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TV SERIES · 2007–2017 · UK

Inspector George Gently

Episodes
25
Original title
George Gently

9 archived facts 2 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

Alan Hunter's George Gently novels are set in East Anglia, but the TV series relocates the story to County Durham.

9 Interesting Facts About Inspector George Gently

Interesting Facts (8)

  1. #001

    Starting with Series 3, filming moved to County Durham. Production was based at the old Whinney Hill School, which doubles as the front of the police station and looks out over Durham Cathedral.

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  2. #002

    An informant named China first appeared in Alan Hunter's debut George Gently novel, published in 1955. As a tribute, author Ken Bruen included an informant called China in his first Jack Taylor novel in 2001.

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  3. #003

    When the series launched in 2007, Martin Shaw was 62, already several years beyond the average retirement age for a senior investigating officer at the time.

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  4. #004

    The last episode had been scheduled for 28 May 2017 but was pushed back, since its plot involved a controversial politician and fell close to the UK general election.

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  5. #005

    George Gently is a former boxer and a World War II veteran who prefers to avoid force but will use it when necessary.

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  6. #006

    Despite Sergeant Bacchus's initial resistance, Gently brings one of the first female detectives to his headquarters.

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  7. #007

    Set in the 1960s, the series has characters smoking constantly, even in the office, and the writer wondered whether the cigarettes were real.

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  8. #008

    Actors on the series usually smoked prop cigarettes or herbal alternatives containing no tobacco or nicotine, though Gently appeared to inhale.

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Behind the Scenes (1)

  1. #009

    Alan Hunter's George Gently books take place in East Anglia, in the Norfolk area where he grew up, while the TV adaptation moves the setting to County Durham; Series 1 and 2 were shot in Ireland because of various financial incentives.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

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