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The Bill on the road to ruin


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Old 08-10-2004, 09:48
Jay-H
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I'm fearing for the Bill now. Ratings are slumping and the storylines are becoming really sensational. Plus the Chimp, aka Gabriel Kent is still here, which doesn't help. The scheduling by ITV has been absolutely abysmal.

Recently the Bill was recommissioned till 2012, but if PM doesn't sort it out it will struggle to regain viewers.

Incest, child molestation, undercover journalists, gay weddings - all ridiculous storylines.

There have been some fantastic episodes, with Kerry undercover with the Radfords making for gripping TV. Another storyline that sticks out is the one with Ken Drummond and the gangsters which ended in the shooting.

However, they are starting to rely too much on far-fetched storylines such as the Serial Sniper storyline etc. Its becoming far too scattered and it keeps lulling into boring patches then suddenly we have a huge, gripping storyline. It's very inconsistant.

ITV have been moving it to 8.30 on Wednesday or removing the episode completely which is a stupid thing to do as it confuses viewers and as a result 2 million people have switched off.

What can ITV and PM do to resurrect the Bill now?
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Old 08-10-2004, 09:51
alan45
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PM should do the decent thing and resign- he would be well suited to working on Deadenders. And he could reprise the character of Mark FOULER (sic)
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Old 08-10-2004, 09:53
Jay-H
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Yea but alan, you're a huge fan of the Bill, if you were to take his place, what exactly would you do?
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Old 08-10-2004, 10:14
XxBrodyxX
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get rid of the chimp
redeem jim
finnish abi nixon storyline & sniper storyline
concentrate more on smaller more realistic, exiting storylines with more action, less taking n messing around!
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Old 08-10-2004, 10:44
Jay-H
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I'd definetely helf more self contained stories.

I had a genius idea once. The Bill airs twice a week, so each week is a two part special, dealing with a different crime every week!

There's scope for cliffhangers etc
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Old 08-10-2004, 10:55
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I miss the complete episodes.Since it has become a mainline soap it is not worth watching unless you are following a particular storyline.
Imho that accounts for a drop in viewing figures and I don't think it would be too hard to have a complete storyline for the occasional viewer.
Changing schedule times/days doesn't help either.
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Old 08-10-2004, 11:54
CPFC
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Originally Posted by itsjay
I'd definetely helf more self contained stories.

I had a genius idea once. The Bill airs twice a week, so each week is a two part special, dealing with a different crime every week!

There's scope for cliffhangers etc
But then that would make it a bog-standard crime drama, the type of which ITV are crammed full of at the moment.

I like the route the Bill has gone down personally - I got hooked at the beginning of the Cathy Bradford storyline, and the serial killer/ Tom Chandler plotlines were also pretty gripping as well.

But a gay wedding? Hmm.....
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Old 08-10-2004, 11:56
bobovil
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Yep, I would have it a lot more self contained so there is something new to offer viewers who didn't tune in the previous week.

And I would definately limit the sensationalism, as it can only be so long before the viewers think its too ridiculous and switch off.
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Old 08-10-2004, 12:49
Jay-H
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Originally Posted by CPFC
But then that would make it a bog-standard crime drama, the type of which ITV are crammed full of at the moment
If they still had the storylines with the characters each week, it would all weave together. Just with a brand new case each week, I think it would work well.
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Old 08-10-2004, 12:59
Hutchie
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Is this New Bill vs Old Bill ... hmmm all the new Bill needs is some clever story writing like the Old Bill used to have - keep the rest the same - but bring back the twists and turns - confuse the viewers with the storylines not with the overall stories!
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Old 08-10-2004, 13:02
Jay-H
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It needs a revamp.
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Old 08-10-2004, 13:28
Huch'net
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:yawn: ??? :yawn:
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Old 08-10-2004, 13:31
alan45
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Originally Posted by Phat Avenger
Why bother phat
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Old 08-10-2004, 13:40
Jay-H
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Originally Posted by Phat Avenger
PMSL! Difference is, cretin, The Bill has been up and down for a long time and I backed my points up with facts.

Unlike something pathetic such as 'The Bill is crap now, I don't see it lasting the year.'
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Old 08-10-2004, 15:07
kimindex
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What or who is the chimp!?
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Old 08-10-2004, 15:09
alan45
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David K*nt aka Gabriel K*nt as played by Todd Crappy
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Old 09-10-2004, 13:15
Jay-H
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Yes ahem alan. didn't those drugs do any good?
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:30
brooksider
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well if don't like it give on it , channel 4 have a police drama coming soon CALLED THE GHOST SQUAD FOR TUESDAY AT 10PM MADE BY THE MAKER OF SHAMELESS IT WILL OLD BILL BUT gripping as late night with all action no sensasionalism and soap stories.
paul marquess was the one who ruined brookside when he turned up after a few months ratings went for a resonable 5 million to a ll time low of 1.5 million resulting in to regular slot changes from saturday omnibus to late night.

and now hes ruing the bill gone are the decent character and in its place its only getting soap storylines where only soap fans will tune in.

can anyone tell me what the rating are at current/keep updated each time it drops?

sorry about capitial letters i didnt notice till finishing this post and can't be bothered to re write it.
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:31
brooksider
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does get in the 10 for ratings any more?
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:33
Jay-H
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The Ghost Squad? When's it coming?

Will it be continuous?
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:34
Jay-H
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The Bill is getting around 5-6 million per episode now.
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:34
brooksider
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its needs tlc? some good storylines, some police officers actualy solving crimes . the way its going give one weekly episode to soap storylines then the other to police work and label it the old bill and see which one works better.
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:35
Jay-H
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Wait.

Is the Ghost Squad going to be on all year round, or is it a one off series?
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:39
KittyLitter
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Im enjoying The Bill at the moment. True, it could do with a few tweaks here and there and there shouldnt be so much "lurrrrrve interest" between the characters but its not so bad.
They need to give Rob from CID and Gabriel Kent a really slow, agonising death each and ITV need to stop pissing about with the days/times the programme is shown.
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Old 09-10-2004, 16:39
brooksider
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im not sure a read it a while back ill find out
its 5-6 milion i think it need to get around 8 milion in a slot like it has
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