D.C.I. Gene Hunt

D.C.I. Gene Hunt

This larger than life character has become a legend in his own lunchtime for his no-holds barred bigoted seventies views on policing and attitude to life in general, which even the late Bernard Manning would describe as homophobic, racist, sexist and any other '-ist' you could possibly think of. True, his character is firmly a product of the pre-politically correct era, and indeed revels in it, to which, paradoxically he has gained immense popularity. It may be a sense of looking back on the bad old days and shaking one's head thinking 'Was it really like that?' and immediately realising that it was very much like that, and having no other recourse but to either squirm or laugh and thereby choosing the latter as being the less uncomfortable option, especially as one can tag the mirth as being ironic. His popularity amongst women is especially perplexing given his misogynistic nature, yet he exudes an air of safety and security of the 'He'll watch your back' variety. 

To say he is corrupt may seem, at first glance, to only add to his sins but this does need qualification. He can, and does, bend the law but purely to bring the bad guys to justice, never for personal gain or advancement. Perhaps it is this aspect of his otherwise iffy persona that appeals so much, as one always wishes for the right thing to be done no matter how bumpy the rocky road to the destination. He has threatened all sorts of abuses to extract confessions from various guilty miscreants ranging from broken fingers to a scrotal scrunch, and indeed, regards 'A sharp downward tug on the ball-sack usually does the trick' as one of his top tips for new recruits in his manual The Rules of Modern Policing - 1973 Edition. 

Whatever the rights and wrongs of his attitude to all things, there is no question that he generates a great deal of loyalty nay deference from his two immediate underlings, Chris Skelton and Ray Carlton, not so much from his two protagonists 'from the future' Sam Tyler and Alex Drake. Indeed, both regard him as a complete throwback and as the former would say ''An overweight, over-the-hill, nicotine-stained, borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex and an unhealthy obsession with male bonding.'' (Hunt: ''You make that sound like a bad thing.''). Whereas they value procedure and forensic detection, Gene's idea of police work can best be summed up by the following quotes:

''Anything you say will be taken down, ripped up and shoved down your scrawny little throat until you've choked to death. Gene Hunt, Chapter 1, Verse 2.''

''Counselling? He's a Police Officer not a fairy.''

''By the time I've finished, you'll be begging for a ferret to be nibbling on your nuts.''

''Gene Hunt smashes doors down, he does not pick girlie locks.''

To which the latter is a very definitive insight into the man's whole take on his job. He regards the sensibilities of Tyler and Drake as a bit namby-pamby and can't even tolerate basic covert surveillance: ''Wouldn't Nixon notice a van parked outside the Whitehouse?'' he asks nobody in particular, when they are all sitting in a transit with listening equipment, after being told by Sam of an impending scandal. As for any operation even remotely M.I.5. related, he has to abandon it and go in with all guns blazing: ''Don't move! Armed Bastards!'' 

Sam Tyler, from his perspective, finds all the goings-on completely irritating and can't really believe his eyes and ears: ''This place is like Guantanamo Bay.'' (Hunt: ''Give over, it's nothing like Spain.''). But, somehow, their diverse approach to detecting does tend to gel, and they do succeed in cracking the cases. 

From the very off you thought the man was immortal, and that is exactly what he is. They all are. Near the end, when partnering Drake, it is revealed that he is a sort of 'angel' there to help dead police officers move on from limbo to get to 'heaven', or The Railway Arms pub as it is incarnated in these stories. You always knew he was a good 'un really. 

The best conclusion of this character must be left to his arch-sidekick Sam Tyler, after one of his delusional episodes:

''Listen you, I can just about handle you driving like a pissed-up crackhead and treating women like bin bags, but I'm going to say this once and once only, Gene. Stay Out of Camberwick Green!''