The Bill series 18

The Bill
Season 18
No. of episodes	86
Release
Original network	ITV
Original release	3 January (2002-01-03) – 31 December 2002 (2002-12-31)
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. 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".

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

• PC Cathy Bradford (Set in Stone-)
• DC Eva Sharpe (At the Deep End-)
• PC Gary Best (Vigilante-)
• DC Ken Drummond (Ruffled Feathers-)
• Insp. Gina Gold (Ruffled Feathers-)
• PC Luke Ashton - returning character (Prove Your Worth-)
• TDC Brandon Kane (Prove Your Worth-)
• PC Kerry Young (Too Close to the Window-)
• DS Phil Hunter (First Day Collar-)
• FDO Roberta Cryer (Loggerheads-)
• DS Samantha Nixon (Tactful Approach-)
• PC Gemma Osbourne (Game Over-)
• Supt. Adam Okaro (Lock and Load Part 2-)
• PC Ruby Buxton (First Day Blues-)

Departures

• SC Terry Knowles - Stabbed to death during a traffic stop
• PC Dave Quinnan - Transfers to SO10 after PC Polly Page rejects his marriage proposal
• Ch. Insp. Derek Conway - Killed in petrol bomb attack by Jeff Simpson
• DS Vik Singh - Resigns after being suspended for assaulting Jeff Simpson
• Insp. Andrew Monroe - Killed in station fire
• PC Ben Hayward - Killed in station fire
• PC Di Worrell - Killed in station fire
• DC Paul Riley - Killed in station fire
• DC Kate Spears - Dies in hospital following station fire
• PC Polly Page - Sent on long-term leave after suicide attempt (temporary departure)
• PC Sam Harker - Dies in hospital following station fire
• DI Alex Cullen - Transfers to MIT
• Supt. Tom Chandler - Commits suicide before being arrested for rape
• PC Cass Rickman - Murdered by the Sun Hill Serial Killer - Pat Kitson

