The series is loosely based on the Inspector Gently novels by Alan Hunter, but relocated the setting from the original Norfolk setting to North East England, centring on Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and County Durham.

The show was originally titled simply 'George Gently' for the pilot and first series before being renamed 'Inspector George Gently' starting with series 2.

The series uses the death penalty, still in effect in Britain when the show begins, as a plot feature in early episodes, and later notes its abolition in 1965 as the timeline of the series progresses.

After only fair ratings for the first three series, the BBC secured funding from the North East Content Fund to produce further episodes, allowing the show to continue.

Starting with series 4, the show's theme song and opening credits sequence were dropped and no longer appeared in subsequent episodes.

The fifth series ended on a dramatic cliffhanger leaving the fate of both lead characters uncertain, and it took until September 2012 for lead writer Peter Flannery to confirm that a sixth series had been commissioned.

The eighth and final series, broadcast in 2017, consisted of two feature-length episodes set in 1970 and was specifically written to bring the show to a close.

The second episode of the final series was originally scheduled to air on 28 May 2017 but was postponed because its storyline dealt with a controversial politician, which was deemed too close to the timing of the UK general election.