The Bill: ITV drops police drama after 27 years

The Bill, one of the UK's longest-running TV dramas, is to be dropped by ITV in the autumn after 27 years, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

ITV has taken the decision to axe the police drama after last year's revamp and switch to a new 9pm slot failed to halt a long-term ratings decline.

The Bill last year was moved from being aired twice a week at 8pm on ITV1 to a single slot on Thursdays at 9pm. The show also switched from a 30-minute to an hour format and storylines were tweaked to take account of the new post-watershed slot.

However, ratings for the show have failed to pick up. In 2002 the show averaged more that 7 million viewers, while more recently audiences been about 3.5 million.

The broadcaster said that the decision to drop the series was made as part of a creative rethink of its drama schedule, which has seen the development of popular short run shows such as Collision and Above Suspicion, and not on cost-cutting grounds.

ITV intends to use the multimillion-pound saving from axing The Bill to create shorter run drama series for the 9pm slot with projects in the works including a new medical series with writer Peter Bowker and a new series from Collision and Foyle's War writer Anthony Horowitz.

"The Bill has been a fixture on our screens for more than 25 years and has been the home of some of the UK's best serial drama storylines, and a great showcase for terrific scriptwriting and fine acting talent," said Peter Fincham, the ITV director of television, channels and online.

"But times change, and so do the tastes of our audience. Whilst The Bill will come to an end in 2010, we will continue to invest more in drama programming than any other commercial broadcaster in the UK and viewers can look forward to a wide range of high quality drama on ITV1."

The show, which is made by independent production company TalkbackThames, is likely to prove to spark significant interest from rival broadcasters.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...6/the-bill-itv

Perhaps they should ask themselves why ratings have dropped. :angry:

Quelle Suprise!!!!!!

NOT

The Bill will end this autumn following ITV's decision to drop the long-running police drama after 27 years.

"Times change, and so do the tastes of our audience," said Peter Fincham, the channel's director of television.

The move follows a major revamp that saw the drama relaunched as a weekly programme in a post-watershed slot.

ITV said it would invest the money it spent on the programme - first seen on the channel in 1983 - on new peak-time drama commissions




Times change but the audience did not. What happened was that they handed over the scripts to some luvvies who hadnt a clue about the fanbase of The Bill and more importantly they knew nothing about police work. Assholes thought they had the ability to make a gritty drama like The Wire, The Shield or Dark Blue when in reality they hadnt a clue what they were doing. The Bill was a hugely successful show with a loyal fanbase before the idiots tried to make it into something which was neither needed or wanted. The rot started when Paul Marquess took over and introduced the appalling David Kent aka The Chimp and was further compounded with the ridiculous Beth Green. Marquess' fondness for explosions and rapes also didnt help matters. Sun Hill was becoming more dangerous than Bagdhad.

This muppet is now in charge of Hollyoaks so we can expect it to become ridiculous before eventually disappearing.

Where will all the ex soap actors go now

Its a shame as it used to be really good, i loved the bill in the past, my favourite time that i remeber was Sheelagh and Des, and als Des and Regs relationship they were so funny tgether.

they killed it when they moved it, they alienated the audience and basically runied it,

all the people who got the axe from hollyoaks but be really upset............future work just dried up! eek

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Originally Posted by tammyy2j

Where will all the ex soap actors go now

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Holby City :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alan45

The Bill will end this autumn following ITV's decision to drop the long-running police drama after 27 years.

"Times change, and so do the tastes of our audience," said Peter Fincham, the channel's director of television.

The move follows a major revamp that saw the drama relaunched as a weekly programme in a post-watershed slot.

ITV said it would invest the money it spent on the programme - first seen on the channel in 1983 - on new peak-time drama commissions




Times change but the audience did not. What happened was that they handed over the scripts to some luvvies who hadnt a clue about the fanbase of The Bill and more importantly they knew nothing about police work. Assholes thought they had the ability to make a gritty drama like The Wire, The Shield or Dark Blue when in reality they hadnt a clue what they were doing. The Bill was a hugely successful show with a loyal fanbase before the idiots tried to make it into something which was neither needed or wanted. The rot started when Paul Marquess took over and introduced the appalling David Kent aka The Chimp and was further compounded with the ridiculous Beth Green. Marquess' fondness for explosions and rapes also didnt help matters. Sun Hill was becoming more dangerous than Bagdhad.

This muppet is now in charge of Hollyoaks so we can expect it to become ridiculous before eventually disappearing.

