| Gary Best | Service Record | List of Appearances |
| Gary Best | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| IC: |
1 |
| Gender: |  Male
|
| Date of Birth: |
1982 |
| Height: |
5' 6" (1.68 m) |
| Hair Colour: |
Brown - Dark |
| Eye Colour: |
Hazel |
| Marital Status: |
Single |
|
Occupational information | |
| Occupation(s): |
Police Officer |
| Affiliation: |
Metropolitan Police |
| Rank: |
|
| Previous Ranks Held: |
PC (2002-2005) |
| Call Sign: |
149 |
| Current Status: |
Active |
|
Other information | |
| Portrayed by: | |
| First Appearance: |
2002x031 - Episode 020 |
| Last Appearance: |
2005x055 - Episode 328 |
|
| |
DC Gary Best is portrayed as making up for in enthusiasm and eagerness to learn what he lacks in intelligence. A cocky lad from Manchester, there are a variety of reasons which inspired Gary to join the police force, mainly the fact that if he was not in uniform, he would most likely be on remand. Gary also had a troubled upbringing, consisting of domestic violence from his father, something that only stopped when he reached the physical maturity to be able to hit his dad back. In his late teen years, Gary made the decision to report his dad to the police, a decision which ultimately divided his family and rendered Gary an outcast.[1] Shortly afterwards, he decided to join the Metropolitan Police. Gary arrived at Sun Hill shortly after the events of The Sun Hill Fire. At the time he is a probationary police constable, being puppy-walked by the veteran PC Tony Stamp. Gary is a popular recruit to Sun Hill, and he has no problems fitting in or making friends. His weakness is thinking with his heart, never having been one to stand back and assess a situation, Gary has a tendency to rush into things.
When his father is released from prison, he tracks down Gary and attempts to bond with his son, and make amends for what he had done. Initially pushing him away, curiosity eventually gets the better of him, and he heads to his father's workplace to talk to him. Unfortunately, his father had been operating as an undercover snitch for Inspector Gold at the time, and by turning up in full uniform, Gary compromises the whole job. Gary's father volunteers to go in his son's place as a hostage, at which point he is forced into a van at gunpoint and driven away. This is the last time Gary sees his father alive, as he is found dead shortly after. After a successful undercover operation in which he had informed on his criminal brother, Gary is accepted as a DC. Still fresh from probation and still 'wet behind the ears', some of Gary's colleagues, old and new, find things a bit hard to swallow. It is clear that Gary immediately lets his new-found power go to his head, jumping through hoops in an attempt to impress his senior officers and get a good result, with several directed jokes at uniform about directing traffic. He is more than often paired with DC Suzie Sim, who treats him much like a schoolboy. He sees her behaviour as bullying, and after an outburst directed at her in front of all of CID, his popularity severely deteriorates. He also works with DC Jo Masters and the two become close but often says what she thinks about him and the way he does things. When Gary transfers, Jo tells him she will miss him and to take care. Shortly after his allegations, Gary finds himself working with DC Suzie Sim on a drugs operation, which gets out of hand when the criminals are revealed to have handguns. Attempting to protect his colleague, Gary is shot and nearly paralysed. He is reunited with his estranged mother in hospital. She encourages him to leave Sun Hill and transfer to Greater Manchester Police, where he can be with his family.
Service Record
Family and Relationships
- Father Alan Best (died 30th October 2003)
- Mother Frances Best (widowed)
- Brother Joe Best
- Sister Karen Best
- Nephew Ryan Best