History     2008

The start of the year was overshadowed by the sad plight of Jeff Stewart (PC Reg Hollis), who - after being dismissed from the series - made a suicide attempt. Thankfully, he made a speedy recovery, commenting at the time, "I love being an actor... and the thought of this changing had an extremely serious effect on me. I want to reassure and thank everyone for all their support and good wishes. The last few days have been very difficult for me, but I am receiving the right care and help, and am surrounded by family and friends." Reg's last on screen episode was in Heat On The Beat [# 580] which aired in March - but it wouldn't be until episode # 597: 'Lucky, Lucky, Lucky' that his disappearance would be explained by the writers; he chose to leave the Police Force (off-screen) after witnessing yet another one of his colleagues dying in the line of duty.

Bubbly new DC Stevie Moss joined CID (The Deadly Game [# 570]); Trainee DC Walker was shocked to come across a man she'd arrested for the rape of two students as a PC (Shadow Stalker [# 571]); and an 8 part episode dealt with knife crime on the Jasmine Allen estate (Witness [# 558 - #565]). PC Gayle lost his cool when he headbutted the father of a missing informant - it was up to Stone to cover up his misdemeanour (Cover Up [# 573]); Sun Hill officers were furious when they had to drop rape allegations against a suspect in exchange for him helping them catch a big time drug dealer (Spilt Blood [# 575]); and a a hungover PC Keane and Green were horrified when Heaton (pictured) volunteered to go out on the beat with them  (Heat On The Beat [# 580]). Armstrong helped protect a bent undercover PC (Corrupted [# 581]); Green went undercover for the first time, despite Carter's misgivings (Beth Undercover [# 582]); and a 13 year old girl who had been sexually assaulted resulted in the discovery of an online paedophile network (Closing The Net: parts I & II [# 584 & 585]).

DS Turner was injected with a dirty syringe full of heroin (Blood Rush: parts I & II [# 585 & 586]); Webb and new DC Jacob Banks investigated the murder of a private detective (R.I.P.P.I. [# 589]); and Armstrong went undercover in the city as a secretary (City Slickers [# 590]). A series of explosions rocked London (Frontline: Shockwave [# 591]), with Keane being caught up in the centre of one of the blasts (Frontline: Aftershock [# 592]) - following her death (pictured), the Relief became more determined than ever to find the culprit behind them (Frontline: Endgame [# 593]). Carter and Perkins came to blows when investigating an international car theft racket (Country Cowboy [# 598]); Valentine was tasked with showing new recruits Millie Brown, Leon Kane and Arun Ghir around Sun Hill (New Blood [# 660]); and in a 4 part episode, Smithy went undercover to expose a gun running racket (Gun Runner [# 599 - 603]). Meadows was distraught when the son of one of his closest friends was mowed down outside his house (Jack Of Hearts [# 606]); Webb investigated a suspicious house fire (Body Of Evidence [# 607]); and Gold began to have reservations about her abilities as Inspector (Lifesaver [# 608]).

Also that year, Wright and Fletcher reconsidered their roles as police officers following a particularly harrowing car crash (Seize The Day [# 611]); new Sergeant Rachel Weston investigated a break in at a jewellers (Street Kid [# 610]); and a male stripper was suspected of rape, as Fletcher was seconded to CID (Blind Alley [# 612). Stone and Taylor tried to track down a missing prized canine (Demolition Girl [# 616]); PC Armstrong crashed into another car whilst over the limit (Over The Limit [# 617]); and in a two part story, Banksy was shocked when the victim of a mugging in a car park turned out to be his wife (Secret History: parts I & II [# 622 - 623]). Gold crossed the line by lying to C019 when dealing with the case of an abusive aunty (Funny Money [# 624]); Stone investigated a series of aggravated burglaries which culminated in a family being bound, gagged and doused in petrol (Appropriate Force [# 625]); and following a siege at a school, Gold (pictured) realised that she could no longer effectively lead the troops at Sun Hill and opted to leave the station (An Honour To Serve: parts I & II [# 626 - 627]).

Weston had her first day as Inspector (Hide And Seek [# 630]); Sun Hill officers investigated the murder of an 8 year old girl (Hold Me Tight: parts I & II [# 628 - 629]); and Ghir had to suffer the indignity of being stripped of most of his uniform when he was cornered by a gang (Fools Rush In [# 635]). Taylor was forced to face some demons from his past when he came across a badly beaten teenager (Loved And Lost [# 636]); PCs Roberts and Ryder interviewed Terry Perkins' daughter Holly following a violent stabbing on a bus (Walk On By [# 638]); and The Bill joined forces with its German cop show counterpart SOKO Leipzig (pictured) to mark the show's 25th anniversary in a two part story involving the kidnapping of a German girl (Proof Of Life: parts I & II [# 640 & 641]). Roberts had his driving assessment, overseen by a very serious Stamp (One Day But Not Today [# 642]); Moss had to renew an undercover acquaintance with a big time heroin dealer (Too Hot To Handle: parts I, II & III [# 647 - 649]); and Ryder was appalled when her brother was arrested at a New Year's Eve party, suspected of stabbing a young boy (Second Chance [# 652]).