The
lowdown: 'The Bill' is one of the longest-running police
shows in the world, with more than 2,300 episodes
by the end of 2008. First
broadcast as a regular series on 16 October 1984, it was preceded by a
one-off program
called 'Woodentop', which
was part of a series called 'Storyboard' that was designed to showcase
potential new
shows. 'The Bill' follows
the men and women of Sun Hill police station in inner London, as they deal
with a range
of crimes, both serious
and petty, as well as the daily trials and tribulations of life on the
beat. The format has
changed a lot over the years,
from 50 minute episodes to 25-minute ones and back to 50 minutes in recent
years,
while at times ITV has broadcast
up to three new episodes per week. Recent cutbacks at ITV mean it will
now be
shown just once per week.
As well as numerous cast changes, the show has shifted from purely focusing
on the
investigation of crimes
to a more in-depth look at the private lives and loves of the Sun Hill
officers. This change
attracted much criticism,
with many viewers feeling that it had moved too far in the direction of
soap opera, but
it subsequently shifted
direction again to focus more on life on the beat rather than in the bedroom.
The
episode: Broadcast on 18 April 2002, it is officially
episode number 10, but it is actually number 1670. The
different numbering system
is the result of a 2002 decision to abolish individual episode titles in
favour of numbers,
beginning with Episode 1.
The change coincided with the appointment of a new executive producer,
Paul Marquess,
and the shift toward a more
serialised style for the program. It was the 21st episode of season 18,
and was set in
the aftermath of the Sun
Hill bombing. Seven officers died in the explosion, but the work of the
Sun Hill police must
continue. CID continues
to investigate the bombing, and some officers are convinced that they know
who threw the
fatal molotov cocktail,
the uniformed officers continue to patrol the streets of Sun Hill. Sergeant
Craig Gilmore and
PC Jim Carver are sent to
investigate reports that somebody has been digging holes in people's backyards.
They
come across a seemingly
harmless eccentric, Ian Ward (played by Sylvester McCoy), who has what
he claims is a
treasure map. However, the
police learn that Drew had once run an antiques business with another man,
but the two
had a disagreement and the
partnership was dissolved. It transpires that the partner had used Drew's
idea of buying
stolen jewelry very cheaply
and hiding it for 12 years, then selling it when the police are no longer
looking for it and
its value has risen significantly.
Drew learns that his partner had put this plan into effect, and he has
been looking
for the jewellery that has
been buried in his late partner's backyard. However, the partner's niece
has already found
the jewelry, and the police
intercept as she is about to flee the country.
Who
connections: Sylvester McCoy was also in Episode
457 of 'The Bill' in 2006, while David Tennant appeared
in a 1995 episode called
'Deadline' and Colin Baker
was in a 1997 episode called 'Going Down'.
Video
Clips: Digging holes
5.6mb
Police interview 3.6mb |
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