I wish they brought this back :( Always used to sit down & watch this with my grandma & she loved watching it. She passed away last year. It sucks that nothing in life lasts forever. I miss the memories I had watching this with her. If only you could rewind time.
The words of the character Jack Meadows played by Simon Rouse is very true in real life. The meaning of the word respect has changed and what he said is very true. Whoever wrote that in the final script of this programme deserve a lot of credit.
Yes it should, it was getting stale. With the levels of violence and crime in London now it was getting too dark and if it wanted to be real it would have to lose the subtle humour and warmth or be saccharrine. I am glad id ended before it sucked
You could just feel the pride (and respect) that Jack Meadows had for his officers at the end. It's like, after 18 years on the show, he'd really become the big father figure of Sun Hill station. Respect to them all.
Today I fulfilled a long-held ambition and travelled to Merton to stand outside the building used as the exterior of Sun Hill Police Station. It was a bittersweet experience, as The Bill remains, arguably, my favourite television series ever. Even now almost eight years after it concluded. I watched it pretty much from the beginning, although I missed the very first episode. As I looked at the building today the memories came flooding back - the car chases, the interrogations, the dramatic moments, the special effects and the spectacular stunts. Boy do I miss them! Unlike many others I never thought the quality of the programme deteriorated. I liked and enjoyed the later series every bit as much as the earlier ones. In fact I thought the final series was quite superb. And I also liked the major makeover given to the show in it final couple of years, including the background music. I would absolutely love if ITV would relaunch the series, even though I suspect that is a forlorn hope now. But perhaps an occasional 'one-off' special might be possible? Or some kind of spin-off? Or even a ten-year anniversary reunion of the cast that could be televised? I live in hope. Finally a word of thanks and heartfelt compliments to everyone - on screen, behind the scenes, long-term, short-term, occasional or one-off - who contributed to this marvellous programme in any way. You gave me 26 years of pleasure and enjoyment, feelings that remain with me to this day, and which I can relive through the reruns on the various satellite TV channels. Ladies and Gentlemen of The Bill - take a bow!
Well put but I think a pilgrimage is a bit far . Everything detriorated the second Frank Burnside left the screen but was still awesome. I really liked Chris Deakin too
Thank you for posting this, I cried my eyes out at the final episode! Fantastic work to everyone involved and RIP to the best programme on British television.
I've just started watching The Bill again right from the beginning Series 1 Episode 1...Now onto S4 Ep 7 and still love it now as I did then. I joined in 1986 and retired in 2016, 20 yrs as a front line Sgt and Detective/Sgt, so can relate to many of the characters and stories. Each station had a Pc Hollis, a Pc Stamp, Sgt Cryer, DS Roach, Ch/Supt Brownlow etc etc, so believable and wonderfully portrayed by each actor...then came the graduate entrants and fast track promotion officers, the politics changed and so did the rules. The Bill was 'of its time' maybe, but kept up to date by addressing serious issues in a careful way. It could have gone on for much longer, as people found and still find 'policing' the subject of great interest even today. The most gripping series now of course is the brilliant 'Line of Duty' and again so well made. Everyone involved in The Bill, can be rightly proud of having made a cracking series from start to finish.
The original opening credits with the walk... oh my Nane would laugh every time she saw it ❤️ Ghose were the days it was worth timing your week to your favourite shows x
I'm rewatching this show through UKTV Play. I started rewatching from 1997 and have just (10 minutes ago) finished the whole corrupt DS Don Beech storyline which aired in 2000. I'm happy that I've got another 10 years worth to watch, but from 2004 onwards I started working overseas and they will all be new to me. I know that they're probably not the best episodes, but I loved this show dearly. Some great moments, and some fantastic characters, DCI Jack Meadows being one of them. Thanks to all those involved.
Towards the end they went for good looking players rather then good actors and strong storylines to try and attract the emerging younger viewer, all they achieved was to lose their fanbase without attracting the new viewer, top of the pops made the same mistake.
No it was still strong it was axed because ITV over invested in the multi million pound Titanic Drama that flopped. The investment created a lot of cuts to more than just The Bill.
@@jf9531 It's definitely too late as it'll never be the same. Sadly it's just one of those things that will just have to be confined to the history books.
