Chief inspector ( Ch Insp ) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police ( CIP ).
109-579: DCI Gene Hunt is a fictional character in BBC One 's science fiction / police procedural drama Life on Mars and its sequel , Ashes to Ashes . The character is portrayed by Philip Glenister in both shows. His younger self, also known as the ghost of Gene Hunt, is portrayed by Mason Kayne . In the American adaption , he is portrayed by Harvey Keitel . The character is portrayed as politically incorrect , brutal, and corrupt, but fundamentally good. Hunt
218-431: A BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Sam Tyler , but that Glenister did not receive similar recognition for his role as Hunt. Cooper goes on to write: As far as I - and millions of British women - were concerned, the only riddle [of Life on Mars ] was why the hell did anyone think this was Tyler's show when a brief psychological profile, cursory examination of the evidence and old-fashioned gut instinct showed that there
327-474: A prostitute who has been raped aboard Leonard Roseberry-Sykes luxury yacht. As Nina is afraid to report the crime, her sex-worker colleague Trixie Walsh reports the rape claiming it to be against herself rather than Nina. While in Fenchurch East Police Station for an unrelated matter, Nina eventually reveals to DS Ray Carling that it is her who was raped by Ryan Burns , a waiter working on
436-553: A protégé and eventually compels him to join the Masonic lodge that he and Ray Carling belong to. It is ultimately revealed that Gene has grown to distrust Mackintosh, considering him "bent as a ten bob bit" and he only joined the Masons in order to unravel Mackintosh's plans. Furthermore he holds the Masons in disdain and is "sick to his stomach" to have joined them, having seen their corrupt methods. Mackintosh has let various criminals loose on
545-520: A "national hero" by The Independent newspaper and as a character "taken to the nation's hearts" by The Guardian . The character was voted the United Kingdom 's favourite television hero in 2008, receiving over 25% of the popular vote, ahead of both 24 's Jack Bauer and The Doctor . Nancy Banks-Smith stated that Hunt had been a "roaring success" in Life on Mars , with it also being said that it
654-511: A burglar who wears a mask of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to conceal his identity as George Staines (or, as he is known to the Drakes, their friend Gaynor Mason ). Bryan struggles to defend his family but is shoved by Staines/Mason and strikes his right temple on the table edge. The wound leaves him deaf for the rest of his life. He is visited in hospital that day by his future daughter-in-law, DI Alex Drake . After looking to see that
763-513: A car with Riley inside it as a form of interrogation David Bonds ( Christopher Fairbank ) appears in episode two of the first series as the owner of a public house on the Isle of Dogs . David, his wife Elaine and son George refuse to move from the premises despite the compulsory purchase order as part of the Docklands Development . Elaine Bonds ( Amelda Brown ) appears in episode two of
872-584: A chief inspector is three Bath stars ("pips") worn on the epaulettes . This is the same badge as a captain in the British Army . Until 1953, chief inspectors in the Metropolitan Police wore a crown on their epaulettes instead. Chief inspector was one of the ranks proposed for abolition in the 1994 Sheehy Report , but in the end it was retained. A number of city and burgh police forces in Scotland used
981-582: A complex antihero to a cartoon hero." With regards to the character's performance in Ashes to Ashes , Andrew Billen states that "much is secondhand and when Hunt, played as gleefully as ever by Philip Glenister, shouts an insult as lame as “hoity-toity poofter” you wonder if the writers should have thought again." Hunt has also been criticised for the prejudiced views he propagates. Writing for The Times , Tim Teeman expressed concern over an episode of Ashes to Ashes which focused on overt homophobia, writing: "No doubt
1090-617: A day to consider. Despite Alex's yearning to get back to her daughter , she refuses to be corrupted and rejects Summers' offer. Having assembled a team, older Summers appropriates vehicles and has his subordinate at Fenchurch East remove the dockets that would have traced the vehicles back to them. He believes that he is "literally making the cosmos turn for [his] benefit." Summers leaves 1982 roughly one minute before Drake does, each having been shot by Gene Hunt. Whereas Drake loses consciousness in 1982 and awakes from her separately gunshot-induced coma in 2008, Summers simultaneously dies on
1199-526: A few punches to get a result", whereas both Tyler and Alex Drake are present day detectives who value forensic evidence and thorough investigative techniques rather than corruption and violence. John Simm , the actor who plays Sam Tyler, has stated that both his character and Hunt have a grudging respect for the other's approach to policing, as well as Hunt seeing much of his younger self in Tyler. Hunt and Tyler's relationship eventually improves after Tyler returns to
SECTION 10
#17328698999071308-636: A further seven years until Tyler crashed his car into a river. Shortly after in February 1980, Hunt transferred from the Greater Manchester Police (which Manchester and Salford Police by then had become) to the London Metropolitan Police , along with Chris Skelton and Ray Carling . The first series, set in 1981, reveals Hunt to have divorced and replaced his Ford Cortina , as seen in Life on Mars , with an imported Audi Quattro . He
1417-460: A good report about them, before privately telling Hunt that he "hates him", "knows what he did three years ago" and will "dismantle the station around him". Also, the nature of Sam Tyler 's death is raised by Drake and Keats. Drake conducts an unofficial investigation into the events and requests old witness statements and reports on Tyler's death along with the leather jacket Tyler was seen wearing during Life on Mars . Drake later finds Hunt burning
