Filming has started on the new series of Inspector George Gently.

Starring Martin Shaw as Gently and Lee Ingleby (Our Zoo) as Bacchus, the period crime drama will return in 2015 with four new feature-length films set in 1969.

Lisa McGrillis (Hebburn) also returns as WPC Rachel Coles.

Series 8’s setting will feature the first landing on the moon (seen in glorious black and white on their TV screens), fluffy car dice, Pan’s People, North Sea oil and the first police in-car radios, sees the world changing at speed.

Writer Peter Flannery commented: “As the 60s draw to a close the issues facing policing seem more relevant than ever. We’re looking at the way rape complaints are met by the police – and nothing much seems to have really changed there, except perhaps the terminology. And we’re looking for the first time in IGG at corporate crime, which seems to be always with us. In Films 1 and 2 Gently makes it a personal task to challenge both vested interests and the traditional ways of doing things – to his cost. As I’m sure Neil Armstrong MEANT to say: one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind’.”

Series 8 will be filmed on location in Durham and the North East.

Series 7 aired on BBC One in February.

> Buy the Series 1-3 DVD boxset on Amazon.

Are you looking forward to Series 8? Let us know below…