The Bill series 20
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| The Bill | |
|---|---|
| Season 20 | |
 Series 20 DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 96 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 7 January – 30 December 2004 |
| Series chronology | |
Series 20 of British television drama The Bill was broadcast from 7 January until 30 December 2004, and continued to use the serialized format introduced by Paul Marquess during Series 18. The series consisted of 94 regular episodes, and two episodes from a new documentary spin-off; The Bill: Uncovered. The first part, Des & Reg, came when ex-PC Des Taviner returned after faking his death in an explosion in the previous series, with his capture for the fatal station fire in 2002 and eventual death in custody bringing an end to the plot that ran for nearly two years. The second, "Kerry's Story", came after the death of PC Kerry Young at the hands of PC Gabriel Kent. Kent took centre stage in series 20 as he established himself as a fully-fledged villain; he first colluded with a gang of thugs to beat up criminals who evaded justice, before later colluding with a sniper to kill those who escaped justice. His murder of Young saw him frame the sniper by using his gun and method, having raped and bullied Young for refusing to embark on a relationship with him. Kent capped a year where his villainy dominated events by committing a second murder, throwing the sniper he colluded with off a fifth-storey balcony to his death to stop him being arrested.
In addition to the station fire plot, Series 20 saw the conclusion of another long term storyline when Cathy Bradford's crimes surrounding her obsession with colleague Brandon Kane culminated in a showdown in the station basement. Renowned actress Lynda Bellingham joined the show as a series regular, portraying villainess Irene Radford, the matriarch of a crime family whose husband murdered DC Rob Thatcher's father in the 1980s, with Thatcher spending a majority of the plot trying to arrest members of the Radford family, later going on the run as part of his exit storyline. DS Samantha Nixon also took centre stage in a storyline that saw her daughter Abigail abducted by Samantha's ex-boyfriend Hugh Wallis, introduced as part of a long-running storyline targeting a serial rapist, a plot which would continue into series 21.
As a celebration of the show's 21st anniversary, a special weekend of programmes were broadcast on UKTV Gold; The Bill @ 21 Weekend. UKTV Gold showed several classic episodes over the course of two days, with special scenes in between that gave the impression that several characters were reminiscing over the last 21 years at Sun Hill. Sergeant June Ackland, trainee DC Gary Best and PCs Tony Stamp & Reg Hollis were joined by former series regular George Garfield. As part of the anniversary celebrations, ITV broadcast two special episodes; Sergeant June Ackland and DC Jim Carver, who were the protagonists of the pilot Woodentop, married after being close friends for the entirety of their time at Sun Hill together. A second episode saw DCI Jack Meadows take a week's holiday to attend former DS Ted Roach's funeral - but, after suspecting Roach may have been murdered, he teams up with former Sergeants Alec Peters (Larry Dann) and Bob Cryer (Eric Richard) to find out the truth.
As had become a regular occurrence under producer Paul Marquess, the cast frequently changed throughout the course of the series, with several characters arriving or exiting, although the series also aired a six-episode return for infamous ex-DS Don Beech. A majority of the characters that left were introduced by Marquess, however established regulars Debbie McAllister, Nick Klein and Polly Page left after four, five and 12 years respectively. While actress Lisa Geoghan chose to leave due to family commitments, she was the fifth actor with over ten years experience on the show to have left since Marquess took over, however her character Polly Page was one of two not to be killed off as part of their exit storyline.
On 16 October 2013, the complete series was released on DVD in Australia as a Region 0, playable anywhere in the world. The DVD synopsis removes all titles, and tallies the episodes by number.
