The Bill series 18
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2021) |
The Bill | |
---|---|
Season 18 | |
No. of episodes | 86 |
Release | |
Original network | ITV |
Original release | 3 January 31 December 2002 | –
Series chronology | |
Series 18 of British television drama The Bill consisted of 86 episodes, broadcast between 3 January and 31 December 2002. This series marked a massive change for the show, after it received a new executive producer, Paul Marquess. Series 18 became the first series to be broadcast in serial format, and generally, only one episode was broadcast per week. The style of the programme also noticeably changes, becoming less police procedural and more "soap opera". This meant that the personal lives of characters were regularly explored for the first time, meaning several characters had family members or partners introduced, casting that rarely happened prior to the Marquess era.
The show also dropped on-screen titles for the first time in the show's history, the last of which being the episode 'Quinnan: Part 6'. That six-part plot led to the departure of long serving character, PC Dave Quinnan, as actor Andrew Paul exited the series after 12 years. Unlike Paul, who left voluntarily, many of the early departures were enforced as Marquess dismissed a total of eight characters to make way for a major revamp of the cast as part of the move to a soap-opera style series. The longest serving dismissals were that of Andrew Monroe & Derek Conway, with both Colin Tarrant & Ben Roberts sacked after 12 & 14 years on the show, respectively. Their departure came as part of the events around the second station fire, producers following the same format as the 1990 fire by staging a fire to account for a set redevelopment. The events of the fire, which killed six cast members, were preceded by the murder of Conway in a petrol bomb attack. This led to the second major cast change on the series in as many years, following the Don Beech fiasco that saw CID disbanded in 2000. While the decision to remove a large number of long-term characters was controversial amongst die-hard fans, the dramatic scenes from the fire and its related episodes saw a rise in viewership after it dropped prior to Marquess' introduction.[1] The series also made history by airing its first on-screen gay kiss, and while it led to some 170 complaints, they were all dismissed by the Independent Television Committee, who deemed the scene was not "sexually explicit".[2]
In addition to the station fire, two other characters were killed off in major storylines that spanned a majority of the series; Superintendent Tom Chandler's past was explored in a six-month plot that led to his downfall and suicide, while PC Cass Rickman was murdered by a serial killer in a plot that lasted seven months, which did not conclude until the first episodes of the following series. In addition to SC Terry Knowles getting killed in the first episode of the series, part of a plot continued from series 17, the show had the most character deaths in a single series during the show's 27-year run with ten. At that point, it was more than the total number of characters killed off in the series' history. Between the pilot in 1983 and 2001, just nine characters were killed off.
On 14 August 2013, The Bill Series 18 Part 1 & 2 and The Bill Series 18 Part 3 & 4 DVD sets were released (in Australia).
Cast changes
Arrivals
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Departures
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Episodes
No. | Title | Episode notes | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
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1–3 | "Special Constable Part 2" | Final appearance of Special Constable Terry Knowles, Irene Sutcliffe, James Marcus and Francis Magee guest star | Christopher Lovett Ged Maguire | Leonard Collin | 3 January 2002 10 January 2002 17 January 2002 |
4 | "Juliet" | Anna Keaveney and Jackie Clune guest star | Michael Simpson | Tom Needham | 24 January 2002 |
