George Gently
Lee Ingleby plays John Bacchus
What was it that attracted you to this particular script?
I thought it was very different from the normal cop show; it's driven by the relationships of the main characters more than anything.
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The thing I enjoyed most was Gently and Bacchus' different styles and methods to policing. They differ in age and they're from different parts of the country, so they are two entirely different people trying to learn to respect each other.
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Can you tell us about Bacchus and how he fits into the drama?
Bacchus is a local copper who is at the top of the tree in his particular constabulary. So when Gently arrives, it feels as though someone is suddenly there policing his
methods and ability. He 100% believes that he is doing things the best way and can't understand why he needs someone coming up from the Met meddling in his case.
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Bacchus wants to run before he can walk, but George treats him like a pupil and tries to teach him before he falls prey to bad policing methods. Bacchus wants to join the Met and move on and finds it a massive injustice that George reins him back.
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Did you have to do any research to get into character?
Research was mainly to do with the period it was set in, because attitudes were a
lot different then – attitudes to culture, society and policing. Forensic science
was in its infancy and new methods were being introduced.
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It was a time when the
younger generation were standing up and being counted as it were. I had to look at
how Bacchus would integrate with, say, the bikers. He's a career-minded young man,
who can be old-fashioned, compared to some of his contemporaries – although he
wouldn't think so!
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How does the relationship between Bacchus and George develop over the course of the programme?
I think Bacchus is excited that someone is coming to shake things up, but he's a bit disappointed when Gently arrives, he thinks he's a bit of a fuddy duddy, a bit old fashioned and not really a "modern man".
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Gently thinks that Bacchus is a young upstart with illusions of grandeur, thinking he's better than he actually is. By the end they do find some mutual ground and it's important to Bacchus that Gently approves of him, he wants to be respected by someone so experienced and highly regarded.
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What is your perception of the Sixties? Has it changed since working on George Gently?
I think it was an exciting time, attitudes were changing overnight. I'm a big fan of the music and clothing – I'm quite thin, so the clothes seem to suit me.
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I've always been a Beatles and a Stones Fan. We've come so far and it was only 45 years or so ago! Police methods and forensics have come on a lot.
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What do you think the appeal of George Gently is?
I like getting to know the people I'm watching – being passionate and caring about the characters that you're watching and you get that with George Gently. You really get to understand what makes them tick.
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