Alan Hunter's George Gently novels are set in East Anglia, around the area in Norfolk where he grew up, but the TV series is set in County Durham and Series 1 and 2 were filmed in Ireland due to various financial incentives.
From Series 3, the series has been filmed in County Durham. The production has been based at the old Whinney Hill School, which is also used as the front of the Police Station with a wonderful view of Durham Cathedral.
The final episode was originally set to broadcast on 28 May 2017, but it was postponed due to the story-line dealing with a controversial politician and its proximity to the general election in the UK.
Alan Hunter's informant character named China, was originally mentioned in his first George Gently novel published in 1955. Author Ken Bruen put an informant character named China in his first Jack Taylor novel in 2001, as a tribute.
In early 2010 the BBC announced it had secured funding from the North East Content Fund to produce additional episodes in the series.