Inspector George Gently Explained

Genre:Crime drama
Creator:Peter Flannery
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:8
Num Episodes:25
List Episodes:
  1. Episode list
Executive Producer:Peter Flannery
Polly Hill
George Faber
Charles Pattinson
Producer:Matthew Bird
Peter Norris
Jake Lushington
Location:England/Republic of Ireland
Cinematography:Peter Robertson
Runtime:90 minutes
Company:Company Pictures
Channel:BBC One

Inspector George Gently (also known as George Gently for the pilot and first series) is a British crime drama television series produced by Company Pictures for BBC One, set in the 1960s and loosely based on some of the Inspector Gently novels written by Alan Hunter. The series stars Martin Shaw as the eponymous inspector and Lee Ingleby as Detective Sergeant John Bacchus, with Simon Hubbard and Lisa McGrillis in supporting roles as police constables in the fictitious North East Constabulary.

The series moved the setting of the stories to North East England, centring on Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and County Durham, as opposed to the Norfolk setting in the books. The death penalty is still in effect in Britain as the series begins, and it is used as a plot feature in some early episodes. The abolition of the death penalty in 1965 is noted in the series. The earliest episodes are set in 1964 with the eighth series taking place in 1970.

After fair ratings for the first three series, the BBC secured funding from the North East Content Fund to produce further episodes. The fourth series was filmed between January and June 2011, and was broadcast that autumn. On 26 March 2012, the BBC announced that four new feature-length episodes were being produced to be shown later the same year.[1] The fifth series ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, with the fate of both leading characters uncertain. However, in September 2012, the lead writer, Peter Flannery, confirmed that a sixth series, consisting of four episodes, had been commissioned.[2] The sixth series was shown in February 2014. A seventh series of four episodes was subsequently commissioned, and began being broadcast in April 2015.[3] The eighth and final series was broadcast in 2017.[4]

Cast

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Pilot
12
24
32
42
54
64
74
82

Episode list

Series 2 (2009)

The show's title is changed to 'Inspector' George Gently.

Series 4 (2011)

The show's theme song and opening credits sequence no longer appear starting with this series.

Series 8 (2017)

Filming for the eighth series began in January 2017. It was subsequently confirmed that this would be the final series, and it would comprise two feature-length episodes, set in 1970, written as a way to "close" the series. Company Pictures CEO Michele Buck commented: "We felt the character was coming to a natural end, and wanted to bring the audience an ambitious and exciting conclusion to such a well-loved show."[6] Episode Two was originally set to air on 28 May 2017, but was postponed due to its proximity to the general election in the UK, given that the storyline – not confirmed at the time – dealt with a controversial politician.[7] [8]

DVD

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Inspector George Gently Returns in Four New Feature-Length Episodes. BBC. 26 March 2012. 30 November 2017.
  2. News: Writersroom interviews...Peter Flannery. 17 September 2012. 30 November 2017. BBC News. It's just been commissioned for a 6th series, in fact, which will take us up to 19 films.
  3. Louise Brealey to Star with Vic Reeves in Inspector George Gently. Radio Times. Susanna Lazarus. 30 October 2014.
  4. Web site: Inspector George Gently Will End After 10 Years. Harp. Justin. Digital Spy. 19 January 2017. 30 November 2017.
  5. Web site: Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week). BARB. https://web.archive.org/web/20070418100604/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500. 18 April 2007. dead. dmy-all.
  6. News: Inspector George Gently to end after eight series. Radio Times. 19 January 2017. 5 July 2017. 18 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170718215933/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-01-19/inspector-george-gently-to-end-after-eight-series. dead. dmy-all.
  7. News: Cumberbatch. Aime. Viewers left hanging after Inspector George Gently finale moved. Evening standard. 30 November 2017.
  8. News: Why is the final Inspector George Gently episode not airing this Sunday?. Radio Times. 27 May 2017. 30 November 2017.