Episodes

No.	Title	Episode notes	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
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 (2002-01-03) 10 January 2002 (2002-01-10) 17 January 2002 (2002-01-17)
4	"Juliet"	Anna Keaveney and Jackie Clune guest star	Michael Simpson	Tom Needham	24 January 2002 (2002-01-24)
5	"Set in Stone"	First appearance of PC Cathy Bradford, Sara Stockbridge guest stars	Ron Bain	Candy Denman	31 January 2002 (2002-01-31)
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 (2002-02-07)
8	"Quinnan Part 3"	Velibor Topic guest stars	Michael Cocker	Patrick Melanaphy	14 February 2002 (2002-02-14)
9	"Quinnan Part 4"	Norman Lovett and Velibor Topic guest star	Ian White	Maxwell Young	14 February 2002 (2002-02-14)
10	"Quinnan Part 5"	Velibor Topic guest stars	Ian White	Len Collin	20 February 2002 (2002-02-20)
11	"Quinnan Part 6"	Final appearance of PC Dave Quinnan, Velibor Topic guest stars	Michael Simpson	Len Collin	27 February 2002 (2002-02-27)
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 (2002-02-28)
13	"Episode 002" "Loose Cannon"	First appearance of Jeff Simpson, Carol Harrison and Bryan Murray guest star	Daniela Neumann	Eric Deacon	7 March 2002 (2002-03-07)
14	"Episode 003" "Face the Music"	Paul Raffield and Bryan Murray guest star	Jamie Nuttgens	Chris McWatters	14 March 2002 (2002-03-14)
15	"Episode 004" "Thin Ice"	Anthony May and Bryan Murray guest star	Jamie Nuttgens	Julian Spilsbury	21 March 2002 (2002-03-21)
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 (2002-03-28)
17	"Episode 006" "Rally the Troops"	Final appearance of DS Vik Singh, Bryan Murray guest stars	Mike Adams	Phillip Gladwin	4 April 2002 (2002-04-04)
18	"Episode 007" "A Show of Generosity"	Guy Henry and Bryan Murray guest star	Steve Finn	Katherine Smith	11 April 2002 (2002-04-11)
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 (2002-04-16)
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 (2002-04-17)
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 (2002-04-18)
22	"Episode 011" "Suspects"	Bryan Murray guest stars	Ken Grieve	Henrietta Hardy	25 April 2002 (2002-04-25)
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 (2002-05-02)
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 (2002-05-09)
25	"Episode 014" "Walking on Water"	Beverley Callard guest stars	Graeme Harper	Alison Fisher	16 May 2002 (2002-05-16)
26	"Episode 015" "Slippery Slope"	Bryan Murray guest stars	Michael Ferguson	Annie Jones	23 May 2002 (2002-05-23)
27	"Episode 016" "Crying Wolf"	TBA	Michael Ferguson	Ed Jones	30 May 2002 (2002-05-30)
28	"Episode 017" "A Run of Good Luck"	John Alford guest stars	Susan Tully	Julian Perkins	6 June 2002 (2002-06-06)
29	"Episode 018" "Tough Love"	TBA	Susan Tully	Marcus Brent	13 June 2002 (2002-06-13)
30	"Episode 019" "On The Pitch"	Final appearance of Det. Supt. Susan Devlin	Jim Goddard	Annie Jones	20 June 2002 (2002-06-20)
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 (2002-06-25)
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 (2002-06-27)
33	"Episode 022" "Prove Your Worth"	First appearance of TDC Brandon Kane, return of PC Luke Ashton	Ian White	Gerard McKenna	2 July 2002 (2002-07-02)
34	"Episode 023" "Aptitude Test"	Brooke Kinsella guest stars	Ged Maguire	Matthew Leys	4 July 2002 (2002-07-04)
35	"Episode 024" "Sitting Tennants"	Brooke Kinsella, Katy Murphy and Peter Guinness guest star	Ged Maguire	Matthew Leys	9 July 2002 (2002-07-09)
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 (2002-07-11)
37	"Episode 026" "Playing Runaway"	Gary Webster guest stars	Dermot Boyd	Clive Dawson	16 July 2002 (2002-07-16)
38	"Episode 027" "Old Tricks"	Nia Roberts and Gary Webster guest star	John Davies	Julian Perkins	18 July 2002 (2002-07-18)
39	"Episode 028" "Missing Without Trace"	Gary Webster guest stars	John Davies	Steve Hughes	23 July 2002 (2002-07-23)
40	"Episode 029" "First Day Collar"	First appearance of DS Phil Hunter	Steve Finn	Maxwell Young	25 July 2002 (2002-07-25)
41	"Episode 030" "No Loyalty"	Victoria Finney and Gary Webster guest star	Steve Finn	Marc Pye	30 July 2002 (2002-07-30)
42	"Episode 031" "Conflicting Information"	TBA	Chris Lovett	Len Collin	1 August 2002 (2002-08-01)
43	"Episode 032" "Bait"	TBA	Chris Lovett	Ian Harris	6 August 2002 (2002-08-06)
44	"Episode 033" "Loggerheads"	First appearance of FDO Roberta Cryer, Nicola Stapleton guest stars	Declan O'Dwyer	John Milne	8 August 2002 (2002-08-08)
45	"Episode 034" "Protection"	Nicola Stapleton, David Walliams and Lewis Collins guest star	Declan O'Dwyer	Eric Deacon	13 August 2002 (2002-08-13)
