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Syndicated viewing of the Bill

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Police drama The Bill ran from 1984 to 2010 on ITV

Gave a plethora of now world famous faces their big break

Viewers are now tuning into repeats to catch a glimpse of the stars

TV police drama The Bill is proving a hit again six years after it was axed as viewers play 'spot the celeb before they were famous'.

The ITV show, which ran for 26 years from 1984 to August 2010, was renowned for giving stars who are now successful their first break.

The weekly drama followed the lives of policemen and women working at the fictional Sun Hill Police Station in East London.

Celebrities including actress Keira Knightley, funnyman David Walliams, actor David Tennant, singer Emma Bunton and comedian Russell Brand all appeared as unknown extras on the show.

It also featured stars such as Robert Carlyle, Alex Kingston, Omid Djalili, Hugh Laurie and Denise Van Outen.

Now the show is regularly topping the most-watched lists of on demand service UKTV Play again as fans watch it to spot stars in their youth.

To cater for the unusual demand, UKTV Play is now creating 'spot the celeb' box sets of The Bill, so viewers can look out for stars before they were famous.

The demand TV service even expects to see a 15 per cent rise in viewing figures for the show over the Bank Holiday.

Actress Keira Knightley appeared in The Bill in 1995, playing 10-year-old troublemaker Sheena Rose.

Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams appeared in a 2002 episode of The Bill as an animal rights activist who takes part in an anti-vivisection march.

Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton played a troubled teenager in a 1993 episode of the show.

Stand-up comedian and actor Russell Brand debuted in The Bill as a cocky young thief in 1995 when he was 18.

Other celebrities to have featured in the show include James McAvoy, Rik Mayall, Ray Winstone, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Catherine Tate, Ralf Little, Darren Day and Les Dennis.

Other celebrities include Liz Smith, Roger Daltrey, Sean Bean, Pauline Quirke, Paul O'Grady, Lorraine Kelly and Michelle Collins.

The longest-serving character was PC Tony Stamp - played by Graham Cole - who appeared in a huge 1,091 episodes from 1984 to 2009.

Emma Boston, from UKTV Play, said: 'The Bill has always had a cult following among viewers but we've been surprised at how it's regularly topping our most-watched lists.

'Over the years, the series has become known for giving so many famous actors their first break.

'It's grown into one of our most popular on demand drama series, and we expect to see a 15% rise in viewing figures over the Bank Holiday.'

Actor Eric Richard played desk sergeant Bob Cryer for 20 years. He said: 'Any TV show which runs for over 25 years will have something special about it - and The Bill was no exception.

'It featured great casting, great plot lines and most of all a certain magic that clearly helped take it to the nation's hearts.

'There was an incredible depth of acting talent and behind-the-scenes staff - I worked with more than 5,000 actors while I was in The Bill and there aren't many shows that can claim that.'

10 celebrities who had small roles in The Bill

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Viewers play 'spot the celebrity' as The Bill becomes a hit again

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Police drama The Bill ran from 1984 to 2010 on ITV Gave a plethora of now world famous faces their big break Viewers are now tuning into repeats to catch a glimpse of the stars TV police drama The Bill is proving a hit again six years after it was axed as viewers play 'spot the celeb before they were famous'.

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Article by The Guardian

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The Bill, one of the UK's longest-running TV dramas, is to be dropped by ITV in the autumn after 27 years, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

The Bill, one of the UK's longest-running TV dramas, is to be dropped by ITV in the autumn after 27 years, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

ITV has taken the decision to axe the police drama after last year's revamp and switch to a new 9pm slot failed to halt a long-term ratings decline.

The Bill was moved last year from being aired twice a week at 8pm on ITV1 to a single slot on Thursdays at 9pm. The show's storylines were tweaked to take account of the new post-watershed slot.

However, ratings for the show have failed to pick up. In 2002 the show averaged more that 7 million viewers, while more recently audiences been about 3.5 million.

ITV's decision puts jobs at risk in The Bill's 90-strong production team, which is based in Merton, south London. Talkback Thames, the independent producer which makes the show, said that it would now enter a consultation process with staff that work on The Bill and was expecting a "significant number of redundancies".

The broadcaster said that the decision to drop the series was made as part of a creative rethink of its drama schedule, which has seen the development of popular short run shows such as Collision and Above Suspicion, and not on cost-cutting grounds.