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No point in beating around the bush: TT let idiots loose with the scripts and this is the end result. We all knew it was just a matter of time and I'm surprised The Bill is lasting until the end of the year. Somebody made a huge mistake with the "re-vamp," it's a shame TB is finally coming to an end.

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Originally Posted by Bad Wolf

they killed it when they moved it, they alienated the audience and basically runied it,

all the people who got the axe from hollyoaks but be really upset............future work just dried up! eek

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Hollyoakes cast have good cause to be worried. Paul Marquess who ruined Brookside and the Bill has now taken over at Hollyoaks. Time to look for a career change

Trudie Goodwin, who played June Ackland, on how this final plot twist will lead to tears

Friday, 26 March 2010
I was saddened, but not surprised, to hear that The Bill is to be axed. Having played June Ackland for 24 years, Sun Hill was an important part of my life.

In its heyday – when it was watched by 16 million viewers weekly – The Bill attracted some great writers and directors who understood the tight format, and how to shoot quickly and efficiently without compromising character or storyline.

One great episode took place inside a police van as we waited to be deployed to quell a riot. It was composed of just two handheld shots – one before the ads and one after – and the sense of boredom and frustration inside the van was brilliantly captured.

The key to the show then was that the plot was seen entirely from the point of view of the police. The audience only knew what we knew: there was no dramatic irony. We also never forgot that the police are human: part of the internal life of Sun Hill was the way that characters bickered and joked with each other so that, whatever the rigours of the job, viewers could see the funny side of the characters. That was also true of us as actors and crew: I have extremely fond memories of the seriously rude and seriously funny people I spent my working hours with. It was laughter that saw us through long gruelling hours of shooting, shivering on Thames' Bank at three in the morning, or huddled in freezing concrete estate stairwells with only a sense of humour to keep us going.

We never won awards but we plodded on knowing well-acted, tight scripts and our pioneering use of handheld cameras would always be appreciated by loyal fans. I left two years ago, finally finding the 14-hour-days too much. I'm sad to see it ending; sad for the people who worked tirelessly for the programme over all those happy years; people without whose close friendship and many talents we would never have lasted so long. I think I can say, for all of us, tears will be shed.

The Bill cast and crew were left in "stunned disbelief" yesterday after being told to go home as the show was 'all over'.

ITV bosses confirmed that the £30m-a-year soap would be axed this autumn due to a massive slump in viewers.

Early morning calls were made to the cast and crew to break the news, with those due on set told to take the day off.

A senior member of The Bill "family" told The Sun that he was already at the studio when he heard the news. "We were setting up for filming when a guy from the props department came down and told us simply, 'It's over - we're all out of work'."

Show producer Talkback has entered into a 30-day consultation with staff.

Trudie Goodwin, who played Sun Hill's June Ackland for the show's entire run, said she was "saddened, but not surprised" by the announcement. "I'm sad to see it ending; sad for the people who worked tirelessly for the programme over all those happy years; people without whose close friendship and many talents we would never have lasted so long. I think I can say, for all of us, tears will be shed," she said.

A tribute was also made by the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair, who said its transformation into a soap opera in recent years was "inevitably doomed". "The Bill fell between the pull for audiences of its origins and the desire of its scriptwriters to match the soaps, with the inevitable consequence of falling viewing. I am sorry at its passing. 'Good night, all'," he said.

I'm sad to see The Bill end as it once was a quality drama back in the days of Burnside, Lines and Jim Carver and June Ackland were still wet behiind the ears police constables. But it has lost it's way with bringing in eye candy and soapstars over quality actors.

Surely they can turn it around somehow? the axe seems a bit harsh..

The only hope would be that a company who actually cared about the viewers took it on. They would really need to bring it back to what it once was. Get rid of the talentless bimbos who were just there for ey candy. Bring back strong characters like Tony Stamp and Burnside. People who the viewers cared about. Return to the 8pm slot for an hour a week and have more light-hearted storylines amongst all the constant kidnappings, murders, rapes and explosions. Oh yes and get rid of that God Awful theme music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCcTo6xhmkE

And also return to well written, well acted gripping stories like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hUmQH8n68"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hUmQH8n68

Or my all time favourite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFzRKkH9KM

Of course that was pre Gabriel K*nt

Actor Mark Wingett has claimed that The Bill's move into a post-watershed slot last year was an "unwise decision".

The star, who played PC Jim Carver in the police procedural drama, also said that the lack of promotion during the revamp may have hurt the ITV1 show.