46	"Episode 035" "Impostors"	Nicola Stapleton and Edna Doré guest star	Paul Marcus	Tom Needham	15 August 2002 (2002-08-15)
47	"Episode 036" "Officer Down"	Final appearance of DI Alex Cullen, Philip Wright guest stars	Paul Marcus	Nicholas McInerny	20 August 2002 (2002-08-20)
48	"Episode 037" "One Last Day"	Temporary departure of DC Duncan Lennox, Charles Lawson guest stars	Jamie Payne	Lin Coghlan	22 August 2002 (2002-08-22)
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 (2002-08-27)
50	"Episode 039" "Certain Uncertainties"	DS Samantha Nixon becomes Acting DI, Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars	Peter Butler	Chris Ould	28 August 2002 (2002-08-28)
51	"Episode 040" "Jeopardy"	Roger Lloyd-Pack, Tony Booth, Liz Smith and Brigit Forsyth guest star	Peter Butler	John Milne	29 August 2002 (2002-08-29)
52	"Episode 041" "Gone Native"	Roger Lloyd-Pack, Tony Booth, Liz Smith and Brigit Forsyth guest star	Julie Edwards	Martin Jameson	3 September 2002 (2002-09-03)
53	"Episode 042" "Requiem"	Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars	Julie Edwards	Henrietta Hardy	4 September 2002 (2002-09-04)
54	"Episode 043" "Quick Off The Mark"	Vincenzo Pellegrino and Roger Lloyd-Pack guest star	Crispin Reece	Marianne Colbran	12 September 2002 (2002-09-12)
55	"Episode 044" "Access Denied"	Roger Lloyd-Pack guest stars	Crispin Reece	Ed Jones	18 September 2002 (2002-09-18)
56	"Episode 045" "Nail in the Coffin"	Judy Holt guest stars	Afonso Sousa	Katherine Smith	19 September 2002 (2002-09-19)
57	"Episode 046" "Improper Conduct"	Sam Aston and John McEnery guest star	Afonso Sousa	Nick Saltrese	25 September 2002 (2002-09-25)
58	"Episode 047" "Deeper Waters"	First appearance of DCI Andrew Ross, return of DC Duncan Lennox	Robert Knights	Julian Perkins	26 September 2002 (2002-09-26)
59	"Episode 048" "Roses Are Red"	Helen Grace guest stars	Robert Knights	Annie Jones	2 October 2002 (2002-10-02)
60	"Episode 049" "On the Side"	Campbell Morrison, Sam Aston and Helen Grace guest star	Steve Finn	Ian Harris	3 October 2002 (2002-10-03)
61	"Episode 050" "Ready or Not"	Campbell Morrison, Sam Aston and Helen Grace guest star	Steve Finn	Maxwell Young	9 October 2002 (2002-10-09)
62	"Episode 051" "Wisdom of the Wise"	Campbell Morrison, Lois Baxter and Helen Grace guest star	Baz Taylor	Damian Wayling	10 October 2002 (2002-10-10)
63	"Episode 052" "Saving Face"	Sally George, Hywel Bennett and Benedict Wong guest star	Baz Taylor	Marcus Brent	16 October 2002 (2002-10-16)
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 (2002-10-16)
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 (2002-10-23)
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 (2002-10-24)
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 (2002-10-30)
69	"Episode 058" "Rogue Victim"	John Bowler and Julie Graham guest star	Michael Morris	Helen Childs	31 October 2002 (2002-10-31)
70	"Episode 059" "Lock and Load Part 1"	Julie Graham guest stars	Robert Maestro	Patrick Melanaphy	6 November 2002 (2002-11-06)
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 (2002-11-07)
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 (2002-11-13)
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 (2002-11-14)
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 (2002-11-20)
76	"Episode 065" "Close To Home"	TBA	Peter Butler	Simon Ashford	21 November 2002 (2002-11-21)
77	"Episode 066" "Walk in the Park"	Helen Blatch guest stars	Peter Butler	Steve Griffiths	27 November 2002 (2002-11-27)
78	"Episode 067" "All in a Day's Work"	Ellen Thomas guest stars	Crispin Reece	Clive Dawson	28 November 2002 (2002-11-28)
79	"Episode 068" "Clouded Judgement"	Russell Tovey and Richard Hope guest star	Crispin Reece	John Milne	4 December 2002 (2002-12-04)
80	"Episode 069" "Cop Idol Part 1"	TBA	John Davies	Nicholas McInerny	5 December 2002 (2002-12-05)
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 (2002-12-11)
82	"Episode 071" "Falling"	Final appearance of PC Cass Rickman, Edna Doré guest stars	Nigel Keen	Tom Needham	12 December 2002 (2002-12-12)
83	"Episode 072" "Code of Conduct Part 1"	Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest star	Nigel Keen	Sally Garland	18 December 2002 (2002-12-18)
84	"Episode 073" "Seeing Red Part 2"	Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest-star	Steve Finn	Steve Hughes	19 December 2002 (2002-12-19)
85	"Episode 074" "Little White Lies Part 3"	Jaime Murray, JoAnne Good and Georgina Hale guest star	Steve Finn	Jake Riddell	23 December 2002 (2002-12-23)
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 (2002-12-31)