An absolute tragedy when this show was shelved. ITV messed about with the format so much it became pitiful to watch. Putting it on at 9.00 and giving it this CSI dark look, as well as losing key actors/actresses was it's downfall. I still watch on Watch and Drama sky channels. By far my fav characters were Phil, Zain and DS Nixon..Also loved Okaro, Meadows and Chandler. Fav episodes Zain and Kristen story and Kate Spears stories. ITV really screwed up but glad I can still watch the show.
If you haven't got the box set you can watch old episodes on here (RUclips) or dailymotion, I started on series 1 and am currently on series 17, I still can't believe this show ended, was one of my favourites :(
I watched The Bill since 1999 (which was the show's sixteenth series at the time) I became a huge fan of the show when the new episodes were on STV and I also watched the repeats of the older episodes on UK Gold / Alibi / Drama over the years. When ITV cancelled the show I was extremely gutted to see the show had finished for good, the final series wasn't shown on STV sadly due to the withdrawal of some networked programming such as The Bill and instead they chose to concentrate on local programming. The Bill had a number of great moments, characters and an excellent team of producers, directors etc throughout the show's run and I will continue to be a fan of the show in the future, Respect to the nation's favourite police drama series. RIP The Bill (1984 - 2010)
I loved watching The Bill and it's a shame it had to come to an end. There were so many things which were changed which led to it's demise. There were far too many new characters added to the show which did not work in my opinion. This was probably from when Callum Stone joined ranks. The storylines were good, but I did miss having a secondary storyline which ran alongside the other one despite there being no connection. The Bill should never ever have moved to 9 O'clock, it just didn't work. It's hard to explain, but the show just lost all it's sparkle and it's no surprise ITV pulled the plug. Even the Theme Tune did not work :P
The last episode was shown this evening here in Australia. I grew up watching this & I will miss it dearly. I also had a lump in my throat. RIP Sunhill.
They did some really good stuff with Jack's character over the years. He reigned in Burnside, Survived the cull, beat Chandler at his own game, got passed over for promotion so many times and then finally became the chief. I still preffered Galloway as the boss though. lol
There’s a blooper of Simon during the press conference where he can’t contain his emotions, knowing the show was about to come to an end. Such a pity it ended.
The final line spoken by Smithy - "Let's do it." That line is the very first line spoken by Jim in The Bill's pilot, "Woodentop". A lovely full circle.
Tomorrow morning that officer will be here 7am sharp, ready to start work. That’s respect. Yesterday, Liam Martin died in one of my officer’s arms; and today, that officer came in and dedicated himself to getting this result. Respect. Last night, a young girl was raped: to keep her quiet. Two hours ago, she gave a statement to the police, which will put these thugs in jail.
Terrible they canned The Bill, it's re-showing on TV in Australia at the moment, what do we have to look forward to now, just rubbish like Scott and Bailey? My favs were Reg, Tony and Viv and as for Stevie and Smithy they could have their own show, lots of sparks and chemistry there!
I actually went to the outside of the studios (in Merton) shown at the end of this clip the day after the final scene of Jack walking out of the Station to his car was filmed. It was quite sad knowing that just a few hours before my visit that this final scene had been filmed. My pictures of the outdoor set are on Flickr.
There’s a word that has come up over and over again during this investigation- respect. You know it? Yeah right, course you do, we all know it. At least I thought we did. But it seems to me that somewhere along the line, somebody changed the meaning. You earn respect these days through violence... power, fear, money - and the blade of a knife. How did this happen? Today, one of my officers had a gun pointed at his head, by a teenage thug.
@0DoctorWhoFreak0 So did Simon (Jack Meadows) when rehearsing this scene. Being doing The Bill for 18 years must have moved him. That speech is as much as a speech for Simon as well as his character.