5 | "Set in Stone" | First appearance of PC Cathy Bradford, Sara Stockbridge guest stars | Ron Bain | Candy Denman | 31 January 2002 |
6–7 | "Quinnan Part 1-2" | Aired as 90-minute episode, separated into two on DVD release, Sara Stockbridge, Michael Attwell and Andrew Pleavin guest star | Ron Bain & Roberto Bangura | Phil Ford & Len Collin | 7 February 2002 |
8 | "Quinnan Part 3" | Velibor Topic guest stars | Michael Cocker | Patrick Melanaphy | 14 February 2002 |
9 | "Quinnan Part 4" | Norman Lovett and Velibor Topic guest star | Ian White | Maxwell Young | 14 February 2002 |
10 | "Quinnan Part 5" | Velibor Topic guest stars | Ian White | Len Collin | 20 February 2002 |
11 | "Quinnan Part 6" | Final appearance of PC Dave Quinnan, Velibor Topic guest stars | Michael Simpson | Len Collin | 27 February 2002 |
12 | "Episode 001" "Down A Blind Alley" | First episode in serial format, title sequence updated to show cast changes, Trevor Byfield and Eamon Boland guest star | Daniela Neumann | Steve Handley | 28 February 2002 |
13 | "Episode 002" "Loose Cannon" | First appearance of Jeff Simpson, Carol Harrison and Bryan Murray guest star | Daniela Neumann | Eric Deacon | 7 March 2002 |
14 | "Episode 003" "Face the Music" | Paul Raffield and Bryan Murray guest star | Jamie Nuttgens | Chris McWatters | 14 March 2002 |
15 | "Episode 004" "Thin Ice" | Anthony May and Bryan Murray guest star | Jamie Nuttgens | Julian Spilsbury | 21 March 2002 |
16 | "Episode 005" "Afternoon Rendezvous" | Final appearance of Ch. Insp. Derek Conway, Maria McErlane and Bryan Murray guest star | Mike Adams | Marc Pye | 28 March 2002 |
17 | "Episode 006" "Rally the Troops" | Final appearance of DS Vik Singh, Bryan Murray guest stars | Mike Adams | Phillip Gladwin | 4 April 2002 |
18 | "Episode 007" "A Show of Generosity" | Guy Henry and Bryan Murray guest star | Steve Finn | Katherine Smith | 11 April 2002 |
19 | "Episode 008" "Golden Opportunity" | Final appearances of Insp. Andrew Monroe, PCs Ben Hayward & Di Worrell and DCs Paul Riley & Kate Spears, Bryan Murray guest stars | Steve Finn | Declan Croghan | 16 April 2002 |
20 | "Episode 009" "No Signs of Life" | Departure of PC Polly Page, Sarah Bedi, Jessica Fox, Barrie Gosney and Bryan Murray guest star | Declan O'Dwyer | Katherine Smith | 17 April 2002 |
21 | "Episode 010" "A Peg Or Two" | Final appearance of PC Sam Harker, first appearances of Det. Supt. Susan Devlin & DI Daniel Hayes, Sgt. Matt Boyden becomes A/Insp., Sylvester McCoy guest stars | Declan O'Dwyer | Tom Needham | 18 April 2002 |
22 | "Episode 011" "Suspects" | Bryan Murray guest stars | Ken Grieve | Henrietta Hardy | 25 April 2002 |
23 | "Episode 012" "At The Deep End" | First appearance of DC Eva Sharpe, guest appearances of ex-Chief Supt. Charles Brownlow and ex-Sgt. Bob Cryer, Jessica Fox and Bryan Murray guest star | Ken Grieve | Julie White | 2 May 2002 |
24 | "Episode 013" "Needle in a Haystack" | Title sequence updated to show cast changes, first episode with stab vests as standard issue for PCs, Neil Maskell and Bryan Murray guest star | Graeme Harper | Nick Saltrese | 9 May 2002 |
25 | "Episode 014" "Walking on Water" | Beverley Callard guest stars | Graeme Harper | Alison Fisher | 16 May 2002 |
26 | "Episode 015" "Slippery Slope" | Bryan Murray guest stars | Michael Ferguson | Annie Jones | 23 May 2002 |
27 | "Episode 016" "Crying Wolf" | TBA | Michael Ferguson | Ed Jones | 30 May 2002 |
28 | "Episode 017" "A Run of Good Luck" | John Alford guest stars | Susan Tully | Julian Perkins | 6 June 2002 |
29 | "Episode 018" "Tough Love" | TBA | Susan Tully | Marcus Brent | 13 June 2002 |
30 | "Episode 019" "On The Pitch" | Final appearance of Det. Supt. Susan Devlin | Jim Goddard | Annie Jones | 20 June 2002 |
31 | "Episode 020" "Vigilante" | First appearance of PC Gary Best, final appearance of DI Daniel Hayes, Tom Lister and Bryan Murray guest star | Jim Goddard | Ian Harris | 25 June 2002 |