ITV intends to use the multimillion-pound saving from axing The Bill to create shorter run drama series for the 9pm slot with projects in the works including a new medical series with writer Peter Bowker and a new series from Collision and Foyle's War writer Anthony Horowitz.

"The Bill has been a fixture on our screens for more than 25 years and has been the home of some of the UK's best serial drama storylines, and a great showcase for terrific scriptwriting and fine acting talent," said Peter Fincham, the ITV director of television, channels and online.

"But times change, and so do the tastes of our audience. Whilst The Bill will come to an end in 2010, we will continue to invest more in drama programming than any other commercial broadcaster in the UK and viewers can look forward to a wide range of high quality drama on ITV1."

In the current economic climate the chances of The Bill being picked up by another broadcaster seems slim, with one source describing the costly show as "a victim of circumstance". After a quarter of a century on ITV, a rival broadcaster would also find it difficult to "own" the show.

"We are devastated that after 26 successful years on ITV, The Bill will be coming to an end," said Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive of Talkback Thames. "Regrettably, we anticipate that this may result in a significant number of redundancies. We are entering into a period of consultation with employees at The Bill where this will be discussed further.

"We are incredibly proud of what the show has achieved. It is a credit to everyone who has worked on The Bill that the series will be signing out on a creative and editorial high with both critical and industry-wide acclaim and a loyal fan base who have supported the show throughout."

The Bill grew out of a single drama called Woodentop, broadcast on ITV in 1983, which followed a day in the life of young PC Jim Carver, played by Mark Wingett, who stayed with the show until 2005, with his character rising to become a detective sergeant.

Named after writer Geoff McQueen's first idea of a title "Old Bill", The Bill first aired in 1984 and went on to become one of British TV's longest-running dramas.

The show is based around the fictional Sun Hill police station in east London, with filming taking place at various locations across the capital's southern suburbs, as well as on the main set in Merton.
* To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.* If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". Topics

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The Bill: ITV drops police drama after 27 years

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The Bill, one of the UK's longest-running TV dramas, is to be dropped by ITV in the autumn after 27 years, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal. The Bill, one of the UK's longest-running TV dramas, is to be dropped by ITV in the autumn after 27 years, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

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Last episode TV ratings

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ITV1's The Bill bowed out after 27 years with 4.4 million viewers, winning its last-ever ratings battle with BBC1 last night, Tuesday 31 August.

the Sun Hill cop show finished with 4.412 million viewers, a 19.3% share, on ITV1 and ITV HD between 9pm and 10pm, with 105,000 (0.7%) of them watching on the high definition channel.

This was up from 3.414 million (14.5%) for last Tuesday's penultimate episode of The Bill.

9pm competition included the final episode of five-part submarine drama The Deep, which finished with 4 million viewers, a 17.5% share, on BBC1 and BBC HD. The BBC HD channel's share of this audience was 278,000 (1.2%).

Also at 9pm last night, the first of Channel 4's three-part documentary The Hunt for Britain's Sex Traffickers had 1.879 million viewers, an 8.2% share, with another 172,000 viewers on Channel 4+1.

BBC2 documentary Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children had 1.053 million viewers, a 4.8% share, betwen 9pm and 10pm. Channel 5's CSI: Miami had 1.966 million viewers, 8.6% of the audience.

The final episode of The Bill was followed by ITV1/ITV1 HD's retrospective about the show, Farewell The Bill, which averaged 1.661 million viewers, a 13.2% share, between 10.35pm and 11.35pm.

Five main terrestrial analogue networks

BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel Five (available in all UK homes with TV, except Channel 5, which reaches about 95%)
BBC1
8pm: Holby City - 5.672 million/25.2%
BBC2
8pm: Great British Bake Off - 2.689 million/12%
ITV1/ITV1 HD
8pm: New Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - 3.340 million/14.9%
Channel 4
8pm: Help! My House Is Falling Down - 1.979 million/8.8%, C4+1 - 400,000/1.8%
Channel 5
8pm: Nature Shock: Killer Squid - 1.338 million/6%

Freeview/digital terrestrial TV free-to-air networks

Available in 23.4m UK homes - 91.4% of total - as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009
ITV2
9pm: Jedward: Let Loose - 338,000/1.5%
E4
9pm: Smallville - 230,000/1%
BBC3
9pm: Don't Tell The Bride - 1.008 million/4.4%
BBC4
8pm: Hello, Glastonbury! - 102,000/0.5%

All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, HD, +1 or other - unless otherwise stated
* To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.* If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".

