The latest episode of Inspector George Gently proved to be bittersweet for viewers, who said they are “raging” that it is coming to an end.

The BBC police drama starring Martin Shaw is being wrapped up after 10 years.

Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby (Mark Mainz/BBC/PA)
Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby (Mark Mainz/BBC/PA)

The penultimate instalment, entitled Gently Liberated, saw the inspector investigating an old case of a woman convicted of her husband’s murder.

It went down a storm with viewers on social media who declared the series to be “the real deal”.

Many were upset to think Gently’s days are numbered.

The announcement that the final episode will not air until later this year also triggered some upset online.

The series, created by Peter Flannery and based on the Alan Hunter novels, also stars Lee Ingleby as John Bacchus and Lisa McGrillis as Rachel Coles.

It has followed the trio of investigators on varied cases around Durham and the North East during the 1960s.