1526-653: A hand either side of his head, rather than attempting to provide medical assistance, and later claiming that James was dead when he found him to further damage Hunt in the eyes of his colleagues. In the final episode it is strongly implied that Keats is in fact the devil,[1] a detail confirmed by the writers and actor in an interview on the BBC website.[2] Having smashed Hunt's reality by having each character remember their violent death, he hopes to have them abandon Gene and join him. While Alex refuses outright, Ray, Chris and Shaz leave with him, but eventually change their minds after he calls
1635-446: A job (and colleagues) for life." "On paper, it should never have happened. Hunt is Seventies man writ large and we should be grateful that species is extinct. He wears a vest and his hair looks like it was styled during a power cut. He runs along towpaths in skimpy orange swimming trunks and has a torso that's closer to a Party Seven than six pack. He has no concept of innocent until proved guilty and thinks it's acceptable to turn up to
1744-463: A kiss. In the closing moments, the series comes full circle back to Life on Mars as another officer from the future appears wondering, like Alex and Sam, who has changed his office and where his iPhone is. Gene Hunt ventures out to greet him in his usual fashion, using the same words he used to greet Sam Tyler in his first scene in Life on Mars . The character of Gene Hunt is politically incorrect , having been described as an old-school copper. It
1853-409: A long-standing rivalry, the reason for which is unknown. The two departments fight after Gene and Detective Inspector Sam Tyler recover firearms stolen by factory workers, a job that falls under Litton's department. Later in a hostage situation Litton and Gene both have to work together to stop the hostages being killed. However, Litton's methods threaten Sam's and his own life, when Gene kicks him in
1962-658: A pin-up boy for the Daily Mail ? That wasn't our intention." In the lead up to the 2010 general election campaign in the UK, the ruling Labour Party produced an advert likening opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron to Hunt, claiming that Cameron would take Britain "back to the 1980s", referencing the inequalities of that era. However, the Conservative Party claimed that comparisons to Hunt were flattering to them and produced their own advert linking Cameron to Hunt with
2071-505: A police officer". When having just joined the police at the age of 19, Hunt is shown to be a fresh-faced young man with a slim build, and wearing a blue police tunic, a three-quarter length police trench coat, with the epaulette identity number 6620. This version of Hunt is portrayed by Mason Kayne . The middle-aged version of Hunt that we see in Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes is tall and strong, larger and more physically dominant than those around him, in contrast to his younger self. He
2180-473: A positive way. Both characters now respect each other and argue less along with sharing a distinct sexual tension with each other. By the third series of Ashes to Ashes , Hunt and Alex's relationship becomes strained when DCI Jim Keats begins to plant seeds of doubt in Alex's mind about the nature of Sam Tyler's death, however, Alex's faith and love for Gene makes her unwilling to believe that he would murder Tyler. At
2289-428: A rag soaked in chloroform or a similar substance and straps her to a medical table for interrogation while concealing his identity with a surgical mask and letting her scream into an open radio microphone. He escapes as DCI Hunt enters to rescue Alex. He leaves a series of red roses on her desk and in her flat, and periodically telephones her. He stalks her and watches her sleep. On 8 November 1982, Summers, using
SECTION 20
#17328698999072398-437: A redefined rank of chief inspector was created for senior inspectors. Since 1974, the Metropolitan Police has only had one rank of superintendent, in common with the rest of the country. From January 1954, there was one superintendent grade I and one chief inspector in each sub-division, and one chief superintendent, one superintendent grade II and one detective superintendent grade I in each division. A detective chief inspector
2507-433: A swingers' evening with a prostitute he's just busted. He's racist , disablist and homophobic , and he calls his only female detective Flash Knickers. (And he means it as a compliment.) In fact when you see Hunt's qualities spelled out like that, it looks appalling. [However] the fact remains: Gene Hunt is my guilty secret, and I know scores of other women feel the same." According to India Knight of The Sunday Times ,
2616-511: A trattoria!". Hollis explains the staged robbery as a plan to win back his wife and children who had left him for putting starving Africans ahead of his own family's welfare. Unarmed WPC Sharon "Shaz" Granger gives chase when Hollis takes flight. With his pocketknife, Hollis retrieves the rolled notes he had hidden in the ends of pipes and throws it all away. When Shaz arrests him, she falls on his knife, resulting in clinical death. Hunt and DC Chris Skelton are particularly enraged; Hunt orders
2725-414: A young man and his DCI had covered it up. The guilt overwhelmed him, leading to his suicide. Because of the period of time each had spent in limbo they had all forgotten their previous lives, something which had also happened to Hunt. The uniformed police officer haunting Drake is revealed to be Hunt, killed as a young constable after a week in the police by an armed man on Coronation Day in 1953. His body
2834-469: Is Summers. On an unspecified date, Summers is transported back in time to an equally unspecified date, sometime before 4 May 1982 Like Drake and Tyler, he feels very lost, alone, and frightened; he wonders if he is dead, mad, or dreaming in a hospital bed far away, and whether he is the first to ever have such an experience. Also like the other two time-travellers, it is his world's unimaginable level of detail that first gives him reason to suspect that it
2943-495: Is a "very fine line between a criminal and a copper". Hunt often clashes with Sam Tyler ( John Simm ), the protagonist of the series. Eventually, during the second series their relationship improves and they become friends. During Ashes to Ashes , Hunt is in command of the Metropolitan Police 's Fenchurch East CID . During the first episode , it is revealed that following Life on Mars , Hunt worked with Sam Tyler for
