Police,
camera, action!
 A DRAMATIC
live episode of The Bill marks 20 years of action at Sun Hill
police station and for Trudie Goodwin, who plays Sgt June Ackland,
it promises to be a tension-packed evening.
"I'm terrified
by the prospect of doing a live show, but also looking forward to
it," says Trudie, 51, who lives in south London with
actor/writer husband Kit Jackson, and daughters Jessica, 21, and
Eleanor, 15.
"It will be
like the first night of a play, but with millions of people
watching."
Most of Thursday's
live episode takes place at Sun Hill nick, where 22 cameras -
usually the show is filmed on just one - will broadcast
everything, including any fluffed lines.
At some point one
regular character will be murdered, while a familiar face returns,
this time on the wrong side of the law, and another surprising
figure lurks in the shadows.
New
recruits ... Jim Carver and June Ackland,
as they were in 1983 police drama Woodentop
Sgt Ackland and DC
Jim Carver (Mark Wingett) will also share some poignant moments.
"Most of my
scenes are with Mark, reminiscing. They are an oasis of calm amid
everything else that is happening," says June.
"The show has
got everything - stunts, murder, high drama and nostalgia."
June and Jim are
the only two original characters still in the show, which started
life as a one-off drama called Woodentop in 1983.
Gary Olsen, who
later played Ben Porter in BBC comedy 2Point4 Children and
tragically died of cancer in 2000, also appeared in the pilot
episode as PC Dave Litten and went on to be a Bill regular.
The plot followed
rookie officer Jim as he was shown the ropes by June, then also
just a humble PC.
Trudie believes the
show's longevity is down to the fact that it has never stood
still.
"The Bill has
always been great at re-inventing itself," she says.
"I'm lucky June is a constant, I know her so well.
"But she's
like a coat - I put her on when I get to work and take her off
when I've finished."
CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION
A
SUN HILL regular is about to be murdered. We won't spoil the
surprise but here's a look at six who seem vulnerable
Targets ...
Gary Best, Samantha Nixon and Sheelagh Murphy
4/9
- PC GARY BEST (Ciaran Griffiths): Gary's gunning
for trouble after a heroin dealer takes his father hostage.
15/2
- ACTING DI SAMANTHA NIXON (Lisa Maxwell): Sam
has already escaped the Sun Hill serial killer. Is her luck
running out?
3/1
- SGT SHEELAGH MURPHY (Bernie Nolan): Lover PC
Des Taviner has gone missing. Does more tragedy lie ahead?
In
the line of fire ... Ken Drummond, Dale Smith
and Juliet Becker
2/1
- DC KEN DRUMMOND (Russell Floyd): Did he put his
life on the line investigating dodgy drug dealers?
4/1
- SGT DALE SMITH (Alex Walkinshaw): A hero after
saving Reg Hollis's life. Will he need someone to rescue him?
10/1
- DC JULIET BECKER (Rae Baker): Could be in
danger after being taken in by twisted PC Cathy Bradford's lies.
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Identity
Parade
1991
... Robert Carlyle
OVER the past 20
years, a host of famous faces have passed through Britain's
best-known police station. Here's just a sample of Sun Hill's
all-star cast...
Future Bond movie
baddie Robert Carlyle popped up as a newspaper
reporter in 1991, while four years later DS Lisa Holm, who went
undercover posing as a high-class hooker, was played by a pre-ER Alex
Kingston.
1995
... Alex Kingston
Several EastEnders
stars have walked the streets of Sun Hill, notably Martin
Kemp as criminal Tom Marsh, who held Reg Hollis hostage
in 1998.
That same year,
ruthless gangster Jimmy Smith was brought to life by Leslie
'Dirty Den' Grantham, while Letitia Dean,
Michelle Collins, Patsy Palmer and Dean Gaffney
have also appeared.
1998
... Martin Kemp
Other stars include
Rik Mayall as evil gambler Patrick Massie in
1997, Denise Van Outen (gangster's moll Melanie
Lehmann, 1998), Hugh Laurie (defence lawyer
Harrap, 1998) and future Spice Girl Emma Bunton,
who played a troubled teenager in 1993.
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20
YEAR RETROSPECTIVE (26/10/03)