John Bacchus
Bacchus is an intelligent guy and a brilliant cop, but he doesn鈥檛 always play by the book.
| Fact title | Fact data |
|---|---|
| Played by |
Lee Ingleby
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When we first met Bacchus he was married to his Chief Constable’s daughter, Lisa, with a small daughter, Leigh-Anne.
He didn’t love Lisa and married her because she was pregnant, with the added pressure that his father-in-law told him his career would be over if he didn’t. He was desperate to go to London and join the Met, but had snookered himself. He later divorced Lisa – on her wishes – and now only occasionally sees his 9 year-old daughter, who has ‘a new dad – a better one’.
Lacking in Gently’s patience, he often wants to sprint through a case and this leads to him cutting corners - bending if not breaking the law.
Bacchus has a chip on both shoulders, he hates people cleverer and richer than himself and those he feels are beneath him. He’s unaware of his bigotry and casual sexism.
The final series sees Bacchus, now a Detective Inspector, in a very low place. Heartbroken after a failed relationship, he is doing everything in his power to ignore his pain, numbing himself with drink, which causes him to act more unprofessionally than usual.
Bacchus and Rachel continue their usual waspish interactions and light-hearted banter - but for the first time, he will reveal a chink of vulnerability that concerns her.
The question remains whether he will ever be able to live up to Gently’s exacting standards and continue his boss’ quest for justice beyond Gently’s retirement.
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