I grew up watching this show it inspired me to wanna be a cop, when this show stopped I lost my inspiration, been sad pretty much ever since, I went into the police cadets but wasn’t the same or even alike it, it’s sad that this stopped😓😭😪
The problem with cancelling shows is it’s hard to restart them. Is you keep the show going you can continually introduce new characters and keep it alive, if you end it if always feels like a different show
The series was dead when the then EX production staff of Brookside took over, they messed with camera angles that made you feel like you were on a roller coaster, they changed the theme tune to something that sounds like a cheap ring tone and then put actors which again some were in brookside. In the end the whole thing became a joke. Before the changes it was a quality programme however they wanted a more youthful feel which ultimately didn't work
It was never dead! The ITV producers cut the budget massively after taking a gamble on the multimillion pound Titanic remake that flopped really badly and The Bill was amongst many that got axed along with Wild at Heart, Heartbeat and various other shows.
I think that due to change of times and the demand for more recent dramas , caused to fall to the ground . Meaning that the bill couldn't keep up with the times any longer .
How about they show old episodes of The Bill on itv3 instead of constant repeats of Poirot, Heartbeat, On the Buses, George & Mildred. U get my meaning
First line said in The Bill: "Let's do it"
Last line said in The Bill: "Let's do it"
The first line was actually "OK, Carver - let's do it!"
It was actually the bill pilot the wooden tops! Jim Carver looking at himself in the mirror ready for his first day! Saying ok Carver let's do it.
I wish they brought this back :( Always used to sit down & watch this with my grandma & she loved watching it. She passed away last year. It sucks that nothing in life lasts forever. I miss the memories I had watching this with her. If only you could rewind time.
Respect
The words of the character Jack Meadows played by Simon Rouse is very true in real life. The meaning of the word respect has changed and what he said is very true. Whoever wrote that in the final script of this programme deserve a lot of credit.
14 years later and it’s still the same 😢
You mean from series 18 ?
loved this programe from the start should never been canceled
It coming back
So sad 😞 and to think of what they could have done the last 10 years 😢
@@jamesridgeway1857 when
Yes it should, it was getting stale. With the levels of violence and crime in London now it was getting too dark and if it wanted to be real it would have to lose the subtle humour and warmth or be saccharrine. I am glad id ended before it sucked
You could just feel the pride (and respect) that Jack Meadows had for his officers at the end. It's like, after 18 years on the show, he'd really become the big father figure of Sun Hill station. Respect to them all.
I am a big fan of the bill since it graced our screens now it’s over I will miss the bill terribly xx
That’s respect.
The Bill was one of my favourite TV shows ever and its a shame its finished.
Oh gosh ... how emotional was that?
I really miss this show. Loving the repeats being shown on some of the channels at the moment x
😥
Me too watch on my lunch hour
Brilliant show, sadly missed.
Such a great drama, don’t even get bored watching it years later.
Today I fulfilled a long-held ambition and travelled to Merton to stand outside the building used as the exterior of Sun Hill Police Station. It was a bittersweet experience, as The Bill remains, arguably, my favourite television series ever. Even now almost eight years after it concluded. I watched it pretty much from the beginning, although I missed the very first episode. As I looked at the building today the memories came flooding back - the car chases, the interrogations, the dramatic moments, the special effects and the spectacular stunts. Boy do I miss them!
Unlike many others I never thought the quality of the programme deteriorated. I liked and enjoyed the later series every bit as much as the earlier ones. In fact I thought the final series was quite superb. And I also liked the major makeover given to the show in it final couple of years, including the background music. I would absolutely love if ITV would relaunch the series, even though I suspect that is a forlorn hope now. But perhaps an occasional 'one-off' special might be possible? Or some kind of spin-off? Or even a ten-year anniversary reunion of the cast that could be televised? I live in hope.
Finally a word of thanks and heartfelt compliments to everyone - on screen, behind the scenes, long-term, short-term, occasional or one-off - who contributed to this marvellous programme in any way. You gave me 26 years of pleasure and enjoyment, feelings that remain with me to this day, and which I can relive through the reruns on the various satellite TV channels.
Ladies and Gentlemen of The Bill - take a bow!
Nicely worded.
Well put but I think a pilgrimage is a bit far .
Everything detriorated the second Frank Burnside left the screen but was still awesome. I really liked Chris Deakin too
Jack Meadows finally made it to the spot he deserved, a good ending, but a sad one.
I miss The Bill. I loved this programme as a kid and I cried so much when this was on!!! They shouldn't have cancelled The Bill
Bring it back it was great show. I watch old episodes daily on RUclips
It was coming back for a couple of specials back in 2020. But never happened thanks to COVID.
