Inspector George Gently to be filmed in North East

Jan 6 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

A POPULAR crime drama set in the North East will finally be filmed in the region after the programme-makers received a cash incentive.

The previous three series of Inspector George Gently have been filmed in Ireland, standing in as a geographic “body double” for Durham, where the stories are largely set.

The switch to the North East came after independent film and television producer Company Pictures was awarded £150,000 from the new North East Content Fund, set up by Northern Film & Media and One North East.

Set in the 1960s, Inspector George Gently stars Martin Shaw as an old school detective trying to get to grips with modern policing.

The BBC One show also stars Lee Ingleby as Gently’s sidekick, Detective Sergeant John Bacchus.

The series, inspired by the novels of Alan Hunter, was written for TV by Jarrow-born Peter Flannery, writer of the landmark Our Friends in the North.

Producer Suzan Harrison said: “Company Pictures are delighted to be shooting the new series of Inspector George Gently feature-length films on location in Durham and the North East where the drama is actually set.

“To be able to film the series for the first time where it’s always been set brings a greater authenticity, scale and colour to the production.

“We feel very much that we are bringing Inspector George Gently home.”

Meanwhile, the makers of Joe Maddison’s War, starring Kevin Whately and Robson Green, have also received £60,000 from the Content Fund to help them shoot in the North East.

The one-off drama for ITV1 was written by Alan Plater who spent much of his youth on Tyneside.

It is set in 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War. Joe (Whately) is a shipyard worker who joins the Home Guard with his friend Harry (Green) after his wife leaves him for a younger officer.

Jon Williams, director of production and finance at film-makers Mammoth Screen Ltd, said they were grateful for the help to bring the drama “home”.

He added: “We believe that the North East is a hugely exciting region. We have already successfully secured the directing services of award-winning North East director Patrick Collerton and we relish the opportunity of working with the talented and skilled regional crew.”

In total, five projects have benefited from a £550,000 cash injection from the North East Content Fund, launched last July.