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The Bill finale wins 4.4m viewers | TV ratings - 31 August

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ITV1's The Bill bowed out after 27 years with 4.4 million viewers, winning its last-ever ratings battle with BBC1 last night, Tuesday 31 August. the Sun Hill cop show finished with 4.412 million viewers, a 19.3% share, on ITV1 and ITV HD between 9pm and 10pm, with 105,000 (0.7%) of them watching on the high definition channel.

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Sun hill fire boost TV viewing figures.

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ITV1's police drama The Bill has hit its highest ratings for the year so far - for an episode in which six officers died in a fire.

Thursday's episode, in which there was a lethal petrol bomb attack on the Sun Hill police station, attracted 8.6 million viewers.

The death toll has prompted the introduction of a host of new characters which the producers hope will keep the drama serial high in the ratings.

New executive producer Paul Marquess is to introduce ten new actors, along with changes he said will reflect the realities of present-day policing in London.

"That means more female police officers, persistent re-offenders, and a much faster, busier atmosphere, with officers investigating many crimes at any one time," he said.

Soap stars

One new face is Babyfather star Diane Parish, who recently won a Royal Television Society award.

A number of soap actors are also joining, including ex-EastEnders stars Roberta Taylor and Russell Floyd, Family Affairs' Beth Cordingley, Pal Aron, formerly of Casualty and Coronation Street's Ciaran Griffiths and Jane Danson.

In May 2000, six actors were dropped in a major cast change, quickly followed by the departure of long-standing Bill actor Eric Richard, who played Sergeant Bob Cryer.

The programme makers have now announced that the new Sun Hill front desk officer will be Roberta Cryer - with Moya Brady playing the niece of the retired Sergeant Cryer.

The show, produced by Thames Television, started in 1983 as a one-off drama, Woodentop, with The Bill following in 1984.

From 1989 it was transmitted in half-hourly episodes, twice a week, with an extra instalment added in 1993, but reverted to its old hour-long format in 1998.

The series has featured a number of well-known guest stars over the years, with Denise Van Outen, Leslie Grantham and Chelsea footballer Emmanuel Petit among those accepting cameo roles.

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BBC News | TV AND RADIO | Fire boosts The Bill's ratings

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ITV1's police drama The Bill has hit its highest ratings for the year so far - for an episode in which six officers died in a fire. Thursday's episode, in which there was a lethal petrol bomb attack on the Sun Hill police station, attracted 8.6 million viewers.

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George Galloway sues the Bill

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Controversial MP George Galloway is suing the makers of hit TV show The Bill claiming an episode featuring a corrupt politician was based on him.

Respect MP Galloway, 53, is finalising talks with his lawyers this week after watching a three-part special called 'Moving Targets' - first aired on ITV in November last year.

The three-hour special - which focuses on fictional corrupt MP Paul Sagger - is said to draw on a number of similarities with the Bethnal Green and Bow MP, including links with Iraq and east London.

A source close to Galloway said the character, played by actor Tom Chadbon, shows 'uncanny similarities to George'.

The source said: 'He is in talks with his lawyers this week.

'The legal action is based on an episode of The Bill shown last year where a politician with uncanny similarities to George turned out to be venal and corrupt - and that there was a clear inference."

Galloway - who ordered in copies of the ITV show to watch at home - is believed to have been furious after watching the show and ordered his legal team to take action.

The ex-Labour MP is notoriously litigious and has won a string of high profile cases - including £150,000 in libel damages from the Daily Telegraph.

The cigar-smoking MP, who famously appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, is known for his opposition to the war in Iraq and visited the country twice, in 1994 and 2002.

When he met Saddam Hussein in 1994 he famously told him: 'Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.'

The episode in question - which attracted a massive 6m viewers - follows a police investigation into a double shooting at a Rock Against Racism concert in which the fictional MP is hit in the shoulder by a bullet and another man - a Muslim cleric - dies.