3052-421: Is a list of main and recurring characters in the series. The following table is one detailing a list of the main characters in the series. Originally from Wicklow , Ireland , he is described by Sergeant Viv James as being approximately the same height as Hunt, and in his mid-fifties [actor Adrian Dunbar was fifty-one at the time the second series was filmed in late 2008] His younger self - first shown in
3161-407: Is about to undergo surgery to remove the bullet and telephones her in 1982 to tell her, although Alex already knows, having seen a vision of herself being wheeled into surgery He sends her dead roses to suggest she's missed her chance. As Drake recovers from brain surgery, a nurse informs a physician that "the coma patient in room five is having a seizure." It is not yet revealed if that patient
3270-757: Is above senior inspector and below superintendent and is regarded as the equivalent of major in the Philippine Army . In the Romanian Police , inspector principal is a rank senior to inspector and junior to Subcomisar and corresponds to the former rank of police captain . The rank has been abolished by the Singapore Police Force , except for the Gurkha Contingent . In the Sri Lanka Police Service , chief inspector of Police (CIP)
3379-429: Is accused of attempted murder. After being shot, Drake wakes up in the present day to be greeted by her surgeon and her daughter Molly, but observes Hunt screaming at her through hospital screens to wake up. She realises that she is now in a comatose state in 1982, and that the 2008 world she has woken into is illusory. During the first episode , it is revealed that following Hunt's accidental shooting of Alex Drake , he
Gene Hunt - Misplaced Pages Continue
3488-458: Is also displayed to be more professional, less aggressive and calmer than when last seen in Life on Mars , set in 1973. Hunt first meets Alex Drake ( Keeley Hawes ), the protagonist , during a police drugs raid at a party. Initially, he mistakenly believes that she is a prostitute and is unaware that like Sam Tyler, she has travelled back in time from the future. During the series, the main storyline follows Alex Drake in her struggle to return to
3597-496: Is an undercover officer from a nearby police station who infiltrates a gang of ruthless criminals, the Staffords, under the name Sarah Huddersfield. The gang is run by Terry ( Peter Guinness ) and Daniel Stafford ( Bryan Dick ) who are a father and son team who seem to be moving from robbery and other violent crimes into major drug dealing. Gardiner is in place just before the son is released from prison with her mission to help bring down
3706-453: Is buried where Drake expects to find Tyler's body, but instead she finds Hunt's original warrant card. According to a news broadcast Drake sees after waking from her gunshot wound operation in 2008, Hunt's undiscovered grave was recently found by a group of travellers. Hunt characterises his younger self as "skinny," headstrong and full of male bravado; he confesses that he'd completely forgotten about his past. Keats, confronting Hunt along with
3815-401: Is described by the protagonist , Sam Tyler , as an ""overweight, over-the-hill, nicotine-stained, borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex and an unhealthy obsession with male bonding" (to which Hunt responds "You make that sound like a bad thing.") The BBC explains that in Ashes to Ashes , Hunt's personality remains unchanged, apart from him "losing grip on the power he had as
3924-399: Is discovered by Keats, and dies, much to the devastation of a distraught Gene, who blames himself for Viv's death. Sachs is shot dead by Gene. During the penultimate episode, Drake asks Hunt if he killed Sam Tyler, with Hunt explaining that Tyler had been acting "weird" and asked for Hunt's help in faking his own death. However, the vision that Drake has of the police officer with injuries to
4033-453: Is dying slowly and painfully. It is generally believed that from his hospital bed, he sees the BBC News report of DI Alex Drake's disappearance, although the bedridden viewer's identity has not been definitively shown. It is confirmed that he knows of Alex's subsequent discovery, gunshot wound to her head and that her daughter, Molly, has rushed to the hospital. Older Summers knows when Drake
4142-401: Is often depicted to maintain a love–hate relationship with both Sam Tyler ( John Simm ) and Alex Drake ( Keeley Hawes ), the protagonists of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes , respectively. The character received critical and public acclaim for his role in Life on Mars , being dubbed a "national hero", an unlikely sex symbol and a "top cop". A third and final series of Ashes to Ashes
4251-529: Is often seen wearing a black suit, striped tie, Crombie coat and snakeskin boots. Hunt gives the impression that he wears his coat almost like a suit of armour or superhero cape. Gene Hunt often maintains a " love–hate relationship " with Sam Tyler and Alex Drake , the protagonists of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes respectively. Throughout Life on Mars , the source of disagreements between Hunt and Sam Tyler are their differing policing methods. Such as, Hunt has been described as "not being scared of throwing
4360-494: Is one of the few people in the world Gene respects. At first he appears to be a benevolent character but it soon becomes clear that he is utterly corrupt and greedy. Mackintosh takes bribes but is careful not to spend the money overtly. Rather, he saves for his retirement by investing in art and property through a cover corporation run by the murderer and rapist Ralph Jarvis, who was Mackintosh's classmate in police training and whom Mackintosh cleared of murder in 1977. He sees Gene as
4469-436: Is practically fearless, as shown by his dangerous driving style and his willingness (or even eagerness) to get involved in fights. During Life on Mars , Hunt often wore a beige camel coat with a white shirt and tie, grey suit and trousers with white slip-on shoes, typical of the period. His top shirt button is always undone and his tie always hangs halfway down his chest in an untidy, dishevelled fashion. In Ashes to Ashes , he
