Inspector George Gently

Series 5 - Episode 1 Gently Northern Soul

Review

by Alison Graham

The joys of northern soul and the horrors of casual racism arrive in 1968 Newcastle, leaving gruff Inspector Gently and his dullard sidekick, Detective Sergeant Bacchus, facing a wall of prejudice when a young black woman is found dead.

She’d been to a northern soul gig with her best pal (Being Human’s Lenora Crichlow) but, such are the prevailing attitudes that, apart from the victim’s closest family and friends, and Gently (Martin Shaw), no one cares that much. Even Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) is initially dismissive, writing her off as a prostitute. But his lugubrious boss is having none of it.

The handling of such a big, complex issue is well-meaning, but, in the context of a journeyman police drama, it feels lumbering.

Summary

The inspector and his ambitious sergeant John Bacchus investigate the murder of Dolores Kenny, a black woman. She is a regular attender of a local club's soul all-nighters, events popular with factory workers from across the racial divide. Gently begins to uncover evidence of prejudice within the local community and his own police force as he seeks to identify the victim's killer. Detective drama set in 1968, starring Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby, with Lenora Crichlow, Craig Conway, Pippa Bennett-Warner and Maggie O'Neill.

Cast & Crew

George Gently Martin Shaw

John Bacchus Lee Ingleby

Ambrose Kenny Eamonn Walker

Carol Morford Lenora Crichlow

Matilda Braithwaite Maggie O'Neill

Dolores Kenny Pippa Bennett-Warner

Gary Watts Craig Conway

Charlie Watts Philip Correia

Joseph Kenny Gary Carr

PC Taylor Simon Hubbard

Alfred Braxton Cliff Lee

Bernie Watts John Bowler

Reporter Ryan Bernstein

Mrs Stubbs Tracy Whitwell

Director Gillies MacKinnon

Producer Faye Dorn

Writer David Kane

Drama

Full Episode Guide

Martin Shaw on THAT shock Inspector George Gently ending: "He needed to go down in a blaze of glory"

George Gently actor Martin Shaw tells RadioTimes.com why the story had to end the way it did [SPOILERS]

Accessibility Links

Series 5 - Episode 1 Gently Northern Soul

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

Martin Shaw on THAT shock Inspector George Gently ending: "He needed to go down in a blaze of glory"

Lee Ingleby on new drama Innocent and the future of The A Word

Martin Shaw reveals why he had to say goodbye to Inspector George Gently

Viewers praise Inspector George Gently's final episode

Meet the cast of Inspector George Gently

Martin Shaw on why now is the right time to end Inspector George Gently