Steven Hartley and Mark Wingett, two stars of the long-running ITV police drama The Bill, reunited 16 years after the show was cancelled. Hartley, who played Supt Tom Chandler, shared a photo on Instagram of himself with Wingett, who portrayed DC Jim Carver, captioning it: “How nice to get a surprise visit from my old dressing-room mucker and great friend.” Fans immediately called for a reboot, with one commenting: “They need to bring The Bill Back!” and another asking: “Does this mean a Bill reunion?! Please!”
The Bill’s 27-Year Run and Sudden Cancellation
The Bill aired from 1984 to 2010, spanning 26 series and following the fictional Sun Hill Police Station in south London. It was once one of Britain’s most popular shows, attracting around six million viewers per episode. However, a format change in 2009—moving to a later 9pm slot and reducing episodes from twice to once a week—caused ratings to slump to just three million. ITV axed the show in 2010, with some cast and crew reportedly told the news while filming on set.
Fans’ Nostalgic Response and Reboot Hopes
The reunion photo sparked widespread nostalgia. A third fan wrote: “Oh I’d love it if The Bill returned.” The show, which won a BAFTA for Best Continuing Drama in 2009, also helped launch the careers of actors like Keira Knightley and Paul O’Grady, who had minor roles in the 1990s. During the 2020 UK lockdown, the show was briefly rebroadcast, reigniting calls for a new series.
Production Company’s Statement at the Time
Lorraine Heggessey, then chief executive of producer talkbackTHAMES, confirmed the cancellation, saying: “We are devastated that after 26 successful years on ITV, The Bill will be coming to an end. One of the show’s strengths has been its ability to evolve… We are incredibly proud of what the show has achieved… Regrettably, we anticipate that this may result in a significant number of redundancies.”