Gene Hunt - Misplaced Pages Continue
4578-568: Is real and not a figment of her imagination as she thought. The second series , set in 1982, introduces a new storyline of both Hunt and Alex Drake working together in order to expose corruption within Fenchurch East CID. As well as the corruption storyline, Drake is stalked by Martin Summers ( Gwilym Lee and Adrian Dunbar ) who also claims to be from the future. After several discoveries and unofficial investigations led by Hunt and Drake, it
4687-449: Is real; in Summers case, he notices that the sparrow pecking at the woodlice from under his window sill had a little tuft of feathers missing from its back, and asks himself, "Martin, how can this level of detail exist in a bloody dream?!" Whilst living in an East London flat, he keeps a journal of his experiences on a Corona typewriter. In 1982, Summers' older self is involved with a project known as "Operation Rose", involving members of
4796-444: Is revealed that Rose is the codename for an upcoming robbery of a van carrying gold bullion masterminded by corrupt officers. After a heated argument with Drake, Hunt suspends her and confiscates her warrant card , threatening to kill her if he finds her involved in the following day's events. During the finale, Hunt shoots Martin Summers dead in order to save Drake's life and accidentally shoots her afterward. With no witnesses, Hunt
4905-420: Is revealed that the main characters of the show are all dead. Shaz Granger was stabbed sometime around 1996 while trying to stop a car being broken into, Chris Skelton was shot dead during a firearms incident in 1975 and Ray Carling had hanged himself in 1972 because he felt he had let his family down after having failed basic training to join the army . Later in the final episode it is also revealed Ray had killed
5014-562: Is revealed that the newly introduced character, Charlie Mackintosh ( Roger Allam ) is heavily involved in the corruption. During episode four, after finding out that Hunt and Drake know about his corruption, Mackintosh shoots himself and with his dying words warns Hunt and Drake of "Operation Rose", but dies before he can reveal more details. Summers, also involved in Operation Rose, plants a tape stolen from Drake on Hunt's desk on which she had questioned his existence and motives. After playing
5123-602: Is said that the character thinks of himself as the sheriff in the western movie High Noon . He can be intimidating and is often violent, while also having a bullying streak. However, he is fiercely protective of his team and "his city". This in turn inspires strong loyalty from his team members. Philip Glenister , the actor who plays Hunt has described his character as "intuitive" and "instinctive". Glenister has also drawn similarities between Hunt and football managers José Mourinho and Brian Clough on account of his "arrogance" and way of thinking. During Life on Mars , Hunt
5232-644: Is senior to inspector and junior to assistant superintendent of police . In large cities, a chief inspector is the officer in charge (OIC) of a large police station . The rank insignia for a chief inspector is three stars. In the British police, a chief inspector is senior to an inspector and junior to a superintendent . Today, the function of chief inspectors varies from force to force. They may assist Basic Command Unit (BCU) commanders, command smaller units, or fill various staff posts. In some forces such as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Sussex Police ,
5341-435: Is the wife of Bryan Drake and the mother of Peter Drake . They reside in a house at number 2 Stanley Road. On the morning of 8 November 1982, she and her family are robbed by a burglar who wears a mask of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to conceal his identity as George Staines (or, as he is known to the Drakes, their friend Gaynor Mason ). Staines/Mason steals approximately £1.000 and some jewellery, including
5450-454: Is too scared to testify, Burns would fail to be convicted. Due to this, DS Ray Carling plants cocaine-filled garden gnomes in Burns' car, leading to him being imprisoned for drugs offences. Micky Dillon (Neal Barry) appears in episode five of the second series as a local burglar . He was a member of George Staines ' gang during the 1970s. He is the prime suspect of burglaries in the area, and
5559-553: Is used in the New South Wales Police and South Australia Police . Victoria Police declassified the rank in the mid-1990s. In both forces, it is senior to the rank of inspector and junior to the rank of superintendent . The insignia consists of a crown, the same insignia as that of a Major in the army. The Sûreté du Québec and the City of Montreal Police Service ( Service de police de la Ville de Montréal or SPVM) utilize
SECTION 50
#17328698999075668-470: The London Metropolitan Police , including Detective Superintendent Charlie Mackintosh and at least one other policeman at Fenchurch East. Eventually, Summers' older self takes notice of DI Alex Drake and postulates that she is his kindred spirit from 2008. On 4 May 1982, he or his agent scribbles " Pont de l'Alma " across evidence photographs to get Alex's attention. That same day, he abducts her in Soho with
5777-593: The Royal Wedding . Ryan Burns (Leo Bill) appears in episode three of the first series as a rapist and murderer committed out of religious extremism . After killing Delfine Parks , he goes on to rape Nina Akaboa aboard Leonard Roseberry-Sykes ' yacht, Sunborn where he works as a waiter. While attempting to rape and murder a third prostitute, the CID team arrive and arrest Burns. Now knowing that Trixie Walsh reported Nina's rape as if it were against herself and that Nina
5886-412: The divisional detective inspector (DDI)). From 1949, sub-divisional inspectors and DDIs were regraded as chief inspectors and current chief inspectors were regraded as superintendents. From 1953, chief inspectors commanding sub-divisions and detective chief inspectors commanding divisional CIDs were regraded as superintendents grade I, other chief inspectors were regraded as superintendents grade II, and
