The Bill Podcast

It’s time for the third and final part of Natalie's chat with the fantastic Beth Cordingly. This time, we hear more about Beth’s time as PC Kerry Young and working with the legendary Roberta Taylor. The legends also remember awards nights, trade stories about bad publicity, run-ins with journalists, dream jobs and lots, lots more! So pop the kettle on and enjoy the finale of this special trilogy!

We are also pleased to introduce you to our new co-sponsor - City Fiction - a publishing house dedicated to supporting and promoting new and established innovative writers. Tony Drury is the founder of City Fiction and joins George Fairbrother and Michael Seely as an Executive Producer and co-sponsor of The Bill Podcast

Next week, you will be able to enjoy a bonus edition of The Bill Podcast as Natalie sat down with Tony to interview him about his career. Tony founded City Fiction after a 40 year career in City finance. As a crime novelist, he has penned five books in the DCI Sarah Rudd series of detective thrillers. And hot off the press, City Fiction has just published Tony’s autobiography - Square Mile Tales - a helta-skelta ride of a Memoir, set against the backdrop of the City of London - where he had dealings with plenty of well-known and some notorious figures, all of which you’ll hear about in next week’s Podcast - Find Square Mile Tales on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Square-Mile-Tales-Biographical-Banking/dp/1910040460/ And find out more on www.cityfiction.co.uk

Natalie Roles (DS Debbie McAllister) continues her chat with the glorious Beth Cordingly (PC Kerry Young) This time the pair trade stories of presenting, being recognised, awkward encounters, writing, exercising and we reveal which James Bond loved The Bill...

Patrons enjoyed this episode SIX MONTHS ago! If you'd like to unlock Part 3 now, plus Natalie's next trilogies with Raji James (DS Vik Singh) and Jane Wall (PC Di Worrell) these are available as Video Podcasts for Sergeant patrons on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

The Bill Podcast is brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com and shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

The theme music is composed by Matthew Anniss https://www.youtube.com/@MatthewAnnissMusic

A new era of The Bill Podcast begins! Natalie Roles (DS Debbie McAllister) is your new presenter and will be interviewing some of her dearest Sun Hill pals! Joining her first behind the microphone is Beth Cordingly (PC Kerry Young) and there's lots of laughs as two old friends catch up in Part 1 of this trilogy.

Patrons enjoyed this episode six months ago. If you'd like to unlock Parts 2 and 3 now, plus Natalie's next chats with Raji James (DS Vik Singh) and Jane Wall (PC Di Worrell) these are available as Video Podcasts for Sergeant patrons on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

The Bill Podcast is brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com and shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

This edition is dedicated to Vic Gallucci, who appeared in over 900 episodes of "The Bill" as DC Tom Baker. Rest in peace Vic.

THE FEET FROM THE CREDITS! Karen England worked on The Bill for over 15 years as a supporting artist, making several credited appearances as WPC Taylor/Dobey (and even Brind!) In this rare interview, Karen shares her memories of working on The Bill right from the very beginning at Artichoke Hill - and dispels some myths about the making of those famous end credits sequences.

Karen now works as a healer and this Podcast features an amazing discussion about Karen's work.

This edition of the Podcast also features a lengthy opening intro from Oliver, who is handing the mic over to special guest presenter Natalie Roles (DS Debbie McAllister) for the rest of the year!

The Bill Podcast is brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com mcgoldrickwatchrepairs.com and shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

I'm so sorry to be posting this. Simon McGoldrick, friend and sponsor of The Bill Podcast, sadly passed away suddenly last month, aged just 38. Some of you met Simon at The Bill Reunion 7 in November. We recorded a Podcast together in December and I was editing it when I received the news of his passing. I release this with the blessing of his family, as a tribute to Simon. This one's for you mate.

I asked Rebekah, Simon's widow, if there was a justgiving page we could donate to. She explained that they are taking donations for the Winston's Wish charity at his funeral, which is taking place next week. Winston's Wish give hope to grieving children - Simon leaves behind four daughters, one of whom was born just over a month after his passing. If anyone would like to make a donation, here is the website: winstonswish.org

The Bill Podcast is 6 years old this weekend! To celebrate, both #WitnessStatements guidebooks are ON OFFER this weekend only.

WITNESS STATEMENTS: MAKING THE BILL (SERIES 1-3) - £9.99 (£14.99 Amazon)

"Witness Statements is an invaluable book which comes highly recommended." - Archive TV Musings

Go behind the scenes of "The Bill" as 40 cast and crew share their memories of making the first three series and the "Woodentop" pilot. Featuring interviews with Sun Hill legends John Salthouse (D.I. Galloway), Eric Richard (Sgt. Cryer), Mark Wingett (P.C. Carver) Trudie Goodwin (W.P.C. Ackland), Jon Iles (D.C. Dashwood), Colin Blumenau (P.C. Edwards), Nula Conwell (W.P.C. Martella), Larry Dann (Sgt. Peters), Ralph Brown (P.C. Muswell), Graham Cole (P.C. Stamp), Ashley Gunstock (P.C. Frank), Robert Hudson (P.C. Smith), Mark Powley (P.C. Melvin), Peter Ellis (Chief Supt. Brownlow) and Chris Ellison (D.S. Burnside), plus guest stars, writers, directors and many more members of the production team.