Cast changes
Arrivals
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Departures
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Episodes
| # | Title | Episode notes | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Trust Means Nothing" | Michael Melia and Doña Croll guest star | Nigel Keen | Damian Wayling | 7 January 2004 | 181 |
| 2 | "The Apple and the Tree" | Return of Polly Page, Doña Croll guest stars | Nigel Keen | Julian Perkins | 8 January 2004 | 182 |
| 3 | "Kidnap and Ransom" | TBA | Robert Del Maestro | Patrea Smallacombe | 14 January 2004 | 183 |
| 4 | "Dawn Morning Light" | Final appearance of DC Brandon Kane, final regular appearance of Cathy Bradford as PC | Robert Del Maestro | Jake Riddell | 15 January 2004 | 184 |
| 5 | "Saving Skin" | Final regular appearance of Marie Carver, Aml Ameen guest stars | Baz Taylor | Jaden Clark | 21 January 2004 | 185 |
| 6 | "Grave Error" | Return of PC Des Taviner | Laurence Moody | Kathrine Smith | 22 January 2004 | 186 |
| 7 | "Shaken (Part One)" | TBA | Laurence Moody | Tom Needham | 29 January 2004 | 187 |
| 8 | "Devastation & Remorse (Part Two)" | Alan Ford and Ben Kinsella guest star | Paul Walker | Maxwell Young | 5 February 2004 | 188 |
| 9 | "Forgiveness (Part Three)" | Paul Copley and Richard Mayes guest star | Paul Walker | Emma Goodwin | 11 February 2004 | 189 |
| 10 | "Career Ruining Secrets" | Brian Hibbard guest stars | Andy Goddard | Julian Perkins | 12 February 2004 | 190 |
| 11 | "Betrayal" | 90 minute special | Andy Goddard & Bob Tomson | Tom Needham & Maxwell Young | 18 February 2004 | 191 |
| 12 | "Running with Scissors" | Alex Kew guest stars | Bob Tomson | Maxwell Young | 19 February 2004 | 192 |
| 13 | "Heartstrings" | Final appearance of DCI Andrew Ross, Abhin Galeya guest stars | Bob Tomson | Marc Peirson | 25 February 2004 | 193 |
| 14 | "New Year's Resolutions" | Anthony Bate Guest stars; Polly Page becomes a CAD officer | Steve Kelly | Kathrine Smith | 26 February 2004 | 194 |
| 15 | "Intrigue" | First appearance of DAC Roy Pearson, Jacqueline Leonard and Lloyd McGuire guest star | Steve Kelly | Steve Trafford | 3 March 2004 | 195 |
| 16 | "Don't Bring Me Down" | Guest appearance of DC Mickey Webb, Lysette Anthony guest stars | Ken Grieve | Simon McCleave | 4 March 2004 | 196 |
| 17 | "Office Politics" | First appearance of PC Andrea Dunbar, final appearance of DC Eva Sharpe, guest appearance of DC Mickey Webb, Charles De'Ath guest stars | Ken Grieve | Gerard McKenna | 10 March 2004 | 197 |
| 18 | "Return of the Damned" | Elizabeth Rider, David Easter and Dorian Lough guest star | Chris Richards | Matthew Leys | 11 March 2004 | 198 |
| 19 | "End of the Road" | Final appearance of PC Des Taviner | Chris Richards | Nicholas McInerny | 17 March 2004 | 199 |
| 19a | "Des and Reg - Uncovered" | The Bill: Uncovered clipshow | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 17 March 2004 | 199A |
| 20 | "Drive on By (Part One)" | Sally Faulkner guest stars | Brett Fallis | Jaden Clark | 18 March 2004 | 200 |
| 21 | "Drive on By (Part Two)" | David Easter guest stars | Brett Fallis | Tom Needham | 24 March 2004 | 201 |
| 22 | "Crocodile Tears" | David Easter guest stars | Christopher King | Simon J Ashford | 25 March 2004 | 202 |
