"The Bill" (1984)TV series 1984-????

Creator:

Geoff McQueen

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

Release Date:

16 October 1984 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Episodes follow uniform officers and detectives from an inner London police station as they enforce law and order on a day to day basis.

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | British | East End | London England | Police

Awards:

4 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Graham Cole	...	PC Tony Stamp / ... (448 episodes, 1984-2008)
Jeff Stewart	...	PC Reg Hollis / ... (385 episodes, 1984-2008)
Trudie Goodwin	...	Sgt. June Ackland / ... (381 episodes, 1984-2007)
Simon Rouse	...	DCI Jack Meadows / ... (348 episodes, 1990-2008)
Mark Wingett	...	D.C. Carver / ... (284 episodes, 1984-2007)
Roberta Taylor	...	Insp. Gina Gold / ... (258 episodes, 1990-2008)
Alex Walkinshaw	...	Sgt. Dale Smith / ... (230 episodes, 1993-2008)
Chris Simmons	...	DC Mickey Webb / ... (208 episodes, 1998-2008)
Natalie Roles	...	DS Debbie McAllister / ... (190 episodes, 1993-2004)
Lisa Maxwell	...	DS Samantha Nixon / ... (188 episodes, 2001-2008)
Eric Richard	...	Sgt. Cryer / ... (186 episodes, 1984-2004)
Scott Maslen	...	DS Phil Hunter / ... (184 episodes, 2002-2007)

Runtime:

25 min (1988-1998) | 50 min (1984-1988, 1998-)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Australia:PG | UK:12 (some episodes) | UK:15 (some episodes) | UK:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Fremantle Media

Trivia:

There have been three different buildings used for Sun Hill police station, where the series is set. The first - used for seasons one and two (1984-1986) - was in Wapping, East London. The show was forced to move due to a lengthy strike at a nearby newspaper plant, when actors in police uniforms were mistaken for real police. The second location - used for season three (1987) and 1988-89 - was in Barlby Road in West London. The show was forced to move again in 1989 when the owners of the site wanted to redevelop the area. As the show was running continuously at this point production could not stop, and the move was explained in storylines as the station being renovated. The real tradesmen carrying out the work could be seen in the background of some episodes. The new site was a disused warehouse in Merton, near Wimbledon in South London, where the show remains to the present day.

Quotes:

[to PC Klein]
Cass Rickman: You look like Dracula with the flu.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "TV Burp: (#6.1)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Overkill

The Bill RIP

I wrote a review a couple of years ago regretting the direction the programme had taken. I note that several other readers have also commented on The Bill's headlong descent into pantomime soap-opera. I cannot believe that many of the show's long-time fans (which included the eminent historian Andrew Roberts) now bother to watch. Very occasionally I steel myself to tune in for part of an episode but end up watching through my fingers. My most recent visits coincided with the police station being blown up for the second time in five years, the exposure of yet another psychopathic deranged serial-killer police officer, Superintentent Okaro's entire family being wiped out and the poor man going doolally and a regular character being held hostage for the umpteenth time. Not to mention yet another series regular being involved in a relationship with a criminal and struggling with divided loyalties. Enough already! Let Sun Hill join Dock Green and Newtown in that great police beat in the sky.