I have been an avid The Bill fan/watcher since its inception in the mid 1980s.  I have the first series on DVD (ordered from the UK) and am looking forward to further series' releases on DVD.  Even though the show has "lost the plot" in recent times (I blame aiming it towards US audiences for this), I still find myself loyally tuning in most Tuesdays and Saturdays for my bi-weekly "fix".  Last Tuesday's episode (the siege at the station) was one of the best for a very long time and I am hoping this may signal a return to the former days of detective work and believable plots.  What do others think?

I keep abreast of the story line mostly by viewing the UK web site, and flicking across to see where we are in the time line, if we are somewhere interesting I will watch for a week or two, then go back to flicking occassionally. I think the one just gone was the "live epsiode" We must be getting close to when Gabriel goes troppo, that should be good.

Quoted from BB

I keep abreast of the story line mostly by viewing the UK web site, and flicking across to see where we are in the time line, if we are somewhere interesting I will watch for a week or two, then go back to flicking occassionally. I think the one just gone was the "live epsiode" We must be getting close to when Gabriel goes troppo, that should be good.

Indeed, this was the episode that went out live in the UK, and hats off to the cast and crew as the whole hour ran faultlessly...even though, in the back of my mind, I was hoping for at least one c**k-up !!

Quoted from BB

. . . . .  We must be getting close to when Gabriel goes troppo, that should be good.

I am looking forward to that too . . .the Gabriel storyline has gone on too long now. . glad to see they are 'on to him'.  

^  bit of a spoiler  

I love the Bill but its just not the same show it was in the 80s. I used to LOVE the stories and the characters, but now its more of a "watch it cause there isnt much else on" kind of show. I watch it with a kinda nostalgic wish that the old characters were there.

I wish they would return to what it used to be instead of the "soap" like storylines.

I AGREE.  I actually did once rather like this show now I only watch it because Paula insists (I'm going to be in trouble for that).  

I have bought series 1 and 2 on DVD and after watching both (especially series 2) I am more than happy to say, The Bill ain't what it used to be.  

PS Remember Ted Roach?  He was rather sexy.  

For anyone interested on the Aussie release, The Bill is available in two volumes (Seasons 1-3 & 4-5) in 12-disc "Super Wallets". Well, 4-5 won't be available until December according to EzyDVD and they retail for $99.95, although many retailers will sell them for considerably less.

I've only watched one episode briefly, and I thought the acting was absolutely horrible and unbelieveably melodramatic. Although I'll probably give it a fair go and watch a full episode in the future.

i loved the bill when the serial killer ''pat kitson'' was around but when cathy bradford left the show (haha i loved that pshyco) i stopped watching!

I am currently watching an episode called "Ringer", about illegal cars.  One of these was involved in an horrific accident in which 6 people were killed and the story is based around the investigation into the cause.  It's pure police work, not the hyped up drama one gets with some US shows, just a factual account of what can and does happen in these cases.  It's brilliant!

A few of the latest episodes have been rather good (eg the missing 7 year old girl).  I wonder if ITV listened to the results of their own poll (run on their website) that showed a large number of viewers wanted more detection and less soap.  Could be a first; TV station actually listening to their audience.    Only time will tell...

Quoted from Paula

A few of the latest episodes have been rather good (eg the missing 7 year old girl).  I wonder if ITV listened to the results of their own poll (run on their website) that showed a large number of viewers wanted more detection and less soap.  Could be a first; TV station actually listening to their audience.    Only time will tell...

I agree. Last nights wasn't too bad. I wouldnt have minded if it had kept going, it eneded and I was like, "what? noo! but where is she?"

The only thing that bugged me was that if this was a US show, they would have been working around the clock to find that girl, not popping off down to the pub for farewell drinks.  

Quoted from astrogirl

... The only thing that bugged me was that if this was a US show, they would have been working around the clock to find that girl, not popping off down to the pub for farewell drinks.  

That's because what we see on the US shows is sometimes far from what really happens.  In The Met there would be another team working on the case while the ones in the pub had time off.  One of the reasons I like the Bill is that what we see (as far as police work) is fairly true to the real thing.  I have parents and an uncle who are ex Met and who keep in touch with their former colleagues, many of whom have offspring there these days, so I get feedback on how realistic things are.

You could probably apply that to most UK shows that involve detective work. Frost and Morse are also probably fairly realistic as far as police work goes. In the US The Shield and NYPD Blue are kind of realistic.