- Bobby Glass is the imprisoned patriarch of the Glass criminal empire in The Gentlemen TV series
- Played by Ray Winstone, he controls a cannabis network beneath aristocratic estates
- His daughter Susie Glass runs the day-to-day business on his behalf
- The Season 1 finale, "The Gospel According to Bobby Glass," reveals his true succession plan
- Despite being behind bars, he remains the ultimate authority of the organization
Who Is Bobby Glass in The Gentlemen TV series?
Bobby Glass is the founder and patriarch of the Glass family's cannabis empire in The Gentlemen TV series, the Netflix crime comedy created by Guy Ritchie. Played by veteran British actor Ray Winstone, Bobby built a sophisticated criminal network that operates large-scale cannabis farms hidden underneath several aristocratic country estates, including Halstead Manor, the inheritance of protagonist Eddie Horniman.
What makes Bobby unusual among television crime bosses is his situation: he is imprisoned throughout the series, yet he continues to command his organization from behind bars. Prison walls do little to diminish his authority. His daughter, Susie Glass, manages the daily operations of the business, but every major strategic decision ultimately traces back to Bobby himself.
His operation depends on quiet arrangements with landowning families, allowing his cannabis farms to grow beneath manicured English lawns. When Eddie Horniman inherits the Duke of Halstead title and discovers the farm under his estate, he is pulled directly into Bobby Glass's world.
You do not need to watch Guy Ritchie's 2019 film to understand Bobby Glass. The Netflix series is a standalone story with its own cast of characters.
Bobby Glass Profile and Key Relationships
Bobby's power comes from three pillars: his criminal infrastructure, his family, and his network of quiet arrangements with the British aristocracy. The table below summarizes his core profile.
| Attribute | Detail | | Actor | Ray Winstone | | Affiliation | Glass criminal organization (found and patriarch) | | Status | Imprisoned, but still in command | | Family | Susie Glass (daughter) | | Business | Cannabis empire operating beneath aristocratic estates | | Key estate link | Halstead Manor, inherited by Eddie Horniman | | Finale episode | Episode 8, "The Gospel According to Bobby Glass" |
His relationships define the series' central power dynamics:
| Relationship | Connection | Dynamic | | Susie Glass | Daughter and business manager | She runs operations; he sets direction | | Eddie Horniman | New Duke of Halstead | Tested as a potential successor and partner | | Freddy Horniman | Eddie's indebted older brother | Freddy's debts expose the estate to danger | | Stanley Johnston | American billionaire rival | Wants to acquire the Glass empire | | Henry Collins | Boxing promoter and rival | A direct threat to the Glass family |
Lady Sabrina Horniman, Eddie's mother, understands more about the estate's arrangement with the Glass organization than Eddie initially realizes, suggesting the partnership predates Bobby's imprisonment.
Bobby Glass's Role Across Season 1
Bobby's presence shapes the entire season, even when he is not on screen. Follow how his influence evolves across the eight episodes.
| Episode | Title | Bobby Glass Relevance | | 1 | Refined Aggression | His cannabis operation beneath Halstead is discovered by Eddie | | 2 | Tackle Tommy Woo Woo | The Glass family contains fallout from Freddy's debts | | 3 | Where's My Weed At? | Disruption to his supply chain forces Eddie and Susie together | | 4 | An Unsympathetic Gentleman | Eddie learns to negotiate inside Bobby's criminal network | | 5 | I've Hundreds of Cousins | Rival factions circle the Glass empire | | 6 | All Eventualities | Susie defends the stability of her father's organization | | 7 | Not Without Danger | Rival schemes collide as the finale approaches | | 8 | The Gospel According to Bobby Glass | Bobby reveals his succession plan in full |
The Hidden Empire
Eddie inherits Halstead Manor and discovers the underground cannabis farm that Bobby built with the previous family arrangement.
Reluctant Partnership
Freddy's debts and criminal entanglements force Eddie into sustained contact with Susie Glass and, by extension, her father's organization.
Rivals Emerge
Stanley Johnston and Henry Collins begin maneuvering to take control of the Glass empire, testing the family's position.
The Retirement Test
Bobby frames the empire's future as a competition, watching who demonstrates the judgment, loyalty, and ruthlessness to lead it.
The New Balance of Power
Eddie and Susie emerge as the strongest partnership, taking operational control while Bobby remains an influential power broker.
The next section contains major spoilers for Episode 8, "The Gospel According to Bobby Glass."
The Finale: Bobby Glass's Real Plan Explained
The Season 1 finale reveals that Bobby Glass never intended a simple sale of his empire. His apparent "retirement opportunity" was a test disguised as a business negotiation. Each contender, including Stanley Johnston and Henry Collins, was being evaluated on intelligence, resilience, loyalty, and ruthlessness.
Stanley Johnston
- American billionaire with vast wealth
- Appeared to be the strongest outside buyer
- Defeated when Eddie and his allies exploited his vulnerabilities
Henry Collins
- Boxing promoter turned direct threat
- Targeted Susie and the Glass family
- Removed from the competition with Eddie's help
Eddie and Susie
- Complementary strengths: her network, his strategy
- Survived every test Bobby set
- Chosen as the effective successors to the empire
By the end of the finale, Bobby Glass sits in the same position he has held all season: behind bars, yet still the ultimate power broker. The difference is that his organization now runs through the partnership of his daughter and the new Duke of Halstead, binding the Horniman estate and the Glass empire more closely than ever.
Season 2, which Netflix has renewed, begins with Eddie and Susie operating from a position of greater influence, while Bobby remains an influential mentor shaping the next chapter.
Ray Winstone and the Performance Behind Bobby Glass
Ray Winstone brings decades of British crime-drama credibility to Bobby Glass. His casting anchors the series in the tradition of the British gangster genre, and his measured, commanding presence sells the idea that a man in prison can still terrify billionaires and gangsters alike.
Critical and audience reception of the series has been generally positive, with reviewers frequently highlighting the strength of the ensemble cast, including Theo James as Eddie Horniman and Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass. The show's blend of dark comedy, fast dialogue, and sudden violence is instantly recognizable as a Guy Ritchie production, and Winstone's Bobby Glass fits that stylized world as its quietly dominant anchor.
Bobby Glass Essentials:
- Founder of the cannabis empire beneath aristocratic estates
- Imprisoned but still the ultimate authority
- Father and mentor of Susie Glass
- Architect of the Season 1 succession test
- Retains power-broker status going into Season 2
FAQ
Q: Who plays Bobby Glass in The Gentlemen TV series?
Ray Winstone plays Bobby Glass, the imprisoned founder and patriarch of the Glass family's cannabis empire in the Netflix series.
Q: Is Bobby Glass in prison during The Gentlemen TV series?
Yes. Bobby Glass is imprisoned throughout the series, but he continues to command his organization from behind bars while his daughter Susie manages day-to-day operations.
Q: What happens to Bobby Glass at the end of Season 1?
In the finale, 'The Gospel According to Bobby Glass,' Bobby frames his empire's future as a competition that functions as a succession test. Eddie and Susie emerge as the strongest partnership, taking operational control while Bobby remains an influential power broker.
Q: Will Bobby Glass return in Season 2?
Netflix has renewed The Gentlemen for Season 2, and the Glass organization remains central to the story, so Bobby's continued influence is built into the new season's setup. Official details will come from Netflix announcements.