been absolutely great," says 60-year-old Dennis.

"It's more than 20 years since we had a relationship. Putting it mildly, when we were together it was the wrong time and when we split we both realised the situation was impossible.

"It wasn't acrimonious.

If it had been, it would have been difficult for us to work together again, all these years later, on New Tricks.

"But as it's turned out, working with her again has been fantastic because she's just a totally great bird.

"She's one of those incredible women who can be amazingly glamorous and female, yet still be one of the lads.

"Also because of our history we've been able to smile at certain things that others don't even know we're smiling at. It's been the reverse of a difficult situation."

Starring with Amanda is not the only reason Dennis enjoys going to work.

"I think part of the reason we all keep coming back for more series of New Tricks goes beyond the fact that it's a real crowd pleaser and that it attracts such big audiences," he says.

"The show also feels very personal to us all. We love the characters and we love the familiarity of the show. And if we didn't it wouldn't work in the same way at all. What you see onscreen is a reflection of the rela relationships off screen. We are all genuinely good friends and I think that shows.

"It goes beyond the immediate circle of friends, too. It isn't just the four of us. It extends to the series' guest stars and other regular characters, like Sheila Hancock, Susan Jameson and Anthony Calf.

"At times, coming to work is like being able to see a procession of your old mates. And now, being able to act with my own daughter Hannah has added to that feeling too. Now it's family. Quite literally."

Fortunately for three-times married Dennis, who is now happily settled with long-term partner Pam Flint, getting into character couldn't be easier.

"There's a lot of bluff and bravado about Gerry," he grins. "But he's not a bad man.

"His daughters are important to him. And he's stayed on good terms with all his wives - he's even tried to pull them again, which if you ask me is abject failure. I admit, playing Gerry is not too much of a stretch.

"When I got the part, Pam called Hannah and said: 'They've got an amazing part for your father. He's a man who's had loads of wives and women surround him. I can't think where they got that idea!'"

Yet Dennis surprised himself when Pam was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder, three years ago, and he had to turn nursemaid.

"Pam is doing very well now, but it was a very tough time," he says. "When she got ill she was warned by my sisters, 'Watermans in general aren't good with people who are ill. So for f***'s sake get better!' "But it wasn't as if Pam had caught a nasty cold. This was life-threatening stuff. I had to turn over a completely new leaf.

"I'm used to Pam running the house and doing everything for me, but she needed me to do those things for her. It's inspirational to see how she dealt with her illness.

"She's a very clever woman, Pam. She knows exactly how I tick."

SHE once described Dennis Waterman as one of the "major loves" of her life. And said she "fell madly, deeply in love with him" in the short time they were together.

Amanda Redman fell for his charms when they co-starred in the stage musical Windy City in 1982. And although both she and Dennis were with other people at the time - he was also seeing Rula Lenska under the nose of his second wife, Patricia Maynard - they began an 18-month affair.

So things could have been embarrassing when they were cast in New Tricks - especially given the sexual tension between their characters.

But 49-year-old Amanda, who has been with toy boy partner Damian Schnabel (12 years her junior) since 1999, insists not.

"There is no awkwardness between Dennis and me, even though we had a relationship in the 80s," says Amanda.

"We have a great relationship and are able to joke about that time.

"We're friends off set, too, and Damian and I often socialise with Dennis and his partner, Pam Flint. Last time we went round it turned into an all-night karaoke session."

With New Tricks now in its fifth series, Amanda has also become firm friends with her other co-stars, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong.

"We've worked together so long that we can all second-guess each other now," she says. "There's a shorthand between us all.

"I look forward to coming into work because there is a real family feeling on set. And that is reflected in the drama.

"There is a kind of chemistry that comes from the friendships and that's not something you can make up or manufacture."

They cast all pull together and have supported Amanda through some tough times.

"My brother Tim died earlier this year, which was just awful, awful," she says. "He died of pneumonia at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton - he was only 43. Not old at all.

"My mum was with him every day and she phoned me up one morning and said, 'It's not looking good.' I just had this awful feeling that this was it and I said to the powers-that be on New Tricks, 'I'm sorry I have to go'.

"I got to the hospital with 15 minutes to spare. I was holding his hand when he died and mum was talking to him.

"And my poor mum. I mean to bury your son is not the natural order of things. She is utterly devastated. I was also close to him and, of course, I suddenly realised that I'm an only child now."

Amanda, who is mum to 20-year-old Emily, is no stranger to tragedy. She has suffered six miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies - the second of which, 15 years ago, nearly proved fatal.

"My brother's death does make me think about mortality, although I've had so many close scrapes with the children issue," she says.

"But mostly I have been dealing with the sadness of losing Tim. Without the support of everyone on New Tricks, I'd have folded.

"I went back to work immediately afterwards, which was the best therapy really. People were incredibly kind and supportive."

Amanda is one of the youngest cast members but she still worries about her age.

"It's true, I don't like the process of getting older," she sighs. "Actually I'm dreading the thought of my 50th birthday next year. I'll probably just go abroad with Damian and a few friends rather than have a big party.

"I'm sure there must be benefits to getting older - although I can't think of any!

"Aside from the vanity side of things, people of your own age start to die and you realise that you're very soon going to be the carer of your parent.

"Career-wise, too, the '50s are not a brilliant time for actresses. It's improved a lot for women in their '40s, but not yet for women in their '50s.

"As a friend of mine said to me, 'Think about it. Would they have done New Tricks the other way round?'

"A youngish guy in charge of three older retired women detectives?

"It would never have happened."

Dennis on Amanda

Working with her is fantastic - she's a totally great bird

Amanda on Dennis

Last time we met it turned into an all-night karaoke session..

8.7 million Number of viewers who watched this week's episode of New Tricks

CAPTION(S):

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION Amanda and Dennis in BBC1's New Tricks; CO-STARS Dennis with James Bolam and Alun Armstrong; LOVERS Dennis and Amanda on stage in Windy City, in 1982