"I think moving the slot was an unwise decision. It kind of got lost. Also it wasn't promoted in a very good way - the big soaps get loads and loads of promotion. And I think the audience has changed," he told the BBC.

Wingett, who was the main focus of the programme's pilot Woodentop in 1983 and starred in the series for a further 21 years, branded the show's recent axe "dreadful".

He added: "When we did The Bill back in the '80s we had no meddling by ITV, it was completely isolated making a programme with 12 actors in a small studio - an ex-tobacco warehouse in the East End of London.

"Certainly when I left five years ago it had a huge hangar-sized warehouse down in Merton, employed about 500 people and 32 main cast in it plus a dozen guest actors in each episode. It was an extraordinary operation, the largest set I've ever been on. I can see that its expensive to run. Maybe that's the problem - that it became a factory drama."

DS

Jeff Stewart who played Reg Hollis -:

When I left in January 2008, I was the last remaining actor from the original cast, which started in March 1984.

The fun that was had everyday on set - and when I say laughter I mean uncontrollable laughter - because of people being funny. You all get to know one another's sense of humour and sensitivities.

People were very kind to each other and that went from the cleaners to the guys who drove the trucks. The making of The Bill ran so smoothly it was like a Swiss watch.

When I first heard the news, I almost became emotional but I held back. I know myself and I know at some point today I'm going to hear a piece of music, or have a thought and it's going to set me off. It's upsetting because it's a beautiful, well-run show. It's done brilliantly to have survived up until today quite honestly, because there is competition out there.

Mark Wingetts interview on the BBC


It's dreadful - I was the leading character in the pilot episode called Woodentop. I was in the show for 21 years.

I think moving the slot was an unwise decision. It kind of got lost. Also it wasn't promoted in a very good way - the big soaps get loads and loads of promotion. And I think the audience has changed.

The beauty of The Bill is that it has always changed with the times. In my time it changed half a dozen times, it changed format, it changed focus - it went into the personal lives and became a soap opera, now it's stepped outside that.

I don't think there was enough sex and violence in it. Times have changed so much now... I think their hands were cuffed behind their back to what content they were allowed to show.

When we did The Bill back in the '80s we had no meddling by ITV, it was completely isolated making a programme with 12 actors in a small studio - an ex-tobacco warehouse in the East End of London. Certainly when I left five years ago it had a huge hangar-sized warehouse down in Merton, employed about 500 people and 32 main cast in it plus a dozen guest actors in each episode. It was an extraordinary operation, the largest set I've ever been on. I can see that its expensive to run. Maybe that's the problem - that it became a factory drama.

Thousands of fans of ITV police drama The Bill have called for ITV to reconsider its decision to axe the programme.

The broadcaster announced last week that the crime show is to be dropped after 27 years on the air. Falling ratings have been blamed for its fate.

However, a Facebook campaign group titled "Save The Bill!" has attracted more than 10,000 members in just a few days. Its page says: "The Bill is a British institution. Let's not let it die after 27 years!"

Meanwhile, various online petitions which have been set up to save the show have received thousands of signatures.

Efforts to keep The Bill on the air are also being backed by the actors union Equity. In a statement, its general secretary Christine Payne commented: "This is a disaster. Almost every television actor in the country has at some stage worked on The Bill over the last 26 years and it is an enormously important source of work for Equity members.

"It also has a one of the most loyal audiences of any ongoing drama currently on television. We call on ITV to reconsider their decision to cancel this important programme."

A spokesman for ITV insisted that the network plans to fill the gap left behind by The Bill by continuing to invest in new drama.

He added: "This ongoing commitment not only represents an opportunity for those currently working in the production industry but also for those who are keen to embark on a career in television."

DS

ITV should stand by their decision and drop TB unless the following are fulfilled (in no particular order of importance):

1. Return to the 8pm slot.
2. Get rid of the "sexed up" idea and music.
3. Stop trying to copy US drama - it just doesn't work.
4. Bring back Stamp, Hollis et al. I'm sure Alan or Parkerman can provide a list of Dead Wood to chop, as I don't watch any more.
5. Bring in scipt writers and producers that know what they're doing. TalkbackThames might not be able to afford the Spooks or Waking the Dead caliber writers but TT can do a lot better than they are now.
6. Return to traditional policing, with long running undercover stories. Zain's storyline with the drugs cartel is the only one that sticks in my mind for acting and keeping me hooked. It was brilliant scripting.
7. Redress the Uniform/CID balance to 50/50 instead of 1/99.