5995-485: The 2012 stage play This House playing Labour Chief Whip from the 1970s, the late Walter Harrison . Glenda Cooper wrote in The Daily Telegraph that "women like Hunt because he isn't a bastard - or at least not to his team. In a world of short-term contracts, job insecurity and portfolio careers, Hunt's undying loyalty to his squad (even while rabidly insulting them) make us wistful for a time gone by when you had
6104-483: The Bible. Throughout the series, Keats tries to drive a wedge between Hunt and his team. He does this by managing to convince Sharon Granger to resign and convinces Ray Carling to risk his life to make up for "mistakes made in the past". The true extent to which he is willing to take his vendetta is revealed when, upon discovering the badly-injured Viv James in the aftermath of a prison riot, he actually watches James die, placing
6213-722: The English translation slightly, this rank was that of inspector. In the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary , a chief inspector is normally a police station commander or the second-in-command of the Police Training College. It is a rank between senior inspector and superintendent . In the Philippines , chief inspector is a rank in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection . It
6322-539: The Hill" , Hunt coerces Luigi to open the trattoria in pre-dawn hours in order that Hunt and Drake can hold a small, impromptu birthday party for eight-year-old murder witness, Donny Cale ( Asa Butterfield ). Like Drake, he lives in a flat above the restaurant and, after the food is served, tells Hunt to lock up so that he can go back upstairs to bed. In the final act of episode 1.7, "Charity Begins at Home" , Gil Hollis fires several shots into Luigi's restaurant from in front of
6431-439: The best thing he ever did. He paints a picture of his grand-daughter, Molly which he gives to Molly's mother, Alex. After Bryan's son, Peter, abandons Alex and six-month-old Molly, Bryan is the one person who makes Alex believe that it is not the end of her life and career. Alex's use of past-tense and general delivery when speaking to Bryan in hospital suggest that he dies prior to 2008. Marjorie Drake ( Sophie Stanton )
6540-461: The character has attained the status of an unlikely British sex symbol : "the combination of power and, shall we say, lack of political correctness can be a potent one - which is why everyone in Britain fell in love with Gene Hunt, the hulking great throwback in the BBC series Life on Mars and that men wanted to be Hunt; women wanted to be with him." Bantam Press have published two books written from
6649-501: The characters under his command, mainly Chris Skelton ( Marshall Lancaster ) and Ray Carling ( Dean Andrews ). During the two series, Hunt often uses unnecessary force while making arrests and conducting interviews, along with practising "noble-cause corruption " demonstrated by his fabrication and falsifying of evidence in order to secure convictions but never for personal gain. In response to this, he has been referred to as an "old-style cop" and "maverick". Hunt also believes that there
SECTION 60
#17328698999076758-594: The chief inspector is the senior officer in command of a district (usually consisting of one or more local authority areas). In this respect they have replaced superintendents as the head police officer of larger towns. Detective chief inspector (DCI) is usually the minimum rank held by a senior investigating officer (SIO), who heads major investigations (e.g. murder ), and a pool of these officers usually works out of force headquarters or major police stations. The senior Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer in each BCU usually also holds this rank. The rank badge of
6867-500: The credits. He and his cohort have cocaine hidden inside of garden gnomes which they attempt to throw into the river when caught by DCI Gene Hunt and his CID team. Gil Hollis ( Matthew Macfadyen , husband of series star, Keeley Hawes ) is a charity fund-raiser who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder . Hollis claims to have had all the charity money stolen in a robbery in episode 1.7, "Charity Begins at Home" . DCI Gene Hunt and DI Alex Drake figure out that he staged
6976-423: The crime his nephew is being held for, allowing his release. During the episode, James is shot and while the riot is underway he single-handedly defends the wing his cousin is held on. He is later shot again by Jason Sacks and as he lies dying, he is found by DCI Jim Keats, who makes no attempt to help him, but places his hands either side of his head while he dies, claiming when the rest of the team arrives that James
7085-558: The end of the third series, Alex and Gene share a kiss. Throughout both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes , Ray Carling and Chris Skelton are described as being "ever-faithful" to Hunt. Carling is described as Hunt's "right-hand man when it comes to fighting, shooting, gambling and the ladies". However, in Life on Mars, Carling feels threatened by Hunt and Tyler's relationship feeling "mortified that he's lost his mate and drinking partner", whereas Chris Skelton finds his loyalty "torn between Gene and Sam". Gene Hunt has been described as
7194-639: The files and jacket. As well as this, Drake is haunted by a police officer with injuries to his face and finds a picture of the officer taken earlier without injuries in Hunt's desk. In Episode 6, Hunt leads a riot control unit into the HM Prison Fenchurch, to quell a major riot. However, the overwhelmed officers are forced to retreat, and, in the confusion, Sergeant Viv James is captured by the rioters. Hunt later sends Ray and Chris in undercover as reporters, but they are exposed, and also captured. The orchestrator of
7303-407: The final episode of Ashes to Ashes (Series 3, Episode 8) it is implied that Alex never actually woke up in hospital following her gunshot wound, and that the time she believes she has spent in 2008 following her recovery - and prior to her return to 1983 - were also in fact part of Gene Hunt's reality. As she was aware that Summers was from her own time, it is reasonable to assume that the draped corpse