| 23 | "Cross Wires" | David Easter guest stars | Christopher King | Tom Higgins | 31 March 2004 | 203 |
| 24 | "Smoking Gun (Part One)" | PC Jim Carver is promoted to DC, Paul Putner guest stars | Nic Phillips | Mark Greig | 1 April 2004 | 204 |
| 25 | "Smoking Gun (Part Two)" | Paul Putner and David Easter guest star | Nic Phillips | Mark Greig | 7 April 2004 | 205 |
| 26 | "Settle the Score" | Final appearances of CAD officer Polly Page and PC Nick Klein, guest appearance of Cathy Bradford, Paul Putner and Harry Towb guest star | Crispin Reece | Colin Wyatt | 8 April 2004 | 206 |
| 27 | "Needing a Friend" | TBA | Crispin Reece | Paul Ebbs | 14 April 2004 | 207 |
| 28 | "A Time and A Place (Part One)" | Louise Jameson guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Steve Griffiths | 15 April 2004 | 208 |
| 29 | "A Time and A Place (Part Two)" | Louise Jameson guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Maxwell Young | 21 April 2004 | 209 |
| 30 | "Rookies & Professionals" | First appearances of PC Lance Powell and SCP Jonathan Fox, Linda Lusardi guest stars | Ged Maguire | Joe Fraser | 22 April 2004 | 210 |
| 31 | "Smoking Demons" | Return of ex-DS Don Beech, Ricci Harnett and Tony Haygarth guest star | Susan Tully | Julian Perkins | 29 April 2004 | 211 |
| 32 | "Reliable Information" | TBA | Ged Maguire | Tony McHale | 30 April 2004 | 212 |
| 33 | "The Cautious Approach" | Tony Haygarth and Shobu Kapoor guest star | Martin Hutchings | Dawn Harrison | 6 May 2004 | 213 |
| 34 | "Rogue Tourist" | First appearance of Laura Bryant, Tony Haygarth guest stars | Martin Hutchings | Chris Webb | 7 May 2004 | 214 |
| 35 | "Robbery, Act II" | Tony Haygarth guest stars | Dermot Boyd | Nicholas McInerny | 19 May 2004 | 215 |
| 36 | "Nemesis" | Final appearance of Don Beech, Melanie Gutteridge and Linda Lusardi guest star | Dermot Boyd | Julian Perkins | 20 May 2004 | 216 |
| 37 | "Taking Flak" | TBA | Susan Tully | Tom Needham | 27 May 2004 | 217 |
| 38 | "Game Over" | TBA | Bob Tomson | Tom Higgins | 2 June 2004 | 218 |
| 39 | "The Tunnel (Part One)" | First appearance of Sgt Marc Rollins, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Bob Tomson | Tony McHale | 3 June 2004 | 219 |
| 40 | "The Tunnel (Part Two)" | Final appearance of Dennis Weaver, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Christopher King | Graham Mitchell | 9 June 2004 | 220 |
| 41 | "Twisting the Truth" | Josh Herdman guest stars | Christopher King | Steve Trafford | 10 June 2004 | 221 |
| 42 | "Insensitivity (Part One)" | First appearance of Dr. Hugh Wallis, Tony Selby guest stars | N G Bristow | Tom Needham | 17 June 2004 | 222 |
| 43 | "Insensitivity (Part Two)" | Sgt. Sheelagh Murphy is demoted to PC, departure of Laura Bryant, first appearance of Irene Radford, Tony Selby, and Philip McGough guest star | N G Bristow | Tom Needham | 24 June 2004 | 223 |
| 44 | "The Start of a Problem" | First appearances of PC Steve Hunter and David Radford | David Holroyd | Tony McHale | 30 June 2004 | 224 |
| 45 | "Puppywalking" | TBA | David Holroyd | Nick Saltrese | 7 July 2004 | 225 |
| 46 | "Second Strike (Part One)" | Maurice Roëves guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Jake Riddell | 8 July 2004 | 226 |
| 47 | "Second Strike (Part Two)" | Maurice Roëves guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Jake Riddell | 14 July 2004 | 227 |
