"The Bill" (1984) TV series 1984-????

User Rating:

6.2/10   

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 | 25 | unknown

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:

Police | Uniform | Detective | Police Station | London England

Awards:

6 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Graham Cole	...	PC Tony Stamp / ... (563 episodes, 1984-2009)
Trudie Goodwin	...	Sgt. June Ackland / ... (459 episodes, 1984-2007)
Jeff Stewart	...	PC Reg Hollis / ... (450 episodes, 1984-2008)
Simon Rouse	...	DCI Jack Meadows / ... (449 episodes, 1990-2009)
Mark Wingett	...	D.C. Carver / ... (342 episodes, 1984-2007)
Alex Walkinshaw	...	Sgt. Dale Smith / ... (297 episodes, 1992-2009)
Roberta Taylor	...	Insp. Gina Gold / ... (279 episodes, 1990-2008)
Chris Simmons	...	DC Mickey Webb / ... (263 episodes, 1998-2009)
Eric Richard	...	Sgt. Cryer / ... (240 episodes, 1984-2004)
Andrew Lancel	...	DI Neil Manson / ... (229 episodes, 1995-2009)

Runtime:

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

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

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:

Thames Television

Trivia:

Emily Watson was interviewed for visiting parts a number of times.

Quotes:

DI Burnside: Ask the real community what they want and they'll tell you loud and clear. Cuff 'em and stuff 'em.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "SOKO Leipzig: The Bill - Entführung in London (#12.1)" (2009)

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.