LIVE EPISODE OF THE BILL PLANNED (19/6/03)

ITV is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its cop soap The Bill this autumn with a live extravaganza.

Producer Thames plans to make a 60-minute live episode for one of its regular peaktime slots on ITV1 and is considering filming two live shows for ITV2, showing the actors before and after the programme, scheduled for the autumn.

The special ITV1 episode will fit in with the show's regular serial format but, according to Thames head of drama Paul Marquess, it will be considerably more adventurous than previous attempts at live drama and will end on "a big cliffhanger".

"We wanted to produce something with loads of action in it - we're really going for it," he said, adding it will include fighting, pyrotechnics and involve cordoning off roads around the south London studio.

Marquess also added that in contrast to recent live specials of Coronation Street and ER, the special edition of The Bill would be completely live with no pre-recorded material.

A normal episode takes about 16 days to film so preparations are already underway for the event, which is being overseen by series producer Carson Black.

The special will feature Trudie Goodwin, who plays June Ackland, and Mark Wingett, who plays Jim Carver, who appeared in the original pilot.