The Bill

[DizzyLizzy]

I know The Bill has been around a long time...I think it used to be once or twice a week for half an hour....but does anyone know when the very first episode was screened ? I'm guessing at late 70's early 80's ? I've looked at the official site and one or two other places, but can't find the answer and it's driving me mad !

Thanks

Lizzy

[littleoldme]

The Bill started as a one-off TV play in 1983, and I believe the series proper began in 1984.

[DizzyLizzy]

Thanks for that ..... didn't expect a reply so quickly. I'm impressed !

Thanks again

Lizzy

[kempie]

Further to the answer given by littleoldme, "Woodentop", the pre-cursor to the series, was shown in August 1983 and episode 1 of "The Bill", entitled "Funny Ol' Business - Cops and Robbers", was first broadcast 16th October 1984.

[DizzyLizzy]

Thanks Kempie !!  :-)

Lizzy

[Loosehead]

It was initially a 1 hour long programme with a different story each week, like the cop shows before it. It seems now to have turned into yet another, thoroughly depressing soap. A sort of Eastenders in Uniform, last time I watched an episode there was virtually no crime fighting at all. If I where a copper I think I'd steer clear of Sunhill must be the worst cop shop in Britain! Whay has this happenned? what is this obsession with "lowest common denominator" TV? I despair sometimes.

[DizzyLizzy]

Know what you mean LooseHead ! I stopped watching it for years after it became soapified, but have recently started watching again..all be it only when there's nothing else on !

Lizzy

[Buenchico]

I'm glad that there's someone else who only watches 'The Bill' when there's nothing else on! I sat next to the director on Eurostar a couple of months ago and was reading the advance scripts over his shoulder. From what I've seen the storylines and characterizations get more unbelievable page by page!

Chris

[bernardo]

The 20th anniversary live episode was on 30th October 2003, so presumably the first episode was c. Oct 1983, but I'm not sure if that includes the pilot episode.

I used to watch The Bill casually and occasionally for many years, but in the last 3 years since it became a soap, I have watched it avidly and regularly, and I have only missed about 1 episode in the whole of the last 3 years.  Does this mean I'm a sad anorak with no life?

[kempie]

http://www.thebillbios.co.uk/