Conviction: Riot City

SAD night for Scottish television tonight as STV broadcast their last ever episode of The Bill.
A crazy decision, but then my views are well documented.

Got a sneak preview of the new look The Bill last night. Love the new theme, and the incidental music and the grittier feel.

Also love the camera work and use of Canary Wharf landmarks. The rest of the country are in for a treat from next Thursday.

Meanwhile, here's the press synopsis issued for last night's episode, just in case you missed it.

THE BILL
Episode 003 – Conviction: Riot City
Wednesday 15 July 2009 8.00 to 9.00pm ITV1
**Guest starring Danny Webb as Matthew Devlin**

Following the recent riot with illegal immigrants on the Westgate Estate, Inspector Rachel Weston (Claire Goose) decides that uniform need extra training, in preparation for any similar situations.

Rachel heads to the training centre where she makes Sergeants Smith (Alex Walkinshaw) and Stone (Sam Callis) team leaders. As the demanding day wears on, tensions mount between the Sergeants and when Smithy leaves Stone hanging during an exercise, Stone is given a dressing down by Rachel in front the troops, while Smithy looks on.

During a break, Smithy and Stone walk to an isolated part of the training centre where they finally confront one another, punching and fighting until they are both exhausted. Stone tells Smithy he needs to make a decision about admitting to attacking Jason Devlin (Guy Flanagan). Stone makes it clear that Smithy needs to choose between his conscience and justice: he doesn’t get both…

Back at the station, Jason has made a formal complaint about Smithy, alleging that he beat him up and planted evidence in his car. D.C.