7412-400: The first series as the wife of the above character, David Bonds and the mother of the character below, her son George. George Bonds ( Stephen Wight ) appears in episode two of the first series as the son of the two above characters. It later transpires that his father and George plotted to kill Danny Moore , with George eventually detonating a suicide bomb amidst a street party celebrating
7521-462: The gang. Gardiner's superior, DCI Wilson, has a grudge against the father after he was run over by an Austin Allegro during an attempt to stop a bank robbery and appears to have left Gardiner in place with little backup and disregard to her needs for protection during her undercover mission. Gnome Thief ( Callum Dixon ) is the misnomer by which an otherwise unidentified drugs courier is referred to in
7630-448: The ground in 1982 and in his hospital bed in 2008. His draped corpse is wheeled past Drake's hospital room and her daughter, Molly . This confirmed the previous implication that the two were in the same hospital such that Summers was able to know Drake's 2008 medical condition in 1982; his room was presumably within earshot of those discussing her status, such as medical personnel, police, and/or Molly Drake and Evan White . However, in
7739-581: The handcuffed Hollis to his knees and allows Chris to brutally beat him up. DS Ray Carling and Hunt himself join in the retaliatory attack on the "cop killer", ignoring Sergeant Viv James 's calls for restraint. They stop only when Alex's CPR efforts revive Shaz at the last minute. Detective Chief Inspector Derek Litton, QPM ( Lee Ross ) is the Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) of the Regional Crime Squad . He and DCI Gene Hunt have
7848-435: The in-character perspective of Hunt, being The Rules of Modern Policing (1973) in 2007 and The Future of Modern Policing (1981) in 2008. During 2009, a third book was published by Bantam written from the in-character perspective of Chris Skelton and Ray Carling, focusing on Hunt's various insults and catchphrases as seen during Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes , called The Wit and Wisdom of Gene Hunt . An official website
7957-459: The justification here is that it's Gene Hunt, everyone knows he's a bigot, that's what he'd say. And he and his mates were shown to be fools. But it was said with lip-smacking relish. Gene Hunt is on the brink of becoming a kind of icon of the sniggering, unreconstructed lad." Ashley Pharoah , co-creator of both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes , has also voiced concern on this issue, commenting: "There have been times I have wondered: have we created
8066-447: The last episode, Hunt is revealed to be part of a supernatural world, a form of limbo , populated by dead police officers. His role has been described as an "angel", helping the souls in a place between "earth and heaven" to get where they wanted to be . His role is to take them "to the pub" - moving on to a "heaven" beyond. It is later revealed that Hunt had done this for many officers before, including Sam Tyler and Annie Cartwright. It
8175-530: The lift (the door code to which is 666). The three hear screams from below and the lift comically says "Lift Going Down" (if the characters had entered the lift, it is implied they would have been taken down to hell, a detail again confirmed by the writers in an interview on the BBC website [2]). The trio, alongside Alex, "go to the pub", passing on from their lives in the 1980s. Defeated, Keats slinks away, but not before remarking that he and Gene will see one another again, implying that he will continue to try and steal
8284-512: The name Boris Johnson, leaves a card for Alex at Sgt. James' front desk, asking to meet at Luigi's at 22:15 that night. He arrives early and leaves another card under Alex's dinner rolls, apologising for missing her, and then follows her into the otherwise vacant CID to introduce himself. He remains calm when the colour drains from Alex's terrified face and she aims her sidearm at him. He tells Alex that he can get her back home to 2008, but only if she cooperates with Operation Rose; he gives her
8393-399: The necklace she was wearing. Marjorie is confused by the familiarity and sympathy with which she is treated by DI Alex Drake who is, unknown to her, her future ex-daughter-in-law; DCI Gene Hunt explains that DI Drake "takes her community relations very seriously." In 1996, Marjorie becomes a grandmother with the birth of Peter's daughter, Molly. DC Louise Gardiner ( Zoe Telford )
8502-400: The nurses are out of earshot, Alex talks candidly to him about the future, knowing that he cannot hear her. She acknowledges that she has finally learned that she cannot change the events in her past. [The conversation takes place thirteen months after she failed to prevent her own parents ' deaths.] In coping with his deafness, Bryan takes up painting which he tells his daughter-in-law is
8611-453: The police station, leading a determined Hunt to declare that, "I am not dying in a trattoria!" As of November 1982, Hunt has a substantial bar tab at Luigi's. Luigi is notified by telephone in November 1983 that an unliked cousin has died and left him a significant inheritance, prompting Luigi to return to Italy. Nina Akaboa (Nicole Charles) appears in episode three of the first series as
8720-439: The present day only to kill himself so that he can return to save Hunt and the team, however, Hunt does not know this. During Ashes to Ashes , information about Sam Tyler can be seen on the walls of Hunt's office in Fenchurch East Police Station. During the first series of Ashes to Ashes , Hunt's relationship with Alex Drake is much of the same as with Tyler. However, by the second series Hunt and Drake's relationship developed in
8829-453: The present day. In order to do this, she believes that preventing the death of her parents, Tim (Andrew Clover) and Caroline Price ( Amelia Bullmore ), will enable her to return. While watching the death of her parents in the finale of the first series, she discovers that the person she remembers taking her hand as a child was Gene Hunt and not Evan White ( Stephen Campbell Moore ) as she previously thought. This leads her to question if Hunt
