The Stage

BBC1 casts Shaw in Gently detective series

Published Thursday 22 February 2007 at 17:10 by Liz Thomas

Martin Shaw is to star in the title role of George Gently in a new detective drama set in sixties Britain for BBC1.

Peter Flannery, who penned BBC2’s acclaimed series Our Friends in the North, has adapted Alan Hunter’s series of novels for the small screen. Shaw, who has most recently been seen in the Corporation’s long-running Judge John Deed, will appear alongside Robin Hood favourite Richard Armitage, Phil Davis and Lee Ingleby.

The single 90-minute film tackles police corruption and East End gangsters when the country was at the brink of a social and sexual revolution.

Peter Flannery commented: “George Gently is a hugely interesting character and I know that Martin will bring him to life perfectly. The youthful rebellion element of the film - the jukebox cafes, biker gangs and drugs-running - contrast brilliantly with Gently’s old-school persona, and the spectacular landscapes, including wild fells and rugged coastline, really add to the dramatic visual style of the piece.”

The success of the “nostalgic” Life on Mars has spawned a number of similar retrospective dramas. The Corporation are also lining up follow-up set in the eighties entitled Ashes to Ashes.

George Gently is being made by Shameless producer Company Pictures and will broadcast in the spring.