Anyone else a fan of The (1908s) Bill?

[barrygibbscheekbones]

Drama (Freeview channel 020) is going to start showing The Bill from the very first episode, starting next Monday at 11.00.

I can't wait to watch Sgt Cryer, Burnside and Reg Hollis again! I guess it might feel quite dated though.

Anyone else (as old as me) looking forward to this?

Just seen the awful typo in my thread title! Obviously meant to say 1980s!

I watched it in the 80's (lol at the 1908! ) and used to enjoy it, but lost interest when it became 'soapy' IYKWIM.
I'd like to see Z-Cars repeated, that would be a laugh.

😂
I loved it. Even at the time it seemed nostalgic as although it was a soap it was out of season, so there'd often be lovely sunny backgrounds in winter and vice versa. And even now any theatre programme will have several actors who were in it (along with Casualty!)

I loved it too. Reg Hollis was so annoying! I liked the one who was in Abigail's Party, Galloway was it? And Sgt Ackland.

Oh yes. The Frank Burnside era was the golden age of The Bill, IMO. And Ted Roach, June Ackland, Tony Stamp, Dave Quinnan, and all the rest of them. And some of the stories were really good, too.

I stopped watching when they dumped a lot of the established characters and brought in a lot of pretty young things, and as a pp said, it became very soapy.

They did the same with London's Burning too, turned a good procedural drama into a soap.

Did anyone else have a bit of a crush on Frank Burnside?

Yes me . And Galloway.

It used to be an hour long didn't it? Then dropped to half an hour. I loved London's Burning too.

I've been waiting for them to do this. Can't wait.

Another one looking forward I was too young to watch the v early ones but watched later years (post soapy when it went back to being a 1 hour drama).

Loved Burnside, Carver, Roach, Tosh - that era was brilliant. Also loved Smithy and Gina Gold. Did not like Gabriel Kent (June Ackland's fake son)

Mint !!!!

Thanks op can't wait

Yes!! It filmed near me.
I had a signed photo of Jack Meadows. He was my crush. At 40.

Thankyou op! That was a proper TV programme. As for the Burnside crush well yes possibly.....................

Loved The Bill! I got to visit the set when I was younger as my Dad was a driver for the cast and crew. I got to meet loads of the cast and got their autographs. PC Loxton was my favourite.

Oh thanks OP! Like others I used to oove it until it went soapy and I was forced to stop watching.

Going to watch too, was young teen when first was on so can't remember to much of plots. Mainly just the music and feet.

love it, not oove it - sodding ipad

My DH and DD are very excited and sky box is already preset.

I loved it first time round and it's been repeated since? but I'll gladly watch it again.

Really strange seeing the Wpcs wearing skirts though.

Smiffy hasn't changed a bit!

What was the name of the biggish PC who was the driver?

Tony Stamp?

I love the newer episodes of the bill, even the revamp that led to it being cancelled. Have vague memories of it in the early 90s, Bob Cryer and that crowd.

Always had a soft spot for Mickey Webb and his father/son relationship with Jack Meadows.

Oh, I loved it in its early days. I have the first season on DVD, and it's incredible how much things have changed. A very young Carver catching two scallywags and giving them a clip round the ear... My favourite ever, even though she came later, was Gina Gold. I stopped watching when she went.

I don't think I saw the last couple of years of episodes.

I find it's stranger to see them with handbags, buggerthebotox.

I thought it was coming back when I read the papers - a bit disappointed that it is just re-runs.

Didn't really watch until 90's.