| Product: |
Bill, The |
| Date: |
18/11/06 (1374 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Now on twice a week in two hour long episodes
Disadvantages: Can be a bit slow some weeks
The Bill
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For this review I have chosen to write a small round up style summary in to what The Bill is all about and rather than try and focus on storylines on a weekly basis I have written a brief summary by each cast member to give a clue as to there characters past.
The Bill is an ITV drama, which is broadcast twice weekly although that is not how it originally began back in 1984. Back then, it was a seasonal show, which consisted of 50-minute episodes for the first three series. Then at the end of the 1987 series, ITV decided to make dramatic changes to The Bill deciding that due to its popularity they would change the show to a year-round drama consisting of two 25-minute weekly episodes. The show remained relatively unchanged apart from the cast until 1992 when they started showing hour-long specials several times during the year. These specials where such a great success that in 1993 the schedule again and introduced the new look Bill to the public in three half hour weekly episodes. The success just did not stop in the viewers ratings polls for The Bill and in 1998 the scheduling changed again allowing The Bill to be aired to the public twice a week in two hour long episodes, although this sometimes is reduced to one show per week due to program rescheduling for Live Events.
The Bill is a program about the Police Force and is set in the fictional location of Sun Hill, Canley, London and regularly mentions other fictional stations in the fictional borough such as Barton Street, Stafford Row and Spicer Street, although these stations are never really seen. The Bill does vary slightly from most police dramas shown due to the fact that it shows the shared work load between shifts, CID, uniform and also includes some of the officers in there private lives although this is a more recent addition to the show.
The show first came to life in the shape of a one off episode called Woodentop and starred WPC June Ackland (Trudie Goodwin) and DC Jim Carver (Mark Wingett). ITV had no idea of this one off drama's success and then proceeded to plan for The Bill from this idea, even choosing to have the two officers continue to use there cast names and build the force around them. Of course, WPC June Ackland still stars in the Bill today although now she is Sergeant Ackland and it is only recently that DC Carver left our screens.
We have watched many cast members come and go over the years and the show use these cast members to bring us some excellent storylines. Tow of the more major storylines The Bill used though were surrounding the events of a firebomb at Sun Hill to allow ITV to present a whole new set as well as get rid of some old cast members and replace them with new. He other was when the whole of CID had to be revamped due to ratings issues and in came DS Don Beech and his corrupt way with a brilliant story line, which gripped the nation. As Don's storyline ended so did many other cast members to bring in fresh blood to the CID department of the show.
The most recent storyline in The Bill has been an intense investigation to finally capture Dr Wilder, a paedophile who has been filming and having sex with under sixteen year olds and managing to escape the grasp of the law, until this week that is. The time also came this week for us to say goodbye to another cast member PC Yvonne Hemmingway as you moves on due to promotion, but who will replace her, well that is already decided and in comes a new sergeant to Sun Hill in the form of Gillian Taylforth as Sergeant Nikki Wright. Love is also in the air a great deal at the moment but will it last, watch and see for yourself.
The Top Brass of Sun Hill
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Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Adam Okaro:-played by Cyril Nri.
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Adam Okaro has only recently received this promotion after an emotional ride at Sun Hill where we have seen him work along side his former love interest Inspector Gina Gold, who is still a dear friend and helped him through he grief when he lost his wife and children through a road accident in a series of The Bill.
Superintendent John Heaton:-played by Daniel Flynn.
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Superintendent Heaton is a new member to The Bill and yet he is already causing many waves amounts his troops. He is having an affair with Commissioner Hobbs and has many family issues as well in the shape of his wife and daughter. His different approach to policing is also upsetting many of the other officers in Sun Hill and he has already had a few run-ins with Inspector Gold.
Detective Chief Inspector Jack Meadows:-played by Simon Rouse
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DCI Meadows has been a loyal cast member for any years now first starring in The Bill in 1992 to run the CID department and work along side DI Frank Burnside a very unorthodox CID leader. Jack Meadows has had quite a rollercoaster of a ride during his time at Sun Hill yet he continues to lead the CID to crime solving at its best.
Inspector Gina Gold:-played by Roberta Taylor
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Soon after her unwelcome arrival at Sun Hill, it was discovered that Gina Gold had previously lived with Adam Okaro in her thirties and this did not help staff moral. This has began to change now with her now forging many close friendships, in particular with Sergeant Smith who helped her through her Cancer ordeal.
Detective Inspector Neil Manson:-played by Andrew Lancel
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DI Manson joined Sun Hill in 2003 and immediately set off on the wrong foot when he was promoted to the post of DI, pushing DS Sam Nixon’s nose out of joint as she was acting DI at the time. He has also has many problems in his personal life during his time in Sun Hill particularly as many of the CID department dislike the fact that his Father-In-Law was Deputy Assistant Commissioner and probably had a helping hand in his promotion.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Georgia Hobbs:-played by Kazia Pelka
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Only recently getting her promotion to Deputy Assistant Commissioner after the death of DI Masons Father-In-Law, Commissioner Hobbs is already revealing a few skeletons in her closet and using her affair with Superintendent Heaton to influence decisions affecting Sun Hill.
CID of Sun Hill.
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DS Phil Hunter: - played by Scott Maslen.
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During his time at Sun Hill DS Hunter has been in the lime light a great deal particularly because of his love life. He is a womanizer and a hard man but underneath all that, he now seems to be melting the icy heart of DS Nixon as they enter into a new relationship.
DC Mickey Webb:-played by Chris Simmons.