In the search for the gunman officers from Sunhill - a fictional east London borough - uncover incriminating evidence against the MP in connection with the illegal importation of artefacts from Iraq.

In the final scene the MP is charged with smuggling.

Galloway, who was booted out of the Labour Party in October 2003 after condemning the invasion of Iraq, is said to be launching the legal action after viewing scenes - shown over a three week period from November 14 to November 28 - which include:

Galloway is believed to consider that the similarities between the character and him are 'too close to have been an accident'.

A source said: 'Galloway's links with Iraq are well known, he is an east London MP and Sunhill is meant to be set in east London and the Rock Against Racism concerts are held in Victoria Park - which is in George's constituency.

'The 6m viewers who watched the episodes will have seen a man - about the same age as George - playing an east London MP with links to Iraq and Rock Against Racism being charged with smuggling.

'The conclusions are fairly obvious you would have thought.'

The Respect Party, co-founded by Galloway, even offers 'Rock Against Racism' t-shits as prizes on its website.

Ron McKay, an official spokesman for Mr Galloway, said: 'George cannot make any comment because of the current legal state of affairs.'

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George Galloway sues The Bill over 'corrupt' politician he claims is based on him

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Controversial MP George Galloway is suing the makers of hit TV show The Bill claiming an episode featuring a corrupt politician was based on him. Respect MP Galloway, 53, is finalising talks with his lawyers this week after watching a three-part special called 'Moving Targets' - first aired on ITV in November last year.

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Controversial multiple sclerosis

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ITV1 drama The Bill has been criticised as "grossly irresponsible" for making up the name of a drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent programme.

The episode, broadcast on Wednesday, featured an MS patient being told about a fictional drug, Plavitron, which could alleviate MS symptoms.

"It was grossly irresponsible of The Bill to make up a drug," said MS Society spokesman Chris Bentley.

ITV said it believed it had "told the story responsibly and sensitively".

"We researched both the condition and possible treatments - existing and proposed - before and during the writing process," an ITV spokeswoman said.

She added: "It was certainly not our intention to offend or mislead."

Fictional places, names and products were featured in storylines "often for legal reasons", she said.

Mr Bentley said the MS Society's helpline had received a number of calls from people wanting to know more about Plavitron only to be told it did not exist.

"There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition," said Mr Bentley.

"People with MS have a tough enough time as it is without being misled over treatments," he added.

About 85,000 people in the UK have MS, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system.

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BBC NEWS | Entertainment | The Bill criticised over MS plot

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ITV1 drama The Bill has been criticised as "grossly irresponsible" for making up the name of a drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent programme. The episode, broadcast on Wednesday, featured an MS patient being told about a fictional drug, Plavitron, which could alleviate MS symptoms. "It was grossly irresponsible of The Bill to make up a drug," said MS Society spokesman Chris Bentley.

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This express article shows the successive box set views of The Bill

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It had such a following that it was broadcast in over 55 countries and gave a break to stars such as Keira Knightley, Robert Carlyle, David Walliams, Alex Kingston, James MacAvoy and David Tennant, among others.

Actor Eric Richard, who played Sergeant Cryer for 20 years, said: "Any TV show which runs for over 25 years will have something special about it - and The Bill was no exception.

"It featured great casting, great plots and most of all a certain magic that clearly helped take it to the nation's hearts.

"There was also an incredible depth of acting talent and behind-the-scenes staff - I worked with more than 5,000 actors while I was in The Bill and there aren't many shows that can claim that."

Big TV coming your way in 2016
Wed, August 24, 2016
There is so much good television to watch in 2016, and because we don't want you to miss out on anything, here's what to keep an eye out for.

It was announced in 2010 that The Bill would not be recommissioned by ITV and the last episode aired in August of that year.

However, given its resurgence in popularity and the hunger for reboots of television classics, The Bill could make a comeback one day.

If the show did return, it would follow a similar path to Red Dwarf, which went on to be revived after developing a cult following on the channel Dave thanks to repeats of old episodes.
The Bill Collection is available for free on www.UKTVPlay.co.uk.

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The Bill is one of the most-watched box sets on TV - despite getting axed in 2010

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It had such a following that it was broadcast in over 55 countries and gave a break to stars such as Keira Knightley, Robert Carlyle, David Walliams, Alex Kingston, James MacAvoy and David Tennant, among others.