Bryn Higgins

The eight season moves into the 1970s, with DCI George Gently facing retirement. In the opening episode Gently discovers the victim's wife was convicted of the murder eight years ago, he decides to re-open the case; a controversial move. But DI Bacchus opposes Gently's decision, not least because he worked as a DS on the original investigation and putting mentor and protégé at complete odds.

Garrow is perplexed by his latest client, a man who shot at King George III and missed. Is he a madman or an assassin? Garrow's defense threatens both the state and the king, who has his own mental health problems. Meanwhile, Lady Sarah pines for her son.

Garrow defends two Spitalfield silk weavers accused of destroying looms, an act of industrial sabotage. When on testifies against the other, the case becomes more complicated. Lady Sarah confronts Sir Arthur, and Southouse takes ill.

What is the secret of probationer Nellie Bowers when Sister Russell catches her sneaking out to see a mysterious young man? What is the secret of the woman brought in wearing pauper's clothes but silk underwear? And what is the dangerous experiment that the brilliant pioneer Dr. Henry Head decides he must risk performing on himself?

Harry discovers that the woman who drowned was pregnant, and the team gradually begins to collate evidence from the kidnap case. As Nikki struggles to deal with her own feelings about faith and death, her search brings her face to face with the darkest of killers.

When members of a syndicate owning a prize racehorse are killed in a helicopter crash, Leo and Harry investigate a complex betting scam.

The streets are teeming with trouble and gangland rivalry is rife. One of the first people to stagger through the hospital doors is leader of the Blind Beggar Boys, Nobby Clark, who has a bullet wound. Elsewhere, the Light Department at the hospital is using a radical new technique.

Harry is called to investigate the death of Dawn Pivcevic, who seemingly drowned in a paddling pool containing three inches of water.

Dr. Culpin is powerless to help when Ethel Bennett rushes to her dying brother in a naval hospital. Star surgeon Mr. Dean faces destruction through his cocaine addiction. Sister Russell breaks the strict rules of Matron Luckes when she sneaks out of the London to help a young mother.

With the hospital facing imminent financial collapse, Chairman Sydney Holland launches a campaign to raise money. He hires clerks to write 20,000 begging letters, and rigs collecting buckets to the top of lamp-posts so that passengers passing the hospital on omnibuses can drop in their spare coins.