| 48 | "Jigsaw Puzzle" | Lynn Ferguson guest stars | Laurence Moody | Matthew Leys | 15 July 2004 | 228 |
| 49 | "Blind Detection" | TBA | Laurence Moody | Damian Wayling | 21 July 2004 | 229 |
| 50 | "The Rapture" | Final appearance of PC Cameron Tait | Brett Fallis | Jaden Clark | 22 July 2004 | 230 |
| 51 | "Cause and Effect" | TBA | Brett Fallis | Nicholas McInerny | 28 July 2004 | 231 |
| 52 | "Bite the Bullet (Part One)" | PC Gary Best is promoted to Acting DC, Freema Agyeman and Lysette Anthony guest star | Menhaj Juda | Julian Perkins | 29 July 2004 | 232 |
| 53 | "Bite the Bullet (Part Two)" | Tim Plester and Lysette Anthony guest star | Menhaj Juda | Steve Griffiths | 4 August 2004 | 233 |
| 54 | "On the Wrong Side of the Fence" | Lysette Anthony guest stars | Nigel Keen | James Stevenson | 5 August 2004 | 234 |
| 55 | "A Solemn Song" | Lysette Anthony guest stars | Nigel Keen | Jake Riddell | 11 August 2004 | 235 |
| 56 | "Hope" | Adjoa Andoh and Tiana Benjamin guest star | Julie Edwards | Stuart Blackburn | 12 August 2004 | 236 |
| AN1 | "The Bill @ 21 Weekend (Part One)" | TBA | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 14 August 2004 | AN1 |
| AN2 | "The Bill @ 21 Weekend (Part Two)" | TBA | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 15 August 2004 | AN2 |
| 57 | "Happily Ever After" | Guest appearance of Marie Graham | Julie Edwards | Kate Wood | 18 August 2004 | 237 |
| 58 | "In Too Deep" | Departure of SCP Jonathan Fox | Susan Tully | Graham Mitchell | 19 August 2004 | 238 |
| 59 | "Only Fools and Coppers" | TBA | Susan Tully | John Milne | 26 August 2004 | 239 |
| 60 | "Luck of the Draw" | TBA | Nic Phillips | Oliver Brown | 1 September 2004 | 240 |
| 61 | "Desperation" | Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Nic Phillips | Ray Brooking | 2 September 2004 | 241 |
| 62 | "Suicidal Thoughts" | Lenora Crichlow, Sarah Hadland and Trevor Byfield guest star | Adrian Vitoria | Scott Cherry | 8 September 2004 | 242 |
| 63 | "Transcendence" | Sam Callis and Trevor Byfield guest star | Adrian Vitoria | Tom Needham | 9 September 2004 | 243 |
| 64 | "An Eye for an Eye" | First appearance of DI Rowanne Morell, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | David Holroyd | Dawn Harrison | 15 September 2004 | 244 |
| 65 | "Acting with Caution" | TBA | David Holroyd | Emma Goodwin | 16 September 2004 | 245 |
| 66 | "The Pocket Cop" | First appearance of DC Suzie Sim | Martin Hutchings | Kathrine Smith | 22 September 2004 | 246 |
| 67 | "Some Brighter Days" | Sam Callis guest stars | Martin Hutchings | Sue Mooney | 23 September 2004 | 247 |
| 68 | "Last Orders" | Final guest appearance of Bob Cryer, guest appearance of Alec Peters | Audrey Cooke | Peter J. Hammond | 30 September 2004 | 248 |
| 69 | "Ulterior Motive" | TBA | Audrey Cooke | Simon McCleave | 6 October 2004 | 249 |
| 70 | "Heartless" | Liz May Brice guest stars | Sven Arnstein | Christopher Reason | 7 October 2004 | 250 |
| 71 | "What Goes Around..." | Liz May Brice guest stars | Sven Arnstein | Andrew Taft | 13 October 2004 | 251 |
| 72 | "Going Native" | Daniel Coonan guest stars | Christopher King | Mark Greig | 14 October 2004 | 252 |
| 73 | "Friendly Fire (Part One)" | Rick Warden guest stars | Christopher King | Matthew Leys | 20 October 2004 | 253 |
