History    1988

By this stage Thames' Director of Programmes David Elstein had decided that the success of The Bill was such that it could be extended to become a 'ratings-banker' for the ITV Network and the decision was made to transform the show into a twice-weekly half-hour format show. Also, significantly, it would go out at 8pm instead of 9pm - this pre-watershed slot meant that bad language and violence had to be extensively curbed - not an easy task with a police drama. The half-hours began transmission on 19 July, and immediately proved a hit.

The new uniformed inspector, Christine Frazer, arrived at the station (Light Duties); Sergeant Penny, on light duties as a result of his gunshot wound but insisting he was perfectly fit, developed a drink problem (The Three Wise Monkeys); and PC Pete Ramsay joined the relief when the Royal Navy had 20 of their sailors arrested (Good Will Visit). With the departure of Galloway, an arms amnesty offered Roach a chance to shine as acting DI (All in Good Faith); but his glory was short lived when Burnside, promoted, returned to Sun Hill to take over the role on a full-time basis (Just Call Me Guv’nor).

Roach failed a firearms course and was no longer able to carry firearms (Holdfire); lying in wait for an armed-and-dangerous escaped prisoner led Ackland and Dashwood into a dangerous situation (Save the Last Dance For Me); and Martella dealt with a corpse and a family of excitable Italians (Runaround). Sergeant Penny blew his top working in an overheated CAD room which raised questions about him taking convalescence (The Trap); Hollis dealt with two angry motorists and a traffic warden who had more than his best interests at heart (They Say We're Rough); and Burnside and Frazer clashed over a domestic argument (Blue for a Boy). In the course of closing down a drugs raid, Haynes and Ramsey were involved in a car crash that seriously injured a child (Chasing the Dragon); DC 'Tosh' Lines arrived at the station (Stop and Search); and Roach came into conflict with Burnside whilst dealing with an informer at the dog track (Spook Stuff).