So am I. Just been watching the Don Beech corruption episodes, the murder of John Boulton. I still remember episodes from the 80s.
I'm watching the episodes on Drama Channel. We have just had the pleasure of the arrivals of Tom Chandler and Des Taviner. Love the show.
Thank you for posting this, I cried my eyes out at the final episode! Fantastic work to everyone involved and RIP to the best programme on British television.
Yes it was a sad ending, but a good ending to a great show, i saw first episode 1984 on tuesday night or maybe wednesday, but i was only 11 in 1984.
even over 2 years still miss this programe
I've just started watching The Bill again right from the beginning Series 1 Episode 1...Now onto S4 Ep 7 and still love it now as I did then. I joined in 1986 and retired in 2016, 20 yrs as a front line Sgt and Detective/Sgt, so can relate to many of the characters and stories. Each station had a Pc Hollis, a Pc Stamp, Sgt Cryer, DS Roach, Ch/Supt Brownlow etc etc, so believable and wonderfully portrayed by each actor...then came the graduate entrants and fast track promotion officers, the politics changed and so did the rules. The Bill was 'of its time' maybe, but kept up to date by addressing serious issues in a careful way. It could have gone on for much longer, as people found and still find 'policing' the subject of great interest even today. The most gripping series now of course is the brilliant 'Line of Duty' and again so well made. Everyone involved in The Bill, can be rightly proud of having made a cracking series from start to finish.
Good to hear someone in the job praise it, confirms they must have done something right.
@@BridgeToGantry Thank You :)
Thank you for YOUR years of service!
That's respect.
I miss this show already, this was a really good show, I get teary watching this last episode.
+HSimon1981 i remember watching this final episode of the Bill in my dad's room with my shirt off
The original opening credits with the walk... oh my Nane would laugh every time she saw it ❤️ Ghose were the days it was worth timing your week to your favourite shows x
The respect speech is one of the best final speeches ever
Very true.....
One of the best shows on British TV and it SO shouldn't have ended.
The out takes to Jack's scene in the meeting room are heart breaking Mickey gives him a hug!
Sad times R.I.P The Bill it was a great show.
TO ALL THE CAST ...I GIVE YOU RESPECT !! THANK YOU FOR SO MANY YEARS OF WONDERFULL TV
Loved this program, the best ever
As much as I really didn't like The Bill at this point because of how they changed it, I'm glad Meadows got the spotlight for this finale.
So sad to see it go, have watched this programme since I was little, I like the way they ended up but at the same time hate it that it has ended.
Loved this show, so many great actors too. Wish they would bring it back.
I'm rewatching this show through UKTV Play. I started rewatching from 1997 and have just (10 minutes ago) finished the whole corrupt DS Don Beech storyline which aired in 2000. I'm happy that I've got another 10 years worth to watch, but from 2004 onwards I started working overseas and they will all be new to me. I know that they're probably not the best episodes, but I loved this show dearly. Some great moments, and some fantastic characters, DCI Jack Meadows being one of them.
Thanks to all those involved.
Towards the end they went for good looking players rather then good actors and strong storylines to try and attract the emerging younger viewer, all they achieved was to lose their fanbase without attracting the new viewer, top of the pops made the same mistake.
No it was still strong it was axed because ITV over invested in the multi million pound Titanic Drama that flopped. The investment created a lot of cuts to more than just The Bill.
Very disingenuous and inaccurate.
The acting was always top notch and never deteriorated.
You can watch it every day on channel "Drama" which is on Freeview.
This still breaks my heart to this day 😢😢
3.53 to the end was a continous shot. Very clever!
Smithy is the British Robocop.
That probably applies more to Sergeant Stone mate lol
@@bobSCOTT99 You are right.
Worst decision ITV ever made.
Not too late to reverse it, its never too late
@@jf9531 It's definitely too late as it'll never be the same. Sadly it's just one of those things that will just have to be confined to the history books.
Yes it is the season of woke and celebrating gov authority , so should return
@@rocky76dude7 You think diversity and justice are bad things...?
@@Eponine83the way you go about it? Darn tootin
Although it's being two years, I still miss the show that ended with the same words it began with 'Let's do it'
Miss this programme loads!
