Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Martin Shaw returns to Sixties Northumberland in Inspector George Gently with two new feature-length films written by Peter Flannery (The Devil's Whore, Our Friends In The North) and Stewart Harcourt (Miss Marple, Jericho) for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One.

This classic series, with its growling, passionate detective hero (Shaw) and his headstrong, un-pc sidekick, Bacchus (Lee Ingleby), lovingly recreates the Swinging Sixties as it finally hits the North East. Full of warmth and humour, seen through their "perfect" copper partnership, Inspector George Gently brings a colourful nostalgia to the period; when darned socks and a clout round the head were the norm. The series also gives a fascinating insight into a society on the cusp of change, and the difficulties that the police had to face in the Sixties to investigate and solve their crimes – without the help of modern technology.

Writer Peter Flannery says: "Inspector George Gently has taken on a new lease of life since the series came home to its geographical and spiritual roots last year. The city of Durham – in true Geordie fashion – has welcomed the show with open arms and the cast and crew simply love being there."

In the first film, Gently Upside Down, Gently and Bacchus are thrown into the new world of pop and media celebrity when a schoolgirl vanishes and her friend is catapulted into the public eye. Guest stars include: Neil Morrissey, Vincent Regan, Louise Delamere, Kaye Wragg, Sean Gilder and Christopher Coghill; introducing Kate Bracken.

The second film, Goodbye China written by Peter Flannery, delves into police brutality and corporal punishment when a youth disappears and an old "grass" of Gently's dies. Guest stars include: Neil Pearson, Dean Lennox Kelly, Christine Bottomley, Mark Benton, Lucy Akhurst, Shaun Prendergast and Alexandra Gilbreath.

Inspector George Gently is made by Company Pictures, executive produced by Peter Flannery, George Faber and Charles Pattinson for Company Pictures and Claire Ingham for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One. It is produced by Caroline Levy (Apparitions, Cape Wrath) and directed by Gillies Mackinnon (Hideous Kinky, Above Suspicion) and Nicholas Renton (When Harvey Met Bob, A Room With A View). Inspector George Gently was re-commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama Commissioning.

A further two films of Inspector George Gently have already been commissioned by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to be filmed in 2012.

Inspector George Gently is filmed on location in Durham and the North East.

Notes to Editors

Company Pictures is one of the UK's largest independent film and television drama production companies. Television production highlights include: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two's The Shadow Line, Elizabeth I (winner of three Golden Globes), eight series of Shameless (Channel 4: BAFTA and RTS Awards), Skins – five series for E4, Martina Cole's The Take (Sky One), Einstein and Eddington starring David Tennant (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One/HBO), Generation Kill (HBO), The Devil's Whore (Channel 4), Wild at Heart – six series (ITV1) and, most recently, the US version of Skins for MTV.

New productions in 2011 include: The Shadow Line, Women In Love starring Rosamund Pike for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four, Beaver Falls, a new series for E4, Martina Cole's The Runaway for Sky One and new seasons of Shameless, Skins and Wild At Heart (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One).

DG