The Bill Podcast

The phenomenal Liz Crowther is one of our finest actresses and in a rare gap in her incredibly busy CV, she was kind enough to make her podcast debut just for us lucky Bill fans!

In the first of a two-part interview, Liz discusses some of her recent projects, including the award-winning play "Es & Flo", her guest appearance in "Vera" and a brand new feature film she shot in French! We then go back in time and discuss growing up with her very famous Dad and her own journey into the industry. All this builds up nicely to Part 2, where Liz discusses The Bill for the first time in 30 years and reveals just what happened to Sun Hill's YAC Sergeant...

With huge thanks to Lin from Scott Marshall Partners for her help in setting up this interview.

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

PRE-ORDER NOW - REACHING A VERDICT: VOL. 3

When Thames Television lost its franchise in 1992, "The Bill" was the only programme to avoid cancellation. For Michael Chapman and his team, their survival came with a new challenge: producing a continuous series to be broadcast three times a week, a first for any police procedural television drama.

The third edition of REACHING A VERDICT investigates how the writers, actors and production team rose to the challenge, creating some of the most memorable episodes of all time and pulling in their highest ever ratings.

Edward Kellett is back on the beat to explore how "The Bill" adapted to losing some of its most iconic officers, and examine the key storylines, themes and characters at the heart of 311 episodes packed with action, comedy, drama and tragedy.

REACHING A VERDICT: REVIEWING THE BILL (1993-1994) is available to pre-order now for £13.99 (RRP £16.99) and will be released in November 2024.

Legendary Sun Hill scribe Mark Holloway shares what a female police Sergeant told him when he went to research at his local police station.

Mark has kindly recorded FIVE commentaries for #TheBillPodcast Patreon channel, covering his episodes "Acting Detective", "Push", "Dancers", "Final Drive" and "Twanky"

Unlock those and over 100 more cast & crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

"It got on with the job!" - Bestselling novelist and highly experienced scriptwriter Douglas Watkinson joined #TheBill ranks for two memorable episodes in 1988. In this clip, he discusses why he preferred the half-hour era...

Enjoy over 110 cast & crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

One of the longest serving #TheBill writers Isabelle Grey joins #ReachingAVerdict author Edward Kellett as he makes his presenting debut on #TheBillPodcast

In this clip, Isabelle recalls how police advisor Malcolm Haddow inspired her powerful 1998 story "Villain".

Watch 110 cast & crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

Before he created #Endeavour the mighty Russell Lewis cut his scriptwriting teeth on #TheBill having first played P.C. Banks in 1988!

Russell has recorded multiple episode commentaries for #TheBillPodcast Patreon channel and his insights are breathtaking.

Enjoy 110 cast & crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

Acclaimed playwright and scriptwriter Garry Lyons has recorded video commentaries for all four of his #TheBill stories, where in each he is reunited with a member of the cast.

In this clip he recalls how he was asked to write #SpeakingFreely especially for the phenomenal #BarbaraThorn to highlight the machismo culture that female police officers like Inspector Frazer were facing in the Metropolitan Police at that time.

Watch the full interview, along with 110 more cast and crew commentaries, on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

What happens when an off-duty police officer is offered drugs at a party? Best-selling novelist and scriptwriter Candy Denman explored this scenario in #BlowingItAllAway starring Suzanne Maddock as Cass Rickman.

Watch 110 cast & crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting

Please note: a video version of this podcast is available to watch for free on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/posts/future-of-bill-109785528

In this hour-long special, Oliver introduces the new presenting family, who each reveal their first special guest interviewees.

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

This edition of The Bill Podcast is dedicated to our friend, executive producer and long-time supporter Tom Sherrington. Rest in peace mate.

Natalie Roles narrates this promo for our friend and sponsor George Fairbrother's latest novel "Lost in Solway"

Solway is a tough industrial city somewhere on England's North Sea coast. The Great Depression laid waste to its proud engineering and shipbuilding heritage, creating poverty on a Dickensian scale, but the onset of World War Two offered the dying city a lifeline; moribund industry was resurrected for the war effort and thousands went back to work.

But now the city faces a new threat, this time from above; docks, factories and military installations are prime targets for German bombers, turning long winter nights into hours of relentless, soul-destroying terror.

Movie-obsessed Sylvia Bullock and easy-going Sidney Williams grew up together in the working-class terraced streets around Old Forge Lane. As young adults, they are now on the frontline, working the late shift on the buses, and facing dangers as real and immediate as many of their friends and family fighting overseas.

One foggy night in the bleak January of 1943, with storm clouds and enemy bombers in the skies above them, life-and-death decisions confront many of Solway’s home front heroes and villains. That night, Sylvia and Sidney are brutally propelled into a strange and incomprehensible world, easily as terrifying and uncertain as the one they had left behind.

"...The tale spans two different centuries, characterized by distinct circumstances. The author vividly describes every scenario and builds all the characters brilliantly. It is a story that every ardent fan of historical fiction will enjoy. You will get as close as you can to a community adapting to times packed with uncertainty and stress due to war; from bomb shelters to nightmares visiting war veterans and black marketeers..." (Online Book Club)

"...This was a great read especially if you could relate to the era and location. The descriptions were spot on. I liked the author’s style and enjoyed reliving the history, albeit it depressing. I purchased the e-book and because it was so good went and purchased the paperback for my library..." (Goodreads)

Order from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Solway-George-Fairbrother-ebook/dp/B09B73X68Q

Find out more:

https://www.georgefairbrother.com/lost-in-solway

Legendary crime fiction author Paul Finch shares his memories of writing Mickey Webb's debut #TheBill story #ProtectAndSurvive inspired by his own experiences as a former police officer!

Listen to the full interview, along with 110 more cast and crew commentaries on patreon.com/thebillpodcast

#JoinTheInvestigation #WednesdayWriting