Young
Bill ... fresh-faced PC Jim Carver
and WPC June Ackland pound the beat
THE BILL is
celebrating 20 years on TV with a live episode tonight –
and the death of a major character.
A missing
person investigation is also set to unfold and a familiar
face will return.
But the
climax will be the death of a Sun Hill regular, whose
identity is being kept secret.
As the
bombshell episode marks the ITV drama’s birthday, The Sun
presents a roundup of facts, faces and fiends from 20 years
on the beat.
The programme
started with a one-off drama called Woodentop, the nickname
the CID use for uniformed officers.
Click
picture to enlarge
The pilot was
such a success a series was commissioned, retitled The
Bill and given the famous plodding cop feet introduction
which was used until three years ago.
PC Jim
Carver, played by Mark Wingett, was on his first day on the
beat when The Bill started and two decades later he
is still a lowly constable.
Now Carver
— one of only two original cast members — is still on
the first rung of the police ladder after being demoted.
The other
longest-serving cop is June Ackland, who took Jim under her
wing at the launch episode and is now about to be promoted
to inspector.
Old
Bill ... Jim Carver is still a plain PC while
June is now Sgt Ackland - and his former lover
Carver and
Ackland have gone from pals to lovers and back to pals again
over time. But their on-screen career paths have been very
different.
Ackland —
actress Trudie Goodwin — became an acting sergeant in 1995
and has just passed her inspector’s exams. Carver’s only
role changes have been stints as a detective.
Both actors
have happy memories of the past 20 years.
Mark says:
“I remember putting the uniform on for the first time. It
was an old fashioned uniform from the 1960s because, unlike
now, we weren’t allowed to use the current police
uniforms.”
Click
picture to enlarge
He adds:
“I’ve stayed with the show because I enjoy it. The
Bill has the ability to keep reinventing itself, so Jim
Carver has had a variety of storylines over the years.”
Trudie says:
“Policemen always wave and smile at me. I’m treated like
an honorary police officer. My car’s broken down a couple
of times and they’ve been extremely helpful.”
Here’s
a look at Ackland and Carver’s career highs and lows.
ACKLAND:
September 1995, became an acting sergeant.
Nov 1997, was
suspended from duty, accused of conspiracy to handle stolen
money.
April 2002,
was rescued from a gang of thugs by Carver. It leads to
their first kiss and an on-off love affair.
May 2002, was
selected to run the new Borough Community Safety Unit.
PC
Plod ... show’s old intro
Sept 2003,
passed her inspector’s exam.
CARVER:
August 1983, pilot Woodentop saw him as a
probationary officer.
October 1984,
he became a detective constable.
May 1999,
left CID to go back into uniform and the beat under a police
system to “freshen up” officers.
May 2000,
made a family liaison officer.
March 2003,
comforted Marie Graham after her daughter’s murder — and
they ended up in bed.
June 2003,
Jim and Marie got hitched. |
20
YEARS OF THE BILL (30/10/03)
