Changes afoot...
Calum
ITV police drama The Bill is to have its transmission output halved to
just one episode a week.
Later this year, the long-running show - based in the fictional London
suburbs of Sun Hill - will be relaunched in a the post-watershed
timeslot of 9pm.
The move will allow the programme's content to become 'grittier and more
action-packed', while at the same time maintaining its regular character
narrative and storytelling about modern-day policing.
ITV’s director of television Peter Fincham said of the move: "I'm
delighted to announce The Bill's transition to a weekly 9pm drama on
ITV1. It's a fantastic opportunity to take the series to another level,
marking a new era for one of the most established brands on British
television."
CEO Lorraine Heggessey added: "This is a huge vote of confidence from
ITV in the show and is a genuine first on UK television. We are
incredibly proud of the show and we look forward to embracing the new
opportunities this will bring."
It has not yet been announced which night the weekly episode will air in
the schedules.
In 2007, a show spokesperson denied reports that that the commercial
broadcaster had imminent plans to cut the number of episodes by 50%.
Last November, The Bill celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special
two-part episode produced in conjunction with German cop show
counterpart SOKO Leipzig.