32 | "Episode 021" "Ruffled Feathers" | First appearances of DC Ken Drummond and Insp Gina Gold, A/Insp. Matt Boyden returns to Sgt. | Ian White | Steve Attridge | 27 June 2002 |
33 | "Episode 022" "Prove Your Worth" | First appearance of TDC Brandon Kane, return of PC Luke Ashton | Ian White | Gerard McKenna | 2 July 2002 |
34 | "Episode 023" "Aptitude Test" | Brooke Kinsella guest stars | Ged Maguire | Matthew Leys | 4 July 2002 |
35 | "Episode 024" "Sitting Tennants" | Brooke Kinsella, Katy Murphy and Peter Guinness guest star | Ged Maguire | Matthew Leys | 9 July 2002 |
36 | "Episode 025" "Too Close to the Wind" | First appearance of PC Kerry Young, Aml Ameen guest stars | Dermot Boyd | Hugh Ellis | 11 July 2002 |
37 | "Episode 026" "Playing Runaway" | Gary Webster guest stars | Dermot Boyd | Clive Dawson | 16 July 2002 |
38 | "Episode 027" "Old Tricks" | Nia Roberts and Gary Webster guest star | John Davies | Julian Perkins | 18 July 2002 |
39 | "Episode 028" "Missing Without Trace" | Gary Webster guest stars | John Davies | Steve Hughes | 23 July 2002 |
40 | "Episode 029" "First Day Collar" | First appearance of DS Phil Hunter | Steve Finn | Maxwell Young | 25 July 2002 |
41 | "Episode 030" "No Loyalty" | Victoria Finney and Gary Webster guest star | Steve Finn | Marc Pye | 30 July 2002 |
42 | "Episode 031" "Conflicting Information" | TBA | Chris Lovett | Len Collin | 1 August 2002 |
43 | "Episode 032" "Bait" | TBA | Chris Lovett | Ian Harris | 6 August 2002 |
44 | "Episode 033" "Loggerheads" | First appearance of FDO Roberta Cryer, Nicola Stapleton guest stars | Declan O'Dwyer | John Milne | 8 August 2002 |
45 | "Episode 034" "Protection" | Nicola Stapleton, David Walliams and Lewis Collins guest star | Declan O'Dwyer | Eric Deacon | 13 August 2002 |
46 | "Episode 035" "Impostors" | Nicola Stapleton and Edna Doré guest star | Paul Marcus | Tom Needham | 15 August 2002 |
47 | "Episode 036" "Officer Down" | Final appearance of DI Alex Cullen, Philip Wright guest stars | Paul Marcus | Nicholas McInerny | 20 August 2002 |
48 | "Episode 037" "One Last Day" | Temporary departure of DC Duncan Lennox, Charles Lawson guest stars | Jamie Payne | Lin Coghlan | 22 August 2002 |
49 | "Episode 038" "Tactful Approach" | First appearance of DS Samantha Nixon, temporary departure of PC Des Taviner, final appearance of Jeff Simpson, Charles Lawson guest stars | Jamie Payne | Catrin Clarke | 27 August 2002 |
50 | "Episode 039" "Certain Uncertainties" | DS Samantha Nixon becomes Acting DI, Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars | Peter Butler | Chris Ould | 28 August 2002 |
51 | "Episode 040" "Jeopardy" | Roger Lloyd-Pack, Tony Booth, Liz Smith and Brigit Forsyth guest star | Peter Butler | John Milne | 29 August 2002 |
52 | "Episode 041" "Gone Native" | Roger Lloyd-Pack, Tony Booth, Liz Smith and Brigit Forsyth guest star | Julie Edwards | Martin Jameson | 3 September 2002 |
53 | "Episode 042" "Requiem" | Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars | Julie Edwards | Henrietta Hardy | 4 September 2002 |
54 | "Episode 043" "Quick Off The Mark" | Vincenzo Pellegrino and Roger Lloyd-Pack guest star | Crispin Reece | Marianne Colbran | 12 September 2002 |
55 | "Episode 044" "Access Denied" | Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars | Crispin Reece | Ed Jones | 18 September 2002 |
56 | "Episode 045" "Nail in the Coffin" | Judy Holt guest stars | Afonso Sousa | Katherine Smith | 19 September 2002 |
57 | "Episode 046" "Improper Conduct" | Sam Aston and John McEnery guest star | Afonso Sousa | Nick Saltrese | 25 September 2002 |
58 | "Episode 047" "Deeper Waters" | First appearance of DCI Andrew Ross, return of DC Duncan Lennox | Robert Knights | Julian Perkins | 26 September 2002 |
59 | "Episode 048" "Roses Are Red" | Helen Grace guest stars | Robert Knights | Annie Jones | 2 October 2002 |
60 | "Episode 049" "On the Side" | Campbell Morrison, Sam Aston and Helen Grace guest star | Steve Finn | Ian Harris | 3 October 2002 |