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Originally Posted by tammyy2j

Where will all the ex soap actors go now

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back to the soaps i guess

A number of television executives have today expressed concern and disappointment over ITV's axing of The Bill, claiming that the industry will suffer following the loss of the show.

Last month, it was announced that the police drama is to be dropped after 27 years on the air. Declining ratings were blamed for the decision.

Speaking to The Guardian, controller of BBC drama production John Yorke questioned how new writing talent can be developed without ongoing serials like The Bill.

Yorke commented: "Five years ago it was possible for talent to cut their teeth on Brookside, Dream Team, Family Affairs, Grange Hill. The last ten years you've seen us move from continuing drama reigning supreme to a time where it's had to accept reality and The X Factor - and realise that means we all have to work much harder.

"The loss of The Bill will have a dreadful effect on the ecosystem of drama. It leaves almost all of the training of new talent in the hands of the BBC through EastEnders, Holby and Casualty."

Channel 4's head of drama Camilla Campbell argued: "We have a new talent scheme but you can't only have raw teenagers writing for Skins. You need expert script editors, producers, writers - and they have always come from continuing drama. If you didn't have any of those shows, I don't know how you'd get a job in television."

Left Bank Pictures executive Francis Hopkinson, who worked on The Bill in the '90s, also lamented the programme's fate, claiming that "there's nowhere better to try stuff out".

Meanwhile, The Bill's series producer Tim Key claimed that serials deserve more recognition because they "have to tell stories rooted in reality to a mainstream audience". He added: "That seems to be fading away."

ITV have shifted its now-axed police drama The Bill to Tuesday evenings until its final episode transmits in August, Digital Spy can confirm.

In July, the commercial broadcaster ditched the programme's two 8pm episode for a single, post-watershed screening at 9pmon Thursdays in a bid to increase ailing ratings. The new format also allowed for "darker, grittier and more hard-hitting" storylines.

Last month, however, the decision was made to axe the show entirely after 27 years on air following a rethink of the network's drama lineup.

The Bill's latest move takes effect from this evening at 9pm with the latest instalment titled 'Bad Blood'.

An ITV spokesperson this morning told DS: "The Bill will be moving to Tuesdays due to the election programming, which includes the first ever live election debate this Thursday. Thereafter, The Bill will remain in its Tuesday slot until the end of its run."

They added: "New factual programming will be broadcast on Thursdays in its place."

A new run of Griff Rhys Jones's Greatest Cities Of The World is slated to begin on Thursday, April 22 at 9pm.

DS

A demonstration to save The Bill has been cancelled after just three people promised to attend.

Paul Curry planned the protest at ITV's studios today following the decision to axe the drama after 26 years.

Only two others confirmed.

Paul, of Newcastle, who will now save his £23 coach fare, said: "I can't understand it."

The Bill star Andrew Lancel has claimed that the ITV police drama is currently airing its best episodes to date.

Speaking to Inside Soap, the actor explained that he is particularly impressed by an emotional new storyline for his character Neil Manson, which sees the detective inspector's son Jake diagnosed with leukaemia next week.

ITV announced last month that it was axing The Bill after 27 years. Poor ratings were blamed for the decision.

Reflecting on his time with the programme, Lancel commented: "I've been blessed to receive amazing storylines year after year. I've already watched [next week's] episode and I'm thrilled with it - the show's at its best. That's quite ironic given the decision to wind everything up now."

On what the future holds for his alter ego, he continued: "[Viewers will] see a side to Neil never visible before. His little boy is very sick and he's forced to face up to the reality of that. As a parent, it's hard not to be affected by the storyline. It's been very emotional."


Sorry but I think Shearer is talking bollocks

The Bill legend Trudie Goodwin has claimed that ITV bosses "messed about" with the show unnecessarily.

The police drama was axed by the broadcaster last month after 27 years on the air. Poor ratings were blamed for the decision.

Goodwin, who played Sergeant June Ackland between 1984 and 2007, has now said that the programme's 2009 revamp sealed its fate.

Speaking on Sky1's Angela and Friends, the actress explained: "They messed about with it too much. They moved it around the schedule. It didn't end up being The Bill."

She added: "It's not the show's fault, it's the people who made it over the years."



Well said Trudie. You will forever remain St. June in my eyes.

A CAR blast and a high-tension police chase will send The Bill out with a bang as it shuts up cop shop after 26 years.

