Martin Shaw opens up about Inspector George Gently being AXED: 'It's the perfect time'
INSPECTOR GEORGE GENTLY star Martin Shaw has spoken out about the end of the long-running detective show, saying he didn't find it hard to say goodbye to the role.
Martin Shaw stars in BBC's Inspector George Gently
George Gently: Martin Shaw stars as the Inspector in the BBC series
The 72-year-old actor revealed that he has no hard feelings about the BBC drama being axed after it was revealed that the upcoming episodes will be the last.
"I think it's the perfect time to do it," he told Radio Times, as he prepared to wave goodbye to George gently after 10 years.
"I had no difficulty in letting go of the role," he continued. “It makes space for something else.
George Gently: Martin said it was the 'perfect' time to end the show
George Gently: The long-running series will come to an end this summer
I had no difficulty in letting go of the role,
"All through the last day of filming, people were saying, ‘Are you going to be emotional?' I said, 'No, not at all.' It's a fact of life."
However, Martin admitted that, much to his surprise, when the final scene came around, he was overwhelmed with emotion after all.
Meanwhile, the star has previously spoken out about his dislike for his iconic 1970s crime drama, The Professionals, saying it "was like being an Action Man doll. No humanity, just a function”.
Now, he has revealed to the magazine that he was obliged to remain in the programme against his will.
George Gently: Lee Ingleby stars alongside Martin in the police drama
George Gently: Martin said that he was obliged to stay in The Professionals against his will
"I foolishly signed a contract that I thought they would let me out of. It's completely my own fault," he said.
The celebrated actor went on to admit that he starred in four and a half seasons, following the first, "under duress", claiming that the producers insisted he continue to shoot the episodes.
After years of resentment towards the hit show, Martin has now made his peace with it, however, announcing that the "antipathy" has gone since a younger actor revealed to him how important The Professionals was as a part of their childhood.
Read the full interview in this week's Radio Times, out now.