Gene Hunt should have been racist as this would have been more realistic. This was considered when the script was being written but it was decided to portray him simply as sexist. In reality police officers are far more racist & sexist than the general population & I think the fact Hunt was not portrayed as racist is my only criticism of an otherwise perfect drama series.
shareI don't remember which writer (of the show) it was who said it, but they said they drew the line on racism in creating Gene Hunt. They couldn't make him a likeable character if he was racist on top of everything else.
Speak freely while you still can
I know Gene was never racist in a "leader of the BNP" way, but he *did* show a certain amount of casual, Eddie Booth-style racism against "Pakis" and the Irish.
I don't think we're in El Kañsas any more, Toto...
mzzz_tish Your reference to Eddie Booth stumped me so I Googled it & found he was one of the characters from the 70’s sitcom Love They Neighbour. I do remember the series but not the names of any of the characters. Though not yet in my teens I had the hots for both Kate Williams who would have been in her early approaching mid 30’s & Nina Baden-Semper who would have been late 20’s to early 30’s. I was a fresh little kid wanting to climb aboard women that much older than I was. It must have been my Catholic Schooling. Regards Love They Neighbour take a look at http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/501026/. Thanks for reminding me matey.
shareThat was fairly normal at the time. And you're right, not out and out National Front type racism, but just the kind that's ingrained.
shareHe was racist - just not as violently so as some of the others. It is, as someone said, 'casual' racism, but it's still racism. However within the context of the show and the time period you just kind of roll your eyes rather than hate him.
If I have to tell you again, we're gonna take it outside and I'm gonna show you what it's like!
True Ray was anti & Gene Hunt was not keen on the Irish or "Pakis" as mzzz_tish pointed out that is why I found it strange he was not overtly against Caribbean’s. I also found it strange that police officers frequented a pub with a Rasta publican. Outside of Brixton in London I never saw a black publican until about 2003.
shareWhat about in Manchester where LoM was set?
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Gene was a racist when viewed from the current day, but not from 1973.
In another post, someone mentioned that they couldn't believe he would go to a bar with a Rasta publican. (I'm American. I assume a publican is a bartender.) Gene didn't understand or respect other races or sexes. But he put up with them when they were in their places. A Rasta serving his whiskey would be OK. Annie being a WPC is OK. But he wouldn't accept either in a position equal with a white male.
SPOILER: I wanted Gene to be killed when he was shot in the last episode.
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I'm an American, and was living in the Midwest in 1973. If someone spoke the way Hunt did and treated women and minorities the way Hunt did, they would have been labeled racist and sexist. In some circles I'm sure his attitudes would be accepted, but not in most professional settings.
Are you from the South?
Gene Hunt was okay as he was.
shareOn Jan 29th sirhoggalott said “What about in Manchester where LoM was set?”
Reply: I’ve never been to Manchester but location is irrelevant, you may occasionally see black publican’s now but in the 1970’s or 80’s outside a heavily Caribbean area I doubt you would have seen a black publican anywhere.
To gregstar, yes a publican is a bartender in a pub (short for Public House) but in a club or wine bar you would say bartender.
To weinstein_s I agree GH was ok I just think his character would have been more realistic if he was more bigoted toward Caribbean’s like he was against the Irish or Pakistanis as police officers are more prejudiced & sexist than the general population. For that matter weinstein_s he probably wasn’t keen on members of “The Chosen Race” either.
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