COPPER LOAD OF THIS
We look back at long-running police drama The Bill as it is gripping viewers once more in lockdown
LIFE was never dull at Sun Hill police station. Three different London sites were used for the police headquarters over the years and the building was blown up three times for three different storylines.
The Bill followed the lives of policemen and women working at the fictional police station and the ITV series notched up more than 2,000 episodes in its 26-year run from 1984 until 2010.
Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Hugh Laurie, Russell Brand and David Tennant all had parts in the show, while Paul O’Grady appeared twice as a transvestite called Roxanne.
The early years of The Bill can now be seen again on the UKTV Play streaming service and one new series will be added each month from June.
Christopher Ellison, who played DI Frank Burnside, said that “there were no stars on The Bill, there were no egos, it was happy”.
Eric Richard, who played Bob Cryer, said:
“Way back in 84, the energy was entirely different. We kind of knew each other in a way and there was a real friendliness.”
Tough cop Burnside once pointed out: “I don’t get stress... I give it.”
The police drama was seen abroad in more than 55 countries including Australia, Canada, America, Italy, Japan, Spain and Russia and each episode ended with the sight of two police officers’ feet walking the beat over the credits.
There were two special live broadcasts over the years and
The Bill ended with a two-parter called Respect in 2010.
The final shot was of Sun Hill Station with the message “Dedicated to the men and women of the Metropolitan
Police Service, past and present”.
There were two spin-off series, Burnside with Christopher Ellison and Beech Is Back starring Billy Murray, but both were short-lived and did not attain the widespread appeal of The Bill.
In fact, the series was so popular it sparked a range of merchandise including T-shirts, mugs, toys and even action figures that came complete with tiny truncheons, handcuffs and duty belts.