8938-418: The pub", The Railway Arms, a favoured hangout in Life on Mars, where they are greeted outside by Nelson. Ray, Chris and Shaz enter, but Keats appears and tries to persuade Alex to come with him. This attempt fails when Alex realises, observing Keats' wristwatch frozen at 09:06, that she has also died in the real world. Hunt is able to persuade Alex to accept her death and enter the pub, but not before they share
9047-540: The rank of lieutenant until 1948, when it was replaced by chief inspector. The rank was introduced into the Metropolitan Police in 1868 and was first used by Adolphus Williamson , the first head of the Detective Branch (later the Criminal Investigation Department ). When Williamson was promoted to superintendent shortly afterwards, three of his inspectors were promoted to chief inspector and
9156-517: The rank of chief inspector. In both forces, the insignia consists of four gold stripes, similar to the former insignia of a colonel in the Canadian Army and Air Force. Until 1978, the SPVM used British-pattern insignia for the rank consisting of a crown over two pips, also utilizing the rank of assistant chief inspector (a crown over one pip). Both ranks were subsequently abolished. The rank of chief inspector
9265-431: The rank was firmly established. In 1869 it was also introduced as a uniformed rank, with the senior assistant to the divisional superintendent being given the rank. The rank subsequently spread to other police forces. From 1933, every Metropolitan Police division had two chief inspectors: chief inspector (administration) and chief inspector (crime) (the latter also being a uniformed administrative officer and not replacing
9374-487: The rest of his team, destroys his office to reveal the universe outside and accuses Hunt of manufacturing his own fantasy world, in which he'd entrapped the souls of Shaz, Chris, Ray and Alex. Keats then convinces everyone else except Alex to accept a "transfer" to his own department, implied to be Hell with Keats being the Devil, but with Alex's help Hunt persuades them to return. Afterward, Hunt takes Ray, Chris, Shaz and Alex "to
9483-492: The riot, Jason Sachs, consequently ties Ray, Chris and Viv to an electrified metal wall, which will be activated as a riot control unit led by Keats storms into the building to rescue the hostages. A prisoner who escaped during the chaos, Paul Thordy, reveals that Viv actually supplied Sachs with a firearm. Gene and Alex then turn off the electrics in the building, saving Chris and Ray. After freeing them, Gene pursues Sachs, who has taken Viv hostage: Sachs then fatally shoots Viv, who
9592-474: The robbery himself after Hunt realises that Hollis' assailants would have had to drive past the hooligans who saw no second car and notices the blood smears under the suction cups of Hollis' window Garfield , and Drake recognises the scent of portable toilet chemicals on Hollis' blood-stained shirt. At the end of the episode, Hollis fires several rounds into Luigi 's wine bar where the CID are drinking, prompting an angry Hunt to declare that, "I am not dying in
9701-403: The side of his face is connected to Tyler's presumed death, and a roll of undeveloped film apparently reveals where the policeman is supposedly buried. Along with this, Shaz, Ray and Chris all have visions of stars, as if looking up at the sky, and hear strange voices as described by Chris as Nelson (Tony Marshall), the publican from Life on Mars , asking him what he would like to drink. During
9810-585: The slogan "Fire up the Quattro , it's time for change." Subsequently, Kudos Productions, which owns the copyright to the Gene Hunt character, wrote to both parties requiring them to cease using the image. Philip Glenister was introduced to David Cameron, then UK Conservative leader, at the 2009 Police Bravery Awards. Glenister later quipped "Six months later, he's [Cameron] on Radio 5 Live saying exactly what I've just said. B*****d nicked my line!" Glenister appeared in
9919-425: The souls of the dead police officers who enter Gene's world. During episode six of the third series, James enters HMP Fenchurch East in order to quell a major prison riot along with his colleagues, and on their retreat he is left behind and taken hostage by those inside. It is later revealed that he arranged with Jason Sacks, the orchestrator of the riot, to bring in a firearm in return for another prisoner to admit to
10028-478: The start of the series until 2008. By then, the ABC network wanted the pilot to be reshot without Kelley's involvement. Meaney was not hired to play Hunt again; instead, Harvey Keitel assumed the role. The setting of the series was moved to New York City , and Hunt was changed to a police lieutenant , the typical rank of a NYPD detective squad's commander. Detective Chief Inspector The rank of chief inspector
10137-454: The stomach and drops him out of the fire zone, proceeding to take a bullet which was blocked by one of his many hip flasks. Litton returns in Ashes to Ashes along with DI Geoffrey "Geoff" Bevan ( Nicholas Gleaves ), hunting comedian Frank Hardwicke ( Roy Hudd ) on suspicion of having robbed a police widows' benefit fund (in reality, Hardwicke had witnessed Bevan killing a young black man). Litton
10246-664: The tape, Hunt furiously demands an explanation from Drake, who is forced to explain that she is from the future, which enrages Hunt leading him to think that she has taken him for a fool. During the series, Hunt and Drake begin to notice that files and evidence have gone missing. Eventually it is revealed that Chris Skelton had been paid large sums of money to undermine the investigation into Operation Rose, and had done so in order to pay for his wedding to Shaz Granger ( Montserrat Lombard ). Without informing those involved in Rose that Skelton has been discovered, Hunt uses him to gain information. It
