"The Bill" (1984) TV series 1984-????

User Rating:

6.1/10   

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 / ... (564 episodes, 1984-2009)
Trudie Goodwin	...	Sgt. June Ackland / ... (460 episodes, 1984-2007)
Simon Rouse	...	DCI Jack Meadows / ... (450 episodes, 1990-2009)
Jeff Stewart	...	PC Reg Hollis / ... (450 episodes, 1984-2008)
Mark Wingett	...	D.C. Carver / ... (343 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:

The closing title sequence during the 1980s and 90s was famous for showing just two pairs of feet, belonging to a male and a female police officer, walking away from the camera along a cobbled street. This sequence was parodied in Hot Fuzz (2007) when Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman were pounding the beat.

Quotes:

Gay Bloke: Come on Inspector, we can have a look together.
DC Stevie Moss: I think you might be in there Guv...
DI Neil Manson: Shut it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Real 'Life on Mars'! (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Overkill

The Bill is back to it's best!

I can honestly say that I have never missed an episode bar one, the episode with Honey in the casino about four years ago. During this time I have seen the highs and lows and yes some very 'soapy' episodes. I agree wholeheartedly with people who say it has been at a definite low from about 2002, maybe even a little before that, but even in it's more trashy period it retained my interest. I have cringed at many of the story lines from around 2002 onwards, but while a lot of silly stories were going on there were still some good characters. Gabriel Kent and Cathy Bradshaw were not one of these! I have to say that within the last half a year to a year the show has gone through a dramatic about turn and now more concentration on the very real pressures that the British police have to endure has ensured that an air of quality has returned. if you have stayed away for a few years then now is definitely a good period to return to it. There are characters that stand along side the best of the past, such as Gina Gold, Sam Nixon (gorgeous as she is!), DI Manson, plus there's still a crop of the old stalwarts such as the wonderfully flawed Reg Hollis. I hope the show's producers can keep this current good period going, and if they have to raise the ratings in future, to find a good solid talking point of a storyline, rather than resort to Tabloid style cheap ratings grabbers. These attempts to tempt people in may initially bring in a lot of people who like that kind of thing but they will lose many more of the more discerning audience. May this show go on and on...please!