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Although in 2003 we though we had said farewell to Mickey Webb as he moved to another station due to the ordeal he suffered at the hands of a villain, he has returned to Sun Hill in 2005 again to be taken under the wing of DCI Meadows after becoming close friends with him on a personal level. He is still troubled by his past ordeal but is trying his hardest to move on with the help of his friends.
DS Samantha Nixon: - played by Lisa Maxwell
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DS Nixon arrived in Sun Hill back in 2002 and we have seen her ordeal with many personal issues involving the abduction of her Daughter followed by the Daughter having a Teenage pregnancy with a mad man. She has managed to overcome all this greatly although her love life is still a rollercoaster ride.
DC Zain Nadir: - played by T.J.Ramini.
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DC Nadir first came into the limelight in Sun Hill whilst on an under cover operation where he even baffled the Sun Hill officers as to his identity as an under cover cop. When it was final uncover though he left a few officers red faced and has continued upsetting even more by staying on as a CID officer in there patch.
DC Terry Perkins:-played by Bruce Byron
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DC Perkins has shown a great deal of emotion through some very powerful storylines during his time in Sun Hill. Having to face his abuser and arrest his own Brother for being an abuser has made you wonder why he has to given up on his career. Still he battles against the forces of crime in his own unique way.
DS Stuart Turner:-played by Doug Rao
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Another recent addition to Sun Hill CID DS Turner has already turned a few heads during his short time with Sun Hill. He has already had an affair with DS Nixon, which went wrong and upset DS Hunter, and yet now they are disagreeing on DS Hunters intentions towards DS Nixon.
Trainee DC Kezia Walker:-played by Cat Simmons
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Having only just begun her CID training at Sun Hill, DC Walker has made a few mistakes, although she currently seems to be getting more than a helping hand from Sergeant Smith and not just at work either.
Uniform Officers of Sun Hill.
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Sergeant June Ackland: - played by Trudie Goodwin
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Sergeant Ackland really has not had an easy ride during her time at Sun Hill. The only original cast member remaining, June has suffered everything from rape, her adopted Son turning up, being emotional torn apart by another officer and a failed marriage to DC Jim Carver. She has also had to see many fellow officers loose there lives and leave the patch, yet she still stays firm in her position at Sun Hill.
Sergeant Dale Smith (Smithy):-played by Alex Walkinshaw
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Sergeant Smith (Smithy) has shown a different side to his character since accidentally shooting a fellow officer and friend during his time in SO19. He has been a good friend to Gina Gold during her Cancer ordeal and his emotional side is starting to show through towards DC Walker.
PC Dan Casper:-played by Chris Jarvis
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Dan Casper has a passion for boxing and with the support of the Sun Hill crew has had recent success, but at a cost as he is currently dealing with an addiction for Anabolic Steroids.
PC Emma Keane:-played by Melanie Gutteridge.
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Now she is PC Emma Hinkley since her recent marriage to a Solicitor, although it was close as to whether she would actually get married after telling her future husband that she slept with PC Fletcher
PC Lewis Hardy:-played by Aml Ameen
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When PC Hardy first joined Sun Hill he had quite a few run-ins with PC Valentine, claiming the officer who is was partnered with was a racist, although his opinion has since changed, as he became close friends with PC Valentine when he saved Hardy's life.
PC Leela Kapoor:-played by Seema Bowri
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This officer is determined to get to the top and is regularly helping CID. She is hard working and very career orientated although I am sure everything will not always be so good for her.
PC Honey Harmen:-played by Kim Tiddy.
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PC Harmen finally seems to getting her act back together after her farce of a marriage to a wanted murder, although she is feeling a little lost at the moment with the departure of her close friend PC Yvonne Hemmingway
PC Reg Hollis:-played by Jeff Stewart.
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PC Hollis and his strange yet wonderful ways has been entertaining us now for many years although it has not always been fun a games for him. The first time we actually got to see PC Reg Hollis fall in love was back in 2004/2005 to Marilyn Chambers who worked on the front desk, although the writers of The Bill did not want this to last and his girlfriend was killed off in the Sun Hill fire that hit in 2005
PC Roger Valentine:-played by John Bowler
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PC Marital problems and work problems has constantly plagued poor PC Valentine who is currently on compassionate leave due to illness from his nerves caused by work.
PC Will Fletcher:-played by Gary Lucy
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PC Fletcher always seems to be in the wrong lately when things go wrong for him at work and during his love life. First, he messes up a major case, then he discovers his friend PC Casper is on Steroids and finally he loses his chances of happiness when PC Keane marries the man he hates with a vengeance.
PC Tony Stamp:-played by Graham Cole
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PC Tony Stamp first came to Sun Hill in 1987 and been through many emotional issues in his time. He is close friends with June Ackland as they have now served together for many years, but Personal matters are now taking there toll. He is currently struggling with the cost of care for his ill Father, which has now forced him into having to take his chances by taking on a second job as a taxi driver.
PC Diane Noble:-played by Kaye Wragg
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PC Noble has yet to cause a major stir at Sun Hill as she has only recently joined the crew, but I am sure this pleasure will not last after all this is becoming yet another soap opera in its own way.
Sergeant Nikki Wright:-played by Gillian Taylforth.
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Sergeant Wright first hit our screens two weeks ago in her introduction episode to The Bill. As an officer at Barton Street caught up in an incident on Sun Hills patch it is needless to say, she trod on a few peoples toes already. She has since asked for a transfer to Sun Hill and is due to begin her first shift there within the next two weeks as the new Sergeant, The other officers of Sun Hill don't know this yet but needless to say it is not going to go down well.
©Welshwickedone November 2006©
Summary: Good drama from ITV
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