By now, you’ve surely all watched the fantastic new instalment of detective hit series, Inspector George Gently. The first episode of the new series covered some heavy subject material and revealed a hefty twist in the story. We spoke to stars Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby about the episode and what else there is to come in series seven. Beware, spoilers everywhere.
The main theme of this episode is prejudice. How important do you think it is to cover a story about rape? What do you hope audiences can learn about it?
Martin: I think it’s very important that television drama does tackle issues rather than just tell whodunit stories about detectives. I think it’s important to remind people because drama is there to reflect life and make people think. Attitudes in 1969/70 were not as enlightened as they are now, and so it’s good to remind people where we’ve come from and where we’re going.
Lee: It is. I think an interesting scene was when Bacchus is in the interview room with the victim and already he’s a bit dismissive. And when he finds out she’s a prostitute, he thinks she’s asking for it, so why make any complaint of it? I remember thinking would people really think like that? Then we watched a documentary set in the ‘70s, so even later [than Inspector George Gently], and there were a lot of people who did dismiss rape as not serious. It was really strange. So I think it’s quite clever to highlight it and also play a guy who was ignorant about it affected people and the severity of it. I’m glad that Bacchhus learns a lesson and sees it for how it is. I think he does learn from it ultimately. I think that’s the good thing about Peter’s writing: a lot of the issues are dealt with aren’t that rare, they still hold truth.
I liked how Bacchus prejudices lifted over the course of the episode. What do you think had the most influence over that change in beliefs?
Lee: I think it was probably Gently and being thrown into the lion’s den as it were. Being forced to confront it rather than dismiss it as some jovial joke. He sees how it affects Rachel. The fact that the woman that’s he’s in love with’s husband is a guy who disrespects and mistreats women. I think that’s when it hits home.
There’s a big reveal at the end of this episode: Gently is suffering silently from MS. How was this storyline researched?
Martin: It was researched as thoroughly as possible, and every time we come to a scene in which it features accurate information was only a phone call away on what the physical symptoms would be at that point in the disease.
When did you find out the writers were taking your character in this direction?
Martin: It was discussed early on. What we arrived at was that the symptoms could come and go, which they do with MS, and it shouldn’t really affect George’s ability to do the job and be active, but it’s more of a mental worry for him, and something that he and Bacchus can eventually share as their own secret.
Lee, can you shed any light on Bacchus’ response to Gently having MS?
Lee: George and Bacchus both have secrets they’re not willing to share. In both cases they detect there’s something going on with the other. They try to weedle whatever it is they other is harbouring out of the other, but they’re not willing to talk about it openly even though they’re friends.
Rachel (Lisa McGrillis) seems to have a greater role in this series so far. Is this going to continue?
Lee: Yeah! She becomes part of the team, much to Bacchus’ dismay.
Martin: She’s a new member of the team and she brings a different feminine cast onto the whole thing, and it just completes the triangle. Lisa’s so good, and we’re so fond of her. Brilliant. She’s also very funny, which is important. [Rachel and Bacchus are] Gently’s children really, they’re so good.
How is Rachel going to challenge Bacchus?
Lee: After Bacchus was shot in series 5, it frightened him and he lost his faith and ambition. I think if anything fires his ambition it’s probably his jealousy and envy of Rachel, who is efficient and intelligent and I think he feels his job is slightly threatened. He’s more of a hands on approach where Rachel’s more of a paperwork. One can’t get the other thing really, you know going out there with your fists and pointing and shouting at people can only be so much. Likewise, like doing the paperwork ain’t gonna get a confession out of somebody. I think Gently sees that and plays them off against each other to get the best out of them.