"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

Unrecognisable from the original "Bill"

I have followed this series from its earliest episodes and have rarely found it hard going until recently. Although it still delivers good entertainment, the show has lost much of its grittiness (although in many ways it is probably more realistic).Up until the recent dramatic changes (the bombing of Sun Hill and resultant death of many of the main characters)there was little shown of the violence, blood etc that is part and parcel of real police work. The show has suffered considerably for those of us who remember the good old days of Burnside, Tosh Lines et al. Serialising the episodes is not in itself a bad thing, for that makes it more believable than the old concept that each case was tied up in the half hour - or one hour episode, it does however mean that much of the crispness of the show is lost in the process. For the undedicated, the focus on private lives (and romances in the station)turns it very much into a "soap" and less of a serious show. I am still recovering from the first time Jim kissed June - it was a bit like watching someone kiss his sister! I suppose that the Old Bill is gone for good, but it still is good entertainment - and I suppose this is what we watch TV for.