History     1986

The location of The Bill's production was to prove a problem - in the winter of 1985-86, the highly-publicised strike at the neighbouring newspaper plant was to bring shooting to a complete halt - angry crowds of picketers at the gates of the plant were in constant confrontation with police, and there were instances when uniformed cast members were mistaken for real police. A quick end to the strike did not materialise and the dispute escalated, turning the whole area into something of a war zone. Work on Series 3 was suspended until a new Sun Hill could be found - as The Bill moved out, ironically the real Bill moved in, using the warehouse as a temporary base.

The Bill's new home was in Barlby Road, off Ladbroke Grove in West London, in an old record company depot. Shooting began in March 1987 and transmission of this 3rd series began in September.

Burnside (pictured), from the Robbery Squad, posed as a buyer at a scrap yard suspected of making up illegal cars (Ringer); a Polish seaman arrived at Sun Hill and requested asylum, as Penny's wife turned to Cryer claiming her husband was beating her up (Public and Confidential); and a roadsweeper who witnessed the fly-tipping of rubble in the street was injured (Loan Shark). What appeared to be a straightforward assault had hidden complications (With Friends like that...?); Martella played in goal in a community football match (Whose side are you on); and stolen Scotch turned up at the retirement party for the Brownlow's clerk (The Chief Superintendent's Party).