This 192-page book, signed by the author, also features 18 rare, previously unreleased behind the scenes photograph, plus ratings published for the first time!

"An unmissable read for anyone who is interested in The Bill or the history of British television." - We Are Cult

WITNESS STATEMENTS: MAKING THE BILL (1988) - £14.99 (£17.99 Amazon)

Read how the first 48 half-hour episodes of “The Bill” were brought to life, through a series of in-depth interviews with 60 cast and crew, including some of the programme’s most legendary actors, prolific writers and visionary creatives.

Every episode is accompanied by detailed Observation Notes, revealing filming locations, production dates, viewing figures, character notes, unmade storylines and much more.

Featuring 40 previously unpublished behind-the-scenes photographs, Oliver Crocker’s second unofficial guidebook is the most thorough investigation ever undertaken of how the bi-weekly format of The Bill was created.

Every copy will be signed by author Oliver Crocker.

devonfirebooks.com

"I had a beginning, a middle and an end..." Roland Oliver reveals exactly what *should* have happened to Sgt. Corrie - including a deleted "end" scene! This is a fascinating glimpse into what seems to have been a pretty disorganised time at "The Bill" in terms of how the contracts of a number of cast members were dealt with. Roland is very honest about his time on the show and career as a whole - though I do my best to give him the credit I feel he deserves.

He also shares some very funny anecdotes about recent roles in "Casualty", "Doctors" and a memorable role in "Skins" - plus it's not every day I interview King Lear! I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing Roland and hope you will enjoy his memories!

The Bill Podcast is brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com and shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

Andrew Mackintosh (DS Greig)makes his long-awaited return to acting in a brand new fiction podcast! "Letter from Helvetica" is based on a novel that Andrew wrote in his spare time over a four-year period. In a blinding flash of unadulterated genius – albeit one that took about ten years to gestate – he realised that it would make a splendid podcast. With good fortune, he managed to persuade fellow The Bill alumnus Natalie Roles (DS McAllister) into playing the role of Abigail, and entice Oliver Crocker (The Bill Podcast) into producing it.

Letter from Helvetica is a humorous ‘epistolary’ novel that takes the form of emails exchanged between Abigail Wesley, a talented young botanist from Surrey, and her Uncle John, an acerbic retired Lieutenant Colonel who lives in the not quite real village of Helvetica in Cornwall.

Abigail has been sent by her employer to research, among other things, Kava-Kava root on the ever so slightly made-up island of Burbango, a tiny speck of dormant volcano nestling among the 83 islands that make up the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Having tasked her with spending a whole year away from her home, her kindly boss has agreed for her to be accompanied by her husband and three young children.

John Stotter, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, lives in a rambling old house in the tiny village of Helvetica that skulks in the far Western reaches of Cornwall. Uncle to Abigail, the two enjoy a relationship that is considerably closer than that she has ever had with her father. Sharing a similar outlook on life and a similar sense of humour, they resolve to write to each other regularly during her sojourn in the Southern Hemisphere.

Letter from Helvetica is the collected chronicles, tales, musings and canards that constitute their correspondence, introducing us along the way to a veritable mishmash, jumble and salmagundi of diverse characters.

It takes a wry look at the nature of village life and turns on its head some of our preconceptions regarding what is ‘civilised’ and what is ‘primitive’. And it takes a sideways glance at the sometimes peculiar and complex relationships with clothing that different cultures develop, even when clothing offers no discernible benefit.

We have a Crowdfund live on Indiegogo, where there are multiple Bill-related perks to claim - and we are almost at 90% of our target to be able to produce the first series! Find out more and get involved if you can at https://igg.me/at/letterfromhelvetica

SGT. CORRIE IS BACK! The wonderful Roland Oliver has been acting for over five decades and played four different roles in "The Bill" - including an all-too brief run as Sgt. Joseph Corrie (1990-91). In this rare and highly entertaining interview, we get to know Roland as he shares some wonderful anecdotes from his career - including a memorable guest part in "Doctor Who" opposite Tom Baker. As well as some cracking theatrical tales, Roland also tells us about his Grandad - who was a real-life Met police officer, walking the beat in the East End! We'll be diving into his time in "The Bill" in detail in Part 2, launching next month - and it's one not to miss!

The Bill Podcast is brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com and shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

The third and final part of highlights from The Bill Reunion 7 - which took place on Saturday November 12th 2022. The Q&A takes centre stage in this finale - after a few more questions from me, the audience asked the legends some great questions - highlights of those are presented here for you all to enjoy.

My huge thanks to our bonus guest on the evening, the director Mr. John Bruce - and to our all-star line-up - Suzanne Maddock, Lisa Geoghan, Tom Butcher, Tony Virgo, Ashley Gunstock, our guest of honour Mr Eric Richard and our surprise special guest, the Dame - Trudie Goodwin.

The Bill Podcast has been played over 400,000 times in 50 countries worldwide. Since 2023, The Bill Podcast has been presented by Natalie Roles (DS Debbie McAllister) and brought to you in association with georgefairbrother.com shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk and cityfiction.co.uk

Over 150 hours of bonus content available patreon.com/thebillpodcast