History - 1989

History 1989

The front of Sun Hill police station By then promoted to Executive Producer, Peter Cregeen departed to the BBC and was replaced by by Michael Chapman, who had produced both Woodentop and the first series of The Bill. Meanwhile, the owners of the Barlby Road site, excited by the ensuing property boom, announced they wished to redevelop the site and thus Sun Hill had to move yet again. A deal to move into a disused hospital in Clapham fell through, and eventually Thames settled on an old wine warehouse in the Merton industrial estate, near Wimbledon in South London, where The Bill remains to this day (pictured).

The transfer was a logistical nightmare, having to occur simultaneously with ongoing production. Another unit was created to produce a backlog of 20 episodes to cover the delays. One solution was found to incorporate the move as a renovation, and as a result in the summer of 1989 episodes were shown with overalled electricians, carpenters and painters beavering away in the background. Mark Powley who played PC Ken Melvin, decided to leave the series the next year, and the occasion of his leaving was seized upon by the scriptwriters to deliver a spectacular stunt which also justified further renovation a terrorist car-bomb explosion, meant for the car owner not Sun Hill, which took his character's life in the episode Trojan Horse.

PC 'Yorkie' Smith In that year Edwards, Smith and Ackland found more resistance than they bargained for when they enforced a Place of Safety Order at a gypsy encampment (The Mugging And The Gypsies); CID were called in to close down a pirate radio station (The Chain Of Command); and Haynes went undercover, facing danger beyond the call of duty (Duty Else Where). Sgt Cryer received a tip-off about a drug-dealer and plunged Sun Hill into a major operation (Cock Up); Smith (pictured) went undercover in an operation against football hooligans (In The Frame); and Roach crossed the path of an ex-commander and was forced to rake through the ashes of his past (Conscience).

Brownlow briefs Stamp and Edwards Racial violence left Edwards injured, and Ackland's involvement in a case of euthanasia brought back painful memories of her own recent bereavement (Sunday Sunday); Sun Hill officers joined forces with Scotland Yard for a series of raids (Suspicious Minds); and a protection racket in a brewery put Roach at risk (Luck Of The Draw). Roach's transvestite informant Roxanne (played by Paul O'Grady aka Lily Savage) put him on the trail of credit-card thieves (No Strings); Martella was held hostage at knife point by a prisoner wanting her to bring him drugs (The Visit); and an odd couple, a mystery envelope and an unusual hotel played unexpected roles in a watching-and-waiting game (Free Wheel).

PC Melvin went on secondment to CID (Only A Bit Of Thieving); a scuffle in a market led to a disagreement between Cryer and Frazer, whilst Brind found out the truth behind a respectable marriage (You'll Be Back); and an unexpected official inspection did nothing to lift spirits at Sun Hill (Fort Apache - Sun Hill). The station had a bomb scare whilst Brind had a scare of a different kind when she answered a call to a luxury flat (Somewhere By Chance); Marshall contemplated her future as a Collator (A Quiet Life); and Brownlow called for an economy drive at Sun Hill (Overspend).

Ramsey shot outside the bank Mrs Lines, Tosh's wife, caused a disturbance at a bank and before Tosh could reach her and the kids, an armed raid was in operation, resulting in PC Ramsey (pictured) being shot (Don't Like Mondays); Cryer and Frazer had to keep Sun Hill going, but Haynes and Lines found it hard to come to terms with recent events (Pickup); and Stamp got into trouble when clipping the ear of a pick-pocketing youth (Kidding). Roach went for a promotion board at New Scotland Yard and got involved in a brawl before the interview ruining his chances (Taken for a Ride); on his last day at Sun Hill, Smith arrested a teenager for drugs and was surprised by a kissogram in the shape of PC Brind (Leaving); and Frazer encouraged Haynes to go for promotion (Pressure).

WPC Norika Datta joins Sun Hill Garfield went undercover as a take-away pizza boy (A Little Knowledge); whilst dealing with a fatal traffic accident, Peters and Brind discovered nearby allotments were being used for purposes other than gardening (Pathways); and Penny, Melvin, Able and Turnham were put through an MS15 interrogation when a drunk was found dead in the front interview room (Seen To Be Done). Sun Hill welcomed its newest recruit PC Norika Datta (pictured) (Exit Lines); Dashwood and Lines investigated the disappearance of a private detective (Zig Zag); and Dashwood and Ackland joined a party of tourists on a walking tour of London to catch a thief who was working with the tour guide (Tourist Trap).

Frazer volunteered for a riot control training course (Just A Little Runaround); Sun Hill held its annual Open Day (Visitors); and when Burnside was knocked unconscious by a security guard he had previously put in jail, he discreetly arranged his revenge (Private Wars). Frazer set up an exercise to improve the statement-making technique of PCs Able and Garfield (By The Book); Conway lectured staff on their public image whilst Edwards contemplated a move back to Wales (Beer and Bicycles); and Frazer was denied promotion and explained her frustrations as a female officer (Speaking Freely). On his first day at Sun Hill, PC Dave Quinnan (pictured) impressed Stamp with his detection of a stolen diamond's whereabouts (Chinese Whispers); and Sgt. Peters did his best to deal with the regular Saturday-night chaos in Sun Hill (Saturday Night Fever).