10355-418: The trailer for Episode 2.7 - is, therefore, approximately 25–30 years of age in 1982, at which time he is a police constable (PC). He holds back the crowds during the 6 September 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales , and retires from the police service in disgrace at an unspecified date sometime thereafter, but it is revealed in the series finale that he was a detective inspector (DI). In 2008, Summers
10464-500: The truth about the world he is in. Bill (Bill Moody) appears in episode six of the second series as an owner of a scrap-yard who attends a neighbourhood watch meeting set up by Stanley Mitchell . While at the meeting, he reveals to DCI Gene Hunt and DI Alex Drake that he has been beaten and run over by local crime-lord, Trevor Riley 's men. After DCI Hunt is attacked by Riley's men in the process of an investigation, Hunt restrains Riley and takes him to Bill's scrap yard and destroys
10573-405: The yacht. Detective Inspector Geoffrey "Geoff" Bevan ( Nicholas Gleaves ) is a corrupt Manchester Criminal Investigation Department (CID) copper who comes to London with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Derek Litton to hunt Frank Hardwicke, the comedian who saw DI Bevan kill a young black man in cold blood. Bevan is eventually shot as he flees the gala, and as he is dying Gene tells him
10682-519: Was accused of attempted murder and fled to the Costa Brava and Isle of Wight for three months. After waking Drake from her comatose state, Hunt is suspended by Jim Keats ( Daniel Mays ), from the Discipline and Complaints Department (D&C), sent to assess Fenchurch East CID in the wake of Drake's shooting and as part of Operation Countryman . Keats unofficially assures Hunt's team that he will file
10791-546: Was added in each division later in 1954. It was announced in October 2016 that the rank (along with the rank of commander) would be phased out of the Metropolitan Police Service by October 2018; however, this plan was later cancelled. Caroline Price This is a list of fictional characters that have appeared in BBC One 's science fiction / police procedural drama , Ashes to Ashes . This table
10900-465: Was already dead when he got there; Gene instructs the rest of the team to claim that James was simply injured in the riot without revealing his role in it.[3] In the finale Chris mentions a dream he had of Viv surrounded by flames; given the episode's revelations about the characters all being in an afterlife, who Keats is and how Viv died, the implication is that Viv has ended up in Hell. In episode 1.6, "Over
11009-517: Was also produced in order to market the third book. During 2007, a television pilot for an American version of Life on Mars was filmed by 20th Century Fox Television 's David E. Kelley . Actor Colm Meaney was cast as Hunt, the precinct Captain of a Los Angeles Police Department squad. Meaney had not seen the British series but bought the DVD sets at an airport after filming had been completed. The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike delayed
11118-451: Was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (distinguished service) some time in the intervening decade, flaunting it to Gene's detectives in Ashes to Ashes . Detective Chief Superintendent Charlie "SuperMac" Mackintosh ( Roger Allam ) is Gene Hunt's superior. His first appearance is in episode 2.1. He knew details of murdered PC Sean Ervine who was apparently drawn in by Soho's many strip clubs. It
11227-424: Was because of Hunt that Life on Mars' s spin-off, Ashes to Ashes , was commissioned, quoting executive producer Jane Featherstone as saying: "When Life on Mars came to end through natural causes, I think we all thought: 'Hang on, this character, Gene Hunt, is a fairly extraordinary man and we're not quite done with him yet". Glenda Cooper, from The Daily Telegraph , called it a "crime" that John Simm received
11336-502: Was eventually revealed that Mackintosh was having an affair with Ervine's wife, Ruth. When DI Drake theorises that the initials SM in Ervine's hidden diary indicate a meeting with Mac, she breaks into his office to see if a corresponding entry is also in Mac's diary. Mac had erased the entry, but Alex is able to easily raise the impression with a pencil rub. Gene initially idolises Mackintosh who
11445-433: Was imagined as something Drake would have expected to encounter upon recovering. With that in mind, the real fate of Martin Summers is unspecified, although it is still strongly implied that he did die in 2008. Upon finding that Drake requested old files and statements regarding the death of Sam Tyler, Keats informs Drake that he thinks Hunt killed Tyler. Keats also claims in his debut episode to have an extensive knowledge of
11554-407: Was initially suspected to have burgled the house of DI Alex Drake's future husband's parents, Bryan and Marjorie Drake . Bryan Drake ( Rory MacGregor ) is the husband of Marjorie Drake and the father of Peter Drake . They reside in a house at number 2 Stanley Road. Having never trusted banks, he keeps his wages at home. On the morning of 8 November 1982, he and his family are robbed by
11663-509: Was only one man in the frame and that was DCI Gene Hunt." Ashes to Ashes reviews witnessed the character receive more negative press than those seen in Life on Mars . Caitlin Moran , reviewing the spin-off show for The Times , stated that: "We love Gene Hunt. That’s just a fact. Hunt become that rare thing, in these creatively timid and threadbare days for British drama: [However] in 200 miles, eight years and one sequel – Gene has gone from being
11772-553: Was restored in the SPVM in 1995 and the current insignia adopted in 1997. In the Hong Kong Police Force , a chief inspector is normally the second-in-command of a headquarters unit or a division . In the Japanese National Police Agency , a chief inspector ( 警部 [ ja ] ) serves as the squad commander in a police station and leader of a riot company. Prior to a 2013 restructuring that changed
11881-413: Was said to "reveal all about Gene Hunt and what his alternative world really means in a stunning finale" and that the "truth [would] out". The character is ultimately revealed to be an integral part of the strange world that both Sam Tyler and Alex Drake inhabit. During Life on Mars , Hunt is in command of Manchester and Salford Police 's A-Division CID . Throughout the programme Hunt is respected by
#906093