The News of the World was given exclusive access to the set as the tearful actors filmed the 2,400th - and last - episode in Sun Hill.

MORE PHOTOS: The last episode of The Bill

Cast and crew were left reeling in March by ITV bosses' decision to axe the show, after ratings slumped to 3.5 million viewers from a '90s high of 15 million.

An insider said: "It's emotional - everyone is furious with the decision. But we've decided to put two fingers up to ITV and press on with a belting finale."

Filming of the final episode will continue until mid-June, but it will not hit screens until August.

The cast and crew can stick as many fingers up to ITV as they like but the truth is it's the writers fault that the bill has been scrapped. If they hadn't changed the format to the Max Carter and his CID buddies show, then viewers wouldn't have deserted the show. The bill worked when there was a balance of uniform and CID storylines as well as cast members who could act. Unlike it is now were there are only a few who can act and they have to carry the rest of the wooden tops.

You already have a thread about this. http://www.soapboards.co.uk/forums/s...highlight=Bill Hardly any need for another new one describing the End of the max Carter show Who actually cares any more.

Does anyone actually watch the Max Carter show now

Not mmmme but that's mainly because STV axed it and I can never remember the cable channel and what night it is on.

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Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

Not mmmme but that's mainly because STV axed it and I can never remember the cable channel and what night it is on.

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Do you even care

I supposed I'm drawn 50-50 I grew up with the bill in the days of Galloway, Roach, Carver and the rest. Then the likes of Burnside, Tosh Lines and Stamp joined but it still produced high quality drama. Now the only ones i like are Meadows, Jo Marsden, Terry and Smithy.

Cast and crew were left reeling in March by ITV bosses' decision to axe the show, after ratings slumped to 3.5 million viewers from a '90s high of 15 million.

An insider said: "It's emotional - everyone is furious with the decision. But we've decided to put two fingers up to ITV and press on with a belting finale."

Filming of the final episode will continue until mid-June, but it will not hit screens until August.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/show...-26-years.html

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Originally Posted by alan45

Does anyone actually watch the Max Carter show now

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I stopped watching about a year ago, shortly after the 9pm episodes started showing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alan45

Do you even care

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In some respects yes, it used to be a brilliant show and I always tuned in pre-"make over". However the drivel being churned out and poor quality acting leads me to answer on the whole, no I don't care. I don't read the spoilers any more.

I thought the program was going to be on until November, not August.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Abigail

I stopped watching about a year ago, shortly after the 9pm episodes started showing.



In some respects yes, it used to be a brilliant show and I always tuned in pre-"make over". However the drivel being churned out and poor quality acting leads me to answer on the whole, no I don't care. I don't read the spoilers any more.

I thought the program was going to be on until November, not August.

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I watched a couple of episodes of the new 'improved' Bill and was totally UNDERWHELMED. It was absolute nonsense from start to finish. As someone who watched the Bill since Day one I was disgusted with the way it was ruined and will be glad to see it go.

THE sun set on Sun Hill yesterday as the last ever scenes of The Bill were filmed after 27 years on air.

Tearful stars hugged as the cop drama wrapped up its last episode, which will air later this summer.

Executive producer Johnathan Young said: "It's been a highly emotional day for all cast and crew."

ITV1 bosses announced the axing in March after a long ratings slide for the series, famous for its former closing sequence featuring officers' plodding feet. Audiences now average three million, compared to seven million in 2002.

All 17 main cast members - including the longest-serving star Simon Rouse, 58, who has played DI Jack Meadows since 1990 - were on set for the last day.

The series, which is filmed in Merton, South West London, started with a one-off special in 1983.

Johnathan said the final gritty two-part episode is about a young female gangster. He added: "It's called Respect and we hope it will respect the heritage of the show."



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0qtUAkHCm

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Originally Posted by Perdita

He added: "It's called Respect and we hope it will respect the heritage of the show."

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It's a shame they didn't think of doing that earlier.

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Originally Posted by parkerman

It's a shame they didn't think of doing that earlier.

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If they had shown the show and cast some RESPECT over the last few years they would still be doing well in the ratings and the show would not have been cancelled. Out of RESPECT for The Bill before it became the dark mess that it now is I will not be watching the final two gritty episodes about a young female GANGSTA.

I RESPECT June Ackland, Reggiebabe, Tony Stamp, Jack Burnside, Ted Roache, Jim Carver, Jack Meadows.

For me the Bill went into terminal decline with the introduction of Todd Crappy as PC GAbriel/David K*nt