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Inspector George Gently.

(59 Posts)
lefthanded Thu 30-Apr-15 08:04:51

Did anybody else notice a silly anachronism in last night's Inspector Gently. When they were observing arrivals at the brothel in the opening scenes they described to Ford Zephyr (lovely car, by the way) as having the registration number HUA 222B, but when the WPC was trying to trace the owner of it she gave the number over the telephone as B222 HUA (which would denote a vehicle registered in 1984).

ninathenana Thu 30-Apr-15 08:26:03

No, I missed that grin DH and I really enjoyed it though.

Katek Thu 30-Apr-15 08:53:40

Didn't spot that but it's one of my favourite programmes. Just pipped into second place for me by Foyle's War.

pompa Thu 30-Apr-15 09:16:01

Great drama. loved it, glad I didn't spot the mistake, I obviously wouldn't make a detective. Will have to look at it again on recording.

Jane10 Thu 30-Apr-15 09:17:43

Don't forget Judge John Deed Katek! Loved all those programmes. They do them so well. I much prefer a longer episode which is complete than an hour long cliffhanger sort of thing.

daffydil Thu 30-Apr-15 09:27:18

I love Judge John Deed as well as George Gently too Jane. Wouldn't miss either of them. I am big fan of Martin Shaw too.

Charleygirl Thu 30-Apr-15 09:31:18

I also did not notice the mistake but I did enjoy the programme. Like Vera, I prefer to watch the entire episode rather than split it, with my brain I usually have totally forgotten what went on the week before.

annodomini Thu 30-Apr-15 09:34:51

Yes, I noticed that anachronism, but apart from that I found the episode engrossing, and, I think, probably quite authentic in the 1950s/60s attitudes to women and rape it portrayed. Now worried about Gently's health.

Katek Thu 30-Apr-15 09:36:40

I've seen a couple of episodes of John Deed and quite enjoyed them, must see ifvI can record sone. Cream of the crop for me though really has to be Morse with the late lamented John Thaw.

Katek Thu 30-Apr-15 09:37:20

Fat finger syndrome this morning....sorry for typos!

lefthanded Thu 30-Apr-15 10:05:14

I like Martin Shaw in it, even if his accent does slip from time to time. But Lee Ingleby seems all wrong to me - much too young to be a Det. Sergeant.

Eloethan Thu 30-Apr-15 10:14:03

I thought it was a very good programme last night - and quite relevant to some of our own discussions in that it shone a light on the sort of attitude and behaviour towards women that was prevalent in those days. I expect many people then thought that those who complained about inequality issues were making a lot of fuss about nothing.

I wonder if there really were such progressive police officers as Insp. Gently in those days? I suppose there were, but I should imagine they were pretty thin on the ground.

rosesarered Thu 30-Apr-15 11:19:19

I have never watched this, but a couple of days ago decided to record episodes, from the trailers it looks as if it's set in the 60's.
I really like Foyle's War as well.

Iam64 Thu 30-Apr-15 14:34:03

I enjoyed last night's episode and I think Eloethan is right, that attitudes to rape within what where then largely male/macho teams of detectives were less than sympathetic.
My dad was a CID inspector during the period when this series is set. He died several years ago, but I confess last night to seeing him in the Gently role. I remember him talking with real admiration and affection for the woman who was his sergeant in the late 60's and early 70's. He hadn't been overly keen on women in CID but was a total convert within a short period of time. I came across her years later when she was working at the police training college, where I was a tutor on the 10 day courses for sw/police involved in specialist interviews of children who had made allegations of abuse. I have kept my maiden name, which isn't that common and she mentioned she'd worked with a "lovely cid boss with the same name as you". It was very good to meet this woman about whom I'd heard such positive things. We did a lot of work together and I shared dad's admiration for her.

pompa Thu 30-Apr-15 15:30:57

I'm of the opinion that much of the police were both s exist and racist at that time. I guess their were some good guys, but they were ignored.

PRINTMISS Thu 30-Apr-15 15:59:48

I agree with you there pompa and it was the same wherever you went, or worked,it has taken a very long time for things to be as they are at the moment, not perfect yet, but with the multi-cultural country we live in now, things had to change, didn't they?

PRINTMISS Thu 30-Apr-15 16:03:19

Forgot to say that I too enjoy George Gently, one of the nice civilised programmes on t.v. at the moment.

Coolgran65 Thu 30-Apr-15 16:52:17

I got quite annoyed at the attitude of the police - and most of the time I could slap the young Sergeant anyway.
My dh was in the force most of his working life and he was cross at it.

Stansgran Thu 30-Apr-15 18:24:35

I spent most of it trying to identify places in Durham. It was good fun. I don't remember this episode in any of the books.

J52 Thu 30-Apr-15 18:28:06

Stansgran; I was trying to place the seaside pier, shrouded in fog. The only place I could think of was Saltburn. But somehow it didn't really look like there. x

Iam64 Thu 30-Apr-15 18:54:36

Coolgran - interesting that those of us with loved ones who worked during the period in question are aware the stereotypes are just that, stereotypes grin Not to say there weren't racist, sexist individuals but the police are representative of the society in which they live. i stand by the positive comments about my dad, and the men he worked with who were regular neighbours or visitors - kind is the word that springs to mind.

pompa Thu 30-Apr-15 22:27:42

There certainly were good officers trying to make a difference, and as things have improved significantly, they were eventually listened to.

harrigran Fri 01-May-15 00:22:32

The pier, shrouded in fog, was the same one they used in Vera the week before. I think it was Northumberland.
I think this series is way better than the previous ones.

loftyeric Fri 01-May-15 05:31:14

Definitely noticed the mistake with the registration number on the Zephyr. (a car I would love to own). Had to double check via iplayer! As a car pedant I shouted at the TV. Also noticed a car with a reflective yellow number plate. Can't remember what year they came in, although thought it was the early '70s.

lefthanded Fri 01-May-15 09:34:29

I missed the yellow number-plate. That would definitely have annoyed me! I'm pleased to see that I'm not the only one who puts more energy into trying to identify the locations than into following the programs.

When I was working, our offices were in a part of Cardiff frequently used for filming Dr Who and Torchwood. I could never watch either program without "location spotting".