Inspector George Gently stars Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby have said their gentle approach to work makes the series a welcoming place to be.

There is a 31-year age gap between Martin, 70, and Lee, 39, but the pair – who play the Inspector and his sidekick John Bacchus – said it didn’t stop them being friends.

Lee joked: “I’m the father. We’re mates.”

Martin added: “The important thing is it’s a very affectionate company. Him and me, and Lisa [McGrillis] as well and Simon Hubbard, we’re the four regulars.

“And it transfers onto our guest artists as well. Both Lee and me have this ethos, which is you need to be kind, respectful and welcoming to everybody, because we’ve all had the experience of walking into a show where that’s not the case – it’s just hard to work, you know – and it makes it more comfortable and happy for everybody.”

Inspector George Gently
Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby star in Inspector George Gently (BBC)

Martin was asked to speak to some drama students recently and said: “The first piece of advice I gave them, was be kind.

“They all thought it was going to be about how to stand, how to breathe, how to hit your mark – and all that’s important, but everything flows from kindness, because it’s a very close-knit atmosphere on set.

“It’s nearly always very tense, everybody’s tired and stressed, and if you can be as kind as possible, it really helps a lot.”

Inspector George Gently
(BBC)

However, the pair disagreed on whether the period police drama should continue on for a ninth series. Martin admitted: “Not for me.”

But Lee said: “Get out the flares. It’d be interesting to see where it would go if it carried on into the Seventies. Bit of glam rock, I’d like to see that.”

Inspector George Gently returns to BBC One on Wednesday, April 29.