'The blokes didn't speak to us if you were a girl'

Georgina Bradley is the head of operations on Channel 4's Hunted

Georgina Bradley is known to many as the head of operations on TV's Hunted but before that she spent 26 years working across the Thames Valley for the region's police force.

The former detective, who lives in Henley-on-Thames, said while she had an "absolute ball" working for Thames Valley Police, the job was not without its challenges.

"It was quite tough being a woman in the '90s," she told the BBC. "The blokes didn't speak to us for two years if you were a girl.

"You had to make the tea, you had to walk the streets on your own.

"I have got to be honest, there were some really tough months when people said some terrible things to me, which I complained about. [There was] lots of misogyny."

A new series of Hunted is currently airing on Channel 4

She added: "There was lots of stereotyping and it was quite difficult pushing through the boys' club. That existed in the '90s, well into the 2000s, as far I'm concerned."

But she said working for the police force gave her a confidence she otherwise might not have had.

"You've got to puff your chest out, whether you're going to a traffic accident or arresting somebody," she said.

"I remember arresting someone who had nearly killed their partner.

"My legs were shaking, I was terrified, but you have to find that inner strength. It teaches you so much. I am such an advocate for people joining the police."

'Being brave, having compassion'

It was after witnessing a violent attack at a pub where she was working that Ms Bradley said she decided to join the ranks.

She said: "I had to get rid of everybody [from the pub] and ultimately ended up going to crown court because the person was charged with grievous bodily harm.

"It was a serious assault. I ended up having a lot of interaction with the police.

"I was a witness and I was being threatened throughout the process that if I went to court they were going to kill me.

"It went to court, the chap pleaded guilty but obviously I spent a lot of time with the detectives involved."

The officers asked her if she had thought about joining the police, Ms Bradley said.

"I said no, I didn't like fighting," she explained.

"They said 'it's not about fighting, it's about being brave, having compassion'. I thought 'I've got that in abundance'."

The Hunted star spoke to Radio Berkshire about her career with Thames Valley Police

Following a career break after leaving Thames Valley Police, Ms Bradley said she responded to an advert from production company Shine TV, who were on the lookout for people to take part in Sky show The Heist.

Two series later, Shine TV asked her to take part in its new show Hunted.

Despite enjoying the show, she said it comes with its own pressures.

"Stressful is an understatement," she said.

"You may see it - if it makes the edit - when I actually roar with stress. People who know me will say that I can be very bossy and that I'm very forthright, which did me loads of favours in the police."