Simon rouse as DCI jack meadows or superintendent was one of sun hills best ever character played brilliantly.
The bill is better without background music!!! One of the greatest TV shows in history!!!
An absolute tragedy when this show was shelved. ITV messed about with the format so much it became pitiful to watch. Putting it on at 9.00 and giving it this CSI dark look, as well as losing key actors/actresses was it's downfall. I still watch on Watch and Drama sky channels. By far my fav characters were Phil, Zain and DS Nixon..Also loved Okaro, Meadows and Chandler. Fav episodes Zain and Kristen story and Kate Spears stories. ITV really screwed up but glad I can still watch the show.
If you haven't got the box set you can watch old episodes on here (RUclips) or dailymotion, I started on series 1 and am currently on series 17, I still can't believe this show ended, was one of my favourites :(
Remember when drama promised to run it from episode 1 and then skipped about ten seasons in one go
I'm glad it's coming back 😁😁😁
Did not know that! thanks for the heads up. I wonder if any of the old characters will be in it? Smithy (currently in Holby) is still young enough.
could not have been better written or directed! utter class
I watched The Bill since 1999 (which was the show's sixteenth series at the time) I became a huge fan of the show when the new episodes were on STV and I also watched the repeats of the older episodes on UK Gold / Alibi / Drama over the years. When ITV cancelled the show I was extremely gutted to see the show had finished for good, the final series wasn't shown on STV sadly due to the withdrawal of some networked programming such as The Bill and instead they chose to concentrate on local programming. The Bill had a number of great moments, characters and an excellent team of producers, directors etc throughout the show's run and I will continue to be a fan of the show in the future, Respect to the nation's favourite police drama series. RIP The Bill (1984 - 2010)
10 years today 😢
I loved watching The Bill and it's a shame it had to come to an end. There were so many things which were changed which led to it's demise. There were far too many new characters added to the show which did not work in my opinion. This was probably from when Callum Stone joined ranks. The storylines were good, but I did miss having a secondary storyline which ran alongside the other one despite there being no connection. The Bill should never ever have moved to 9 O'clock, it just didn't work. It's hard to explain, but the show just lost all it's sparkle and it's no surprise ITV pulled the plug. Even the Theme Tune did not work :P
The last episode was shown this evening here in Australia.
I grew up watching this & I will miss it dearly.
I also had a lump in my throat.
RIP Sunhill.
The only Program i watched religiously
They did some really good stuff with Jack's character over the years. He reigned in Burnside, Survived the cull, beat Chandler at his own game, got passed over for promotion so many times and then finally became the chief. I still preffered Galloway as the boss though. lol
Roy "Now you listen my old son" Galloway was DEFINATELY up there with the best of 'em. :)
and went on a trip to Germany!
All the cast of the bill were all excellent in their own way still watching it now iveretired
There’s a blooper of Simon during the press conference where he can’t contain his emotions, knowing the show was about to come to an end. Such a pity it ended.
I very much doubt it is filmed sequentially
great show watched every episode and ill never get bored of it lol gonna be missed :(
The final line spoken by Smithy - "Let's do it." That line is the very first line spoken by Jim in The Bill's pilot, "Woodentop". A lovely full circle.
Tomorrow morning that officer will be here 7am sharp, ready to start work. That’s respect. Yesterday, Liam Martin died in one of my officer’s arms; and today, that officer came in and dedicated himself to getting this result. Respect. Last night, a young girl was raped: to keep her quiet. Two hours ago, she gave a statement to the police, which will put these thugs in jail.
Terrible they canned The Bill, it's re-showing on TV in Australia at the moment, what do we have to look forward to now, just rubbish like Scott and Bailey? My favs were Reg, Tony and Viv and as for Stevie and Smithy they could have their own show, lots of sparks and chemistry there!
great one camera shot at the end
Never been a better police programme and prob never will/ just timeless
Respect speech is inspiring
Superbly scripted speech at the end. He's spot on what earns respect these days has sadly changed.
I loved watching this UK police show from the BBC. I will miss all the characters.
The amount of time I've gone to my mum, 'Call me downstairs when the Bill's on' and my mum's replied, 'Hannah, it finished last year, remember?'
