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The Bill

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DizzyLizzy | 11:28 Fri 30th Sep 2005 | Film, Media & TV
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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

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

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

Thanks again

Lizzy

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.
Question Author

Thanks Kempie !!  :-)

Lizzy

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.
Question Author

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

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

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?

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