The Bill - AXED

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 11:26

Just announced the Bill has been axed by ITV

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/26/the-bill-itv

jonmorris · 26/03/10 - 11:30

ozchef wrote: »

Just announced the Bill has been axed by ITV

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/26/the-bill-itv

When it started with 1 hour standalone episodes, I loved it. Half hourly with on-going story lines was okay, but eventually they must have run out of ideas.

The relaunch was laughable. As bad as what BBC did with Casualty.

Now I don't know anyone that watches either.

Did viewers stop watching because they got bored, or did they stop because ITV absolutely ruined it?

Surely there's scope for it to come back though - or as one off episodes as before? I mean, in a few years, people who did enjoy it but got bored may be interested again.

It would make more sense for it to simply take a break for a bit, or change format and go weekly or as ordinary 'seasons'.

chimpo · 26/03/10 - 11:43

Just read this at http://www.celebritain.co.uk - cant believe its been on for 27 years.

I actually started watching it recently and quite like it. They've messed around with the format though - was better when it was 30 minutes. I agree, they "did a casualty" with it, and ruined it.

chimpo · 26/03/10 - 11:47

Five should by it and sort it out. Could be great. Should be great.

Charles I · 26/03/10 - 11:47

...I wasn't even aware it was still on

jonjons · 26/03/10 - 11:57

It use to be brilliant and focused on all aspect of the police force...
now it seems to focus on one bit

Jack meadows should not be super as he always has been DCI

but it went very different it needed to go back to 8pm and normal

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 11:57

They should have axed it before the most recent revamp, which was never going to work. The Bill was great in its day but its a programme which probably should have ended when the 1990s did. It never seemed to fit in with the new millenium, for some reason.

ftv · 26/03/10 - 12:01

Another classic example of a revamp getting it hopelessly wrong - the person responsible at ITV HQ should be fired:mad:

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 12:08

Where do ex-Eastenders stars go to work now?

Great opportunity for the BBC to bring back Juliet Bravo...

jonmorris · 26/03/10 - 12:09

dubsj wrote: »

Where do ex-Eastenders stars go to work now?

Erm, EastEnders... after being unemployed for a few years!

James2001 · 26/03/10 - 12:18

Thank god for that. One of my favourite programmes totally ruined by a revamp that no-one asked for and wasn't needed. If they'd left the show alone when they moved it to 9PM, we probably wouldn't be hearing this news right now.

kegsie · 26/03/10 - 12:21

The revamp was the final nail in a coffin that they started making by recruiting every soap reject possible.

In it's heyday it was unmissable. Now it is unwatchable.

Tabbythecat · 26/03/10 - 12:24

dubsj wrote: »

Where do ex-Eastenders stars go to work now?

Great opportunity for the BBC to bring back Juliet Bravo...

Yes the programme did become a vehicle for old soap & pop stars

boksbox · 26/03/10 - 12:25

jonmorris wrote: »

Erm, EastEnders... after being unemployed for a few years!

You mean 'after exploring other projects'

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 12:32

kegsie wrote: »

The revamp was the final nail in a coffin that they started making by recruiting every soap reject possible.

In it's heyday it was unmissable. Now it is unwatchable.

One of the major nails in the coffin had to be when they cast Louisa Lytton as a police officer. She looked like a school kid playing fancy dress. It was so ridiculous it wasn't even laughable. It was just stupid.

Servalan · 26/03/10 - 12:32

ftv wrote: »

Another classic example of a revamp getting it hopelessly wrong - the person responsible at ITV HQ should be fired:mad:

The person responsible at ITV HQ is, unfortunately, walking round claiming that ITV drama is on the up because of a couple of successful three-parters. :rolleyes:

The revamp didn't work because ITV did not give The Bill team ample time to make the changes ITV wanted, with the consequence that episodes originally intended for the 8pm slot were repackaged with new credits but without the new post-watershed stories viewers were promised.

When the new stories devised for the revamp actually hit the screen, it was too late: audiences had switched off because they hadn't been given what they expected.

I feel sorry for the cast and crew in Merton, all of whom work very hard to make the show good. And when it is on form, it is still good. But it's too late now.

The only thing that surprises me about this is ITV's willingness to piss off the company that co-produces its biggest shows (BGT, TXF). Especially when budgets are still being fought over ...

unknown17 · 26/03/10 - 12:35

dubsj wrote: »

Where do ex-Eastenders stars go to work now?

Great opportunity for the BBC to bring back Juliet Bravo...

Check Gala TV (Live Bingo Channel) most nights. You'll see a familiar face.

The should never have changed it as it was fine the way it was.

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 12:37

More info, sounds like staff only found out this morning

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/03/26/the-bill-is-axed-by-itv-after-26-years-115875-22140213/

GeorgeS · 26/03/10 - 12:38

dubsj wrote: »

Where do ex-Eastenders stars go to work now?

Panto:p

nate1970 · 26/03/10 - 12:52

I'm currently watching the DVDs of the first 3 series - fantastic stuff, it holds up incredibly well. Last time I watched it on TV was probably early 2000s, and it was just another soap opera then, christ knows how bad it actually got.

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 12:54

Oh

I loved it.

GaryB · 26/03/10 - 12:56

The revamp, with the nasty fake film effect and the ridiculous OTT music was the final nail in the coffin for this once great programme.

welwynrose · 26/03/10 - 12:58

about time to - long past it's sell by date

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 13:04

They must have found out today as Alex (smithy) was on This Morning yesterday about about the drain episode and how he likes working there etc. so it must have come as a shock this morning.

Well it makes space for another reality tv show with Simon Cowell.

jonmorris · 26/03/10 - 13:07

boksbox wrote: »

You mean 'after exploring other projects'

Exactly!

[Deleted User] · 26/03/10 - 13:08

I used to love it was my favourite program but haven't watched for a while since before the revamp. I caught an episode the other day on itv3 and it looked terrible didn't actually seem like it was The Bill at all more like a second rate CSI or something.

I'll still enjoy older episodes on youtube though from back when it was good.

It's a shame it's been axed though.

Hey there!

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