Ive not seen the 90s decade yet but the I think it may be great but the 2000s Era(2000-2009)was Superb era of the Show.
End of a era to both TV and ITV itself . This is when TV lost 26 year history ever .
I actually went to the outside of the studios (in Merton) shown at the end of this clip the day after the final scene of Jack walking out of the Station to his car was filmed. It was quite sad knowing that just a few hours before my visit that this final scene had been filmed. My pictures of the outdoor set are on Flickr.
R.I.P The Bill I loved the series 💗
This was genuinely traumatic to watch back in 2010, like a best mate you grew up with had gone forever.
There’s a word that has come up over and over again during this investigation- respect. You know it? Yeah right, course you do, we all know it. At least I thought we did. But it seems to me that somewhere along the line, somebody changed the meaning. You earn respect these days through violence... power, fear, money - and the blade of a knife. How did this happen? Today, one of my officers had a gun pointed at his head, by a teenage thug.
Bring back the bill ... I miss it to much .. I wish they bring the bill back
Tuesday 31st August 2010
I will actually be over the moon if tomorrow on the news they say that they are bringing the bill back !
I loved this program.
1:55 - 3:50 = The most important speech iv heard in a long time.
Please bring this back
How did this happen Jack?
People want children but don't want to raise them. Simples.
I miss the bill so bad 😥
Amazing show
The bill was a brilliant show which ITV have never replaced it was used to portray problems in society and gave strong messages to the public.
Jack was always meant for super. best ever ever on t.v.. so so sad it ended
i miss the bill it was the best bring it back
The show was at it's best between 1999 and 2005 in my opinion.
Bring back The Bill!!
I cried, so sad. My favourite police procedural in the world!!
Although the final few series of The Bill weren't as good as previous years, it's a show I grew up with, and I miss
My thoughts exactly, although I do like watching the re runs on Drama (Freeview)
Bravo!
It needs to be brought back, ending this was the biggest mistake!!! We need it back with same cast, same set
Wt amazing program
IF YOU WATCHED FROM THE START THESE PEOPLE PREDICTED TODAYS SOCIETY IN EVERY RESPECT.....PEACE TO ALL....🥰
@0DoctorWhoFreak0 So did Simon (Jack Meadows) when rehearsing this scene. Being doing The Bill for 18 years must have moved him. That speech is as much as a speech for Simon as well as his character.
End of an era. The show was shit by this time but I still watched the last one, just for old times sake.
I grew up watching this show it inspired me to wanna be a cop, when this show stopped I lost my inspiration, been sad pretty much ever since, I went into the police cadets but wasn’t the same or even alike it, it’s sad that this stopped😓😭😪
The crime of why they got rid of it in the first place.
loves the bill
The problem with cancelling shows is it’s hard to restart them. Is you keep the show going you can continually introduce new characters and keep it alive, if you end it if always feels like a different show
You’d never get a super or anyone above the rank of detective sergeant interviewing a suspect
I'm actually crying
Sad, so so sad
The series was dead when the then EX production staff of Brookside took over, they messed with camera angles that made you feel like you were on a roller coaster, they changed the theme tune to something that sounds like a cheap ring tone and then put actors which again some were in brookside. In the end the whole thing became a joke.
Before the changes it was a quality programme however they wanted a more youthful feel which ultimately didn't work
miss the show love watching on u tube of the bill
I couldn't agree with you more actually
nosey parker keep out I agree the new camera angles ruined it made it feel shit
It was never dead! The ITV producers cut the budget massively after taking a gamble on the multimillion pound Titanic remake that flopped really badly and The Bill was amongst many that got axed along with Wild at Heart, Heartbeat and various other shows.
I think that due to change of times and the demand for more recent dramas , caused to fall to the ground . Meaning that the bill couldn't keep up with the times any longer .
I will miss the bill loads
The Bill should have ended better than this the station should have blown up, and left a huge question mark who lived and who died in the explosion .
How about they show old episodes of The Bill on itv3 instead of constant repeats of Poirot, Heartbeat, On the Buses, George & Mildred.
U get my meaning
Bring back The Bill...the biggest telly mistake was to take it off air!!