| 74 | "Friendly Fire (Part Two)" | Final appearance of PC Kerry Young | Nigel Keen | Cris Cole | 21 October 2004 | 254 |
| 75 | "The Starting Grid" | Lenora Crichlow and Barbara Wilshere guest star | Nigel Keen | Tom Needham | 27 October 2004 | 255 |
| 76 | "Long Overdue" | Geoffrey Beevers guest stars | Richard Standeven | Nick Saltrese | 28 October 2004 | 256 |
| 77 | "Old Timer" | First appearance of PC Roger Valentine, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Richard Standeven | Nicholas McInerny | 3 November 2004 | 257 |
| 78 | "Playing with Fire" | Geoffrey Hutchings guest stars | Philip John | Tom Needham | 4 November 2004 | 258 |
| 78a | "Kerry's Story: Uncovered" | The Bill: Uncovered documentary | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 4 November 2004 | 258A |
| 79 | "Where Loyalties Lie" | Final appearance of DS Debbie McAllister | Philip John | Steve Griffiths | 10 November 2004 | 259 |
| 80 | "Not the Real Thing" | Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Nic Phillips | Simon Moss | 11 November 2004 | 260 |
| 81 | "Long Buried Secrets" | Sam Callis and Anthony Jackson guest star | Nic Phillips | Harold Jordan | 17 November 2004 | 261 |
| 82 | "Mexican Stand-Off" | Sam Callis, Lois Baxter and David Simeon guest star | Laurence Moody | Harold Jordan | 18 November 2004 | 262 |
| 83 | "Closer to Home" | Hywel Bennett guest stars | Laurence Moody | Graham Mitchell | 24 November 2004 | 263 |
| 84 | "Beginner's Luck" | First appearances of PC Amber Johannsen and Margaret Barnes, Hywel Bennett guest stars | Rob Evans | Harold Jordan | 1 December 2004 | 264 |
| 85 | "Closing the Book" | TBA | Rob Evans | Stuart Blackburn | 8 December 2004 | 265 |
| 86 | "Salvation" | Departure of Sgt. June Ackland, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Brett Fallis | Mark Johnson | 9 December 2004 | 266 |
| 87 | "A Different Kind of Justice" | Lenora Crichlow, Sean Gilder and James Ellis guest star | Brett Fallis | Scott Cherry | 14 December 2004 | 267 |
| 88 | "The Perfect Alibi" | First appearance of PC Leela Kapoor | Peter Butler | Harold Jordan | 15 December 2004 | 268 |
| 89 | "Anything for a Dime" | TBA | Peter Butler | John Milne | 16 December 2004 | 269 |
| 90 | "An Unwanted Death" | PC Yvonne Hemmingway is promoted to A/Sgt, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Alan MacMillan | Maxwell Young | 21 December 2004 | 270 |
| 91 | "One Rule for One" | Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Alan MacMillan | Harold Jordan | 22 December 2004 | 271 |
| 92 | "Bust" | Final appearance of David Radford, Sam Callis guest stars | Robert Bierman | Emma Goodwin | 23 December 2004 | 272 |
| 93 | "Return of the Gang Queen" | Final appearances of DC Rob Thatcher and Irene Radford, Sam Callis, Pip Torrens and Ruth Sheen guest star | Robert Bierman | Christopher Reason | 29 December 2004 | 273 |
| 94 | "The Cold Winter Blues" | Colm Ó Maonlaí, Ruth Sheen and Elliott Jordan guest star | Jo Johnson | Martin McCardie | 30 December 2004 | 274 |
| Series | |
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| Notable episodes |
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| Spin-offs |
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| Characters | |
| Lists | |