61 | "Episode 050" "Ready or Not" | Campbell Morrison, Sam Aston and Helen Grace guest star | Steve Finn | Maxwell Young | 9 October 2002 |
62 | "Episode 051" "Wisdom of the Wise" | Campbell Morrison, Lois Baxter and Helen Grace guest star | Baz Taylor | Damian Wayling | 10 October 2002 |
63 | "Episode 052" "Saving Face" | Sally George, Hywel Bennett and Benedict Wong guest star | Baz Taylor | Marcus Brent | 16 October 2002 |
64 | "Episode 053" "Conflict of Interest" | Final appearance of Superintendent Tom Chandler, Hywel Bennett, Benedict Wong, Campbell Morrison and Julie Graham guest star | Nigel Keen | Gerard McKenna | 16 October 2002 |
65 | "Episode 054" "Game Over" | First appearance of PC Gemma Osbourne, return of PC Des Taviner, Hywel Bennett, Benedict Wong and Anna Karen guest star | Nigel Keen | Annie Jones | 23 October 2002 |
66–67 | "Episode 055-056" "Honeytrap" | Aired as 90-minute episode, separated into two episodes on DVD release, Hywel Bennett, Benedict Wong and Anna Karen guest star | Susan Tully | Steve Hughes & Jaden Clark | 24 October 2002 |
68 | "Episode 057" "Heaven's Callin'" | First use of the standard ITV previously, next time and end credits, Hywel Bennett and Benedict Wong guest star | Michael Morris | Phillip Gladwin | 30 October 2002 |
69 | "Episode 058" "Rogue Victim" | John Bowler and Julie Graham guest star | Michael Morris | Helen Childs | 31 October 2002 |
70 | "Episode 059" "Lock and Load Part 1" | Julie Graham guest stars | Robert Maestro | Patrick Melanaphy | 6 November 2002 |
71 | "Episode 060" "Lock and Load Part 2" | First appearance of Superintendent Adam Okaro, Julie Graham guest stars | Robert Maestro | Maxwell Young | 7 November 2002 |
72 | "Episode 061" "Lock and Load Part 3" | Glen Murphy, Julie Graham and Corinne Skinner-Carter guest star | Jamie Payne | Matthew Leys | 13 November 2002 |
73 | "Episode 062" "First Day Blues" | First appearance of PC Ruby Buxton, Julie Graham and Glen Murphy guest star | Jamie Payne | Patrea Smallacombe | 14 November 2002 |
74–75 | "Episode 063-064" "A Cry For Help" | Aired as 90-minute episode, separated into two on DVD release, first appearance of Abigail Nixon, Sarah Hadland guest stars | Michael Offer | Maxwell Young & Tom Needham | 20 November 2002 |
76 | "Episode 065" "Close To Home" | TBA | Peter Butler | Simon Ashford | 21 November 2002 |
77 | "Episode 066" "Walk in the Park" | Helen Blatch guest stars | Peter Butler | Steve Griffiths | 27 November 2002 |
78 | "Episode 067" "All in a Day's Work" | Ellen Thomas guest stars | Crispin Reece | Clive Dawson | 28 November 2002 |
79 | "Episode 068" "Clouded Judgement" | Russell Tovey and Richard Hope guest star | Crispin Reece | John Milne | 4 December 2002 |
80 | "Episode 069" "Cop Idol Part 1" | TBA | John Davies | Nicholas McInerny | 5 December 2002 |
81 | "Episode 070" "Cop Idol Part 2" | First appearances of Christine and Dennis Weaver, Tim Barlow guest stars | John Davies | Julian Perkins | 11 December 2002 |
82 | "Episode 071" "Falling" | Final appearance of PC Cass Rickman, Edna Doré guest stars | Nigel Keen | Tom Needham | 12 December 2002 |
83 | "Episode 072" "Code of Conduct Part 1" | Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest star | Nigel Keen | Sally Garland | 18 December 2002 |
84 | "Episode 073" "Seeing Red Part 2" | Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest-star | Steve Finn | Steve Hughes | 19 December 2002 |
85 | "Episode 074" "Little White Lies Part 3" | Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest star | Steve Finn | Jake Riddell | 23 December 2002 |
86 | "Episode 075" "Countdown" | First appearances of Ch. Supt. Jane Fitzwilliam and Cindy Hunter, Jesse Birdsall guest stars | Penelope Shales | Tom Needham | 31 December 2002 |
References
- ^ "Fire boosts The Bill ratings". BBC News. 23 April 2002. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "ITV cleared over gay kiss in The Bill". The Guardian. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 16 November 2021.