This is the Grand Dame of British cop shows that grace the small screen in Australia. Let’s not be ageist about this show - old it may be, but it is as popular, if not more so, as it ever was. And its audience crosses boundaries of age and background - "The Bill" is one of those shows that could flourish forever. This is even more astounding when you consider the prolific output of the production: 3 half-hour shows a week, virtually year round. In the UK, and now in Australia, the show has reverted to an hour-long format. "The Bill" exemplifies the division between British and American cop show followers. The former will bend your ear about "gritty realism" and the unfortunate lapses in taste of the American genre; the latter will lecture endlessly on the need for entertainment value and interesting plot devices, and most of all, the importance of a contemporary style, the so-called "look" - the British devotees deride this as "glitz". Here at Law4u we just don’t care - our mission is the pursuit of excellence. "The Bill" is set in Sun Hill Police Station, which is located in the East End of London. There are characters in civilian clothes, members of the Criminal Investigation Department (called the "CID"), and the uniformed members. Sometimes the CID are short-staffed and place some of the Uniform Division in "plain-clothes". We see squads from different shifts, but mostly from "A Relief". The show began life as a one hour weekly series. In its fourth year it reverted to two half hour shows per week, and in 1993 it changed to its long-running setup: three half hour episodes per week. Now we are back to the hour shows, beginning 2000 in Australia, which certainly allows a more in-depth look at some topical issues. According to the creator of the show, Geoff McQueen, the format changed to half hour episodes to allow a greater input from dissimilar creative types. In Australia it was not seen until 1986, and it was not until 1995 that the ABC began to copy the three episode per week schedule of Britain. If you want to catch up with the long development of this show, Foxtel began screening it from the beginning in August 1996. This is no "Neighbours", churned out five times a week (PLEASE no irate "Neighbours" fans on the e-mail). So how did Thames Television manage to produce three distinct episodes a week, and now an hour for a good slice of the year? Simple - a lot of hard work and planning. Each episode is five days in production, but that’s just the end result of months of pre-production. Post-production (editing and sound etc) can take another couple of weeks. And it confounds our expectations by allowing life in Sun Hill to take its own turns, so the villains sometimes get the upper hand. This makes it closer to real life than most (if not all) police procedurals, and provides a welcome respite from other hackneyed formulas. It is virtually impossible to list all the main characters that have appeared in this series. Over the years there have been hundreds (and that’s not a Law4u exaggeration) of roles. If you’re checking out this show for the first time, it will be a guide to ease the way. If you’re watching "The Bill" on Foxtel, from the beginning of the series, we suggest you consult one of the books recommended later in "the facts" (below). Sergeant (WPS) Ackland has been at Sun Hill since the premiere of this series. She’s a team player who believes in the solidarity of the group, a common enough attitude amongst the force, but she brings an intensity to her work that is almost unique. You have to wonder what keeps her so dedicated after all these years - is it ambition, personal demons or a commitment to a job she considers honourable? Probably the latter, so let’s hope her energy sees her through a few more industrious years at Sun Hill. Sergeant June Ackland is played by Trudie Goodwin. They call him "babyface", and true, PC Luke Ashton was only 19 when he arrived at Sun Hill. He had a lot to learn, and he was pretty naive about policing. PC Luke Ashton was played by Scott Neal. He left the force after a stuff up with a crack addict, deciding his talents may be better served elsewhere. In true police show tradition, Matthew Boyden is a man who has faced more trouble at home than on the streets! His domestic troubles (he had an affair with a fellow officer) put paid to a better career - perhaps he should have done better than sergeant after twenty years. If that wasn’t enough, he indulged in another dubious romantic rendezvous just after he arrived at Sun Hill, and he even managed to get himself assaulted by an irate husband in the process. He seems to have settled down, but not before time. Sergeant Matthew Boyden is played by Tony O'Callaghan. Chief Superintendent Charles Brownlow was the leader of the Sun Hill gang, and a decent leader he was at that. Chief Superintendent Charles Brownlow is played by Peter Ellis. Do you think they know they’ve named the character after an Australian football medal? Detective Inspector Frank Burnside left Sun Hill under mysterious circumstances, but he's back with the gang after an absence of 5 years. When DC Carver and DS Boulton venture to Manchester to investigate the abduction of a girl, they run into Frank who's working at a security firm. He's not much for comformity, and some think he's too smart by half, not to mention a propensity to cut corners. And he's fond of the ladies, of course. As he is known, "Frank the Dodger". Burnside is played by Christopher Ellison. All you need to know about Jimmy Carver is that he has allowed himself the nickname "Moral Dilemma Carver". What does he mean? That he’s got a real thing about ethics, which is not always the best way to look at things in his line of work. And if you want a further indication of this predicament, he’ll tell you that his career choices came down to the police or social work - sort of like a choice between being a lawyer or a priest (in other words, they don’t happily go together). Anyway, he’s settled on Detective Constable Jim Carver, thankfully for us, and his sixth sense of detective work has stood him and his colleagues in good stead. He’s a dour, severe fellow who needs to get on the lighter side of life. Chief Inspector Conway is more than willing to give credit where its due, and he believes in supporting the foot soldiers. He also knows how to advance his own career. Chief Inspector Conway is played by Ben Roberts. Sergeant Bob Cryer is about a good as a Sun Hill copper gets. He’s not too conservative, though he believes in traditional values and methods; and he’s not a modernist, though he can see the worth of up to date investigative methods (he also knows who’s in charge - his bosses). He’s also had his share of family problems, which is a pity, because this is a good cop by any standards. Sergeant Bob Cryer is played by Eric Richard. Young Suzi Croft is the work experience girl - no, that’s unfair - she’s actually has an official title, "trainee investigator". So, what is a "trainee investigator"? It’s a CID dogsbody, the designated undertaker of menial drudge-filled tasks, all the things that you and I don’t want to do around the office (or the station house) - let’s face it, if we didn’t set such stringent standards here at Law4u, we’d say she was the station house s--t kicker. And even though she’s now more entrenched in the office, she’s still got to put up with some choice chauvinistic behaviour. DC Suzi Croft is played by Kerry Peers. DS Geoff Daly has come from two years at the Area Training Unit, and has been a sergeant for over a decade. Known for his up to date knowledge of the crime scene, and like all Yorkshiremen, he's got that dry sense of humour. Norika Datta is not the android from the Japanese version "Star Trek: New Generation". But there is something of his namesake’s detached nonchalance about this woman. And she’s not one for the easy solution when the direct approach will suffice. No doubt she learned to handle the rough stuff in her previous job as a hairdresser! PC Norika Datta is played by Seeta Indrani. Chris Deakin is another victim in the romance stakes. The affair with the colleague’s wife led to a demotion - well, he’s not Robinson Crusoe in that department! He’s also had his fair share of controversy, but he’s still a good cop in a difficult job, though he doesn’t always play the game by the book - let’s not be judgemental, here at Law4u we’ve met more than a few lawyers who act in a less than ethical manner (of course, only "on the instructions of their clients"). DI Chris Deakin is played by Shaun Scott. PC Rosie Fox has been at Sun Hill before, when she was a victim of sexual harassment. Now she's back as a sergeant in the Murder Squad. Watch out Santini! Okay, so PC Garfield is not the Albert Einstein of Sun Hill - he may not even be the district’s Sylvester Stallone! On the other hand, when it comes to the fighting he doesn’t need a stand-in. PC George Garfield is played by Hue Higginson. DC Danny Glaze is a Londoner, streetwise and skillful in the ways of the force. Friendly and a joy to work with, he loves to crack a joke and keep everyone happy. Nevertheless, don't treat him like a fool, he'll find you out quick smart. DS Alistair Greig has come from the Vice Squad - okay, we can handle that. But what was he doing before that? Wait for it - he studied Law! Yes, Law! As you know, that’s reason enough to be suspicious of his character. Still, he’s not as inflexible as a background in Vice and Law might suggest. By the way, he’s musical as well. DS Alistair Greig is played by Andrew Mackintosh. PC Vicky Hagen comes from the nick in Essex, she arrives with an unfortunate moniker as a "grass" who told the truth about a fellow officer who assaulted a prisoner. Not surprising, because she doesn't take nonsense from anyone. Not to worry, everyone comes to like her anyway. PC Sam Harker comes from Beatles land in Liverpool, and transferred from Heathrow. His is a family of coppers, perhaps that's the reason he seems so comfortable in the job. PC Hollis has been around since the beginning. He’s not likely to win the Funniest Cop On Television Award, though he may get a special mention for bad taste. He’s a bit of an enigma, annoying one moment and heroic the next, dedicated to the streets and all it represents. PC Reg Hollis is played by Jeff Stewart. DC Kerry Holmes came from Yorkshire, she's an ambitious and intelligent DC who likes to get the job done. And be careful if you take her on, because she's quick to give back as good as she gets! By the way, she'll charm the pants off you if that's what it takes, particularly with the guys who melt for her good looks. PC Mike Jarvis is a more recent arrival. He is the sort of television cop we like to see here at Law4u. He’s a thinker who knows how to use his fists, only when necessary of course. A bit of a gentle giant - now isn’t that a cliche! PC Mike Jarvis is played by Stephen Beckett. PC Nick Klein transferred to Sun Hill from West London. In his free time he's a DJ in a local dance club. No doubt this has contributed to his confident nature, and the fact that he has an eye to the best opportunity. He's had a few setbacks on the force, and we're not sure if he'll be in there for the long run, given his extra-curricular interests. DC Duncan Lennox came from Epson nick, although it's a bit of mystery why he transferred to Sun Hill. Is he lazy or not? Sometimes he moves like a cheetah, but other times…yes, he loves the chase, hates the villains and is quick with the put-down. Deep down he loves his wife who's the big earner in the family. Alfred "Tosh" Lines came to Sun Hill fairly late in his career - he’s a bit like the lawyer who’s happy to keep turning over those conveyancing files and the occasional probate application. Not too much ambition, not good-looking like Rod Skase, but at the end of the day you’re surprised to see how much he’s contributed to the bottom line. He left Sun Hill for a career change at the Coroner's Office, but we know he won't be coming back.DC Lines is played by Kevin Lloyd. Tragically, Kevin passed away in 1998. Steve Loxton is an army man, used to the disciplined life and well trained to be a policeman. Pity they don’t teach a little more tact in the British Armed Services - Steve could use a bit of help in the public relations field. PC Steve Loxton is played by Tom Butcher. Another victim of demotion (he used to be a superintendent), DCI Meadows got his marching orders to Sun Hill. It’s hard to tell whether he’s pedantic (he likes everything just so) or he’s what the place needs - in general he seems to be a good leader for Sun Hill. DCI Meadows is played by Simon Rouse. PC Gary McCann is a graduate in Politics and History (that's right!), but belying his academic image, he's right into the action. Look for him to become a Sergeant in the future. In lawyerly terms, Andrew Monroe is the feared senior partner - one sideways glance is enough to send a young associate paralytic with fear and loathing. Yes, the coppers go running in the other direction when he’s on the prowl. He learned this routine the hard way, literally at the coal face (in the mines), and he believes in the responsibility a person has to the family they raise, and a working class sense of justice. Inspector Monroe is played by Colin Tarrant. PC Page is a character unfolding. Like June Ackland, she believes in the inherent honour of her position, and her at Law4u we think she's giving the boys a good run for their money. PC Polly Page is played by Lisa Geoghan. DC Tom Proctor is at Sun Hill for his first posting as DC. He's in it for the long haul, keen to make an impression even at this relatively young age. Maybe that's why he sees some of the crew (like Carver) as "dinosaurs". PC Dave Quinnan was born in South London, joining the force in 1986. It wasn't his first choice as a career, but that's okay because his experience in the real world has made him a shrewd operator. Likes a drink, too. PC Cass Rickman is the first to speak her mind, which is not always the best thing to do. But you have to respect her honesty! She takes an enormous pride in her work and will always be dedicated to doing her best. PC Eddie Santini made a definite impression when he arrived at Sun Hill with his usual style and grace, accentuated by a cutting sense of humour. Eddie knows how to get what he wants, and he's not too fussed at how that is achieved. PC Eddie Santini is played by Michael Higgs. There’s a DC Skase in every office, and don’t they know how to make the day longer! He’s a little on the wrong side of arrogant, certainly enough to antagonise some of his colleagues. In this man’s business these annoyances do not go unnoticed, and he’s incurred the wrath of his seniors on more than a few occasions. DC Rod Skase is played by Iain Fletcher. PC Dale Smith comes from a difficult background and a dysfunctional family. He got into the army as soon as he could, and then he was off to the force. Maybe it's his experience in the army that has made him so brave, and though he's the man you'd want on your side, he's not a popular colleague in the ranks. DS Clare Stanton who really loves her job, and she's been willing to take the hard road to get where she is. She's good looking but doesn't use it to her favour. Not that she won't bend the system to suit her, she uses her wiles as needed. PC Tony Stamp loves the chase, loves the rough stuff, loves the urban jungle. He doesn’t have too much time for the "upstairs" stuff or the bureaucrat’s maze. This is a man who knows what he wants - and he wants action. PC Tony Stamp is played by Graham Cole. PC Di Worrell is the type of person who should be on the force, because she loves to work with people and has all the skills to deal with the public. A bit of a practical joker, she uses her mouth to get herself out of ticklish situations. The pilot for "The Bill" was called "Woodentop", and as far as we know it was not at that stage certain to be a series (let alone one that has now run for nearly fifteen years!). This was back in 1983, so if any of our readers have better information, please e-mail. That pilot introduced us to June Ackland and first time PC Jimmy Carver, and had them encounter the first of hundreds of dead bodies that have filled the East End Morgue (actually, in typically Law4u exaggerated style, there have probably been only a hundred or so murders, which says something for the British style of understated drama). By the way, the feet at the end of each episode come from that pilot. This show was recently seen on Foxtel, but as far as we know, it was not shown on Australian television as the first episode. The first episode that screened in Australia was "Funny Old Business", which concerned a burglary and the theft of a car. "The Bill" is produced in Britain by Thames Television and ITV and was conceived and originally written by Geoff McQueen. It’s hard to follow this show without some serious attention to the detail of the language and some idea of the characters’ ranks. You can learn this over time, but if you’re new to the show, the following explanations will be very helpful. We’ll start with the ranks:
There are a multitude of terms used in this show, often not explained, though often you can fathom their meaning by the context. Here at Law4u we’d like to help you through this jargonistic maze:
The show is called "The Bill" because "Old Bill" is the English nickname for the police. For all you "Bill" fanatics, there are a couple of interesting publications out there to satisfy every query you might have:
The uniforms worn by the uniformed officers (does that go without saying?) are the real thing. The producers buy them from the Metropolitan Police. "The Bill" is shown in a smorgasbord of countries, from Brunei to Zambia, Gibraltar to Norway, and Israel to Saudi Arabia (how’s that for a clash of cultures?). In its first season, the show canvassed a vast array of crimes, including murder, burglary, bomb hoaxes, brotherly revenge, assaults, pornography, and diplomat drug smugglers. Even after all these years of playing Reg Hollis (one of the original characters), Jeff Stewart sees his part as "evolving". Funny how we always believe we’re "evolving", especially when we’re glued to the television. But he doesn’t want Reg to evolve into a sergeant! The London Metropolitan Police Service has a "Statement of Our Common Purpose And Values", believe it or not! So let’s join hands as we read it:
Whew!!! There were tears all around when Kevin Lloyd passed away, a few days after he was fired from the show. The ratings took a dive in the U.K. in 1998-9, but the return to an hour format has returned the show to the viewers' good graces. There have been similar rumblings amongst viewers in Australia, reflected in numerous letters to television magazines. Sometimes a ratings slump is the very thing a long-running show needs to get its juices flowing again. Remember, we run about 18 months behind the U.K. series. Australians will get to see much more of the private lives and loves of the crew in the post 2000 series, departing from the original concept. Also look for more real-life and topical issues: drugs, racism, child abuse, date-rape. What's happened to the closing credits? Where are those famous legs dancing across the cobblestones? You'd have to think that the producers left the door open for Tosh to return with his transfer to the Coroner's Office, but of course the actor tragically passed away in the meantime. You can write to the production team with requests for info at: When they take you down to Sun Hill, you’d better be sure of your rights. Do they have to get you a lawyer? How long can you be held before they bring you before a court or give you bail? Do you have to say anything in an interview? It’s television, of course. Watch an episode and compare it to the real world. First, unlike some of the customers at Sun Hill, it’s usually best to co-operate, even if you’re a lawyer (a new experience for some!). You won’t find too many lawyers yelling at the police, because it’s only going to make it harder for the poor client. It’s not always an easy for a lawyer to decide whether they should attend the police station. The police have to let a suspect communicate with their lawyer, but this is not always in a confidential setting (for example, a telephone conversation might be overheard). Sometimes a lawyer will just tell the client to keep their mouth shut, and at the same time inform the police that this advice has been given. But if the client is to be interviewed, a lawyer can demand to attend, and demand that the police wait for them to arrive. In Australia, despite what you see on television, a person cannot be "detained for questioning". You’re either arrested or you’re not. Also, the police have to give the suspect a "caution" – the usual "you have the right to remain silent" routine you see on most cop shows. The suspect has a right to keep their mouth firmly shut, except for the basic information about identity. This doesn’t mean that silence is always the best policy – far from it, especially if there is a reasonable explanation for what is alleged. But when you see the copper say "it will go against you if you don’t provide an explanation", start screaming to see your lawyer. In truth the decision not to answer questions cannot be used against a suspect in court, although it’s probably not quite as straightforward as that. Remember, the vast majority of convictions, in Australia and in Sun Hill, come from confessions in a police interview – and often the suspect doesn’t even mean to confess! Oh and by the way. Don't hold your breath for the duty lawyer to turn up. With shrinking legal aid budgets, a duty lawyer who appears in the middle of the night is a rare breed indeed! This is a show you can watch avidly or occasionally – either way it will be entertaining, consistently well written, and anachronistic in the true fashion of British cop shows. It is extraordinary that any drama can last this long, and this again may have something to do with the stoicism of the British bulldog. After all, "Coronation Street" and "Eastenders" have been running for decades. The production values are not in the league of a "NYPD Blue", but this is really a study of (numerous) characters, and that is what keeps us returning for more. There had been a definite decline in the excellence of this show, but some judicious changes have brought it back to the gritty realism that made it such a favourite. True some devotees have had their feathers ruffled by the return to an hour-long format and the new insights into the crew's private lives, but here at Law4u we like the changes. If you are watching on cable, prepare to be entertained for years to come!
Want us to tell you when we review another TV show? Read this: The legal information contained above is intended to be general information about the law. It is not a substitute for legal and other professional advice. Lawscape Communications P/L does not accept responsibility for loss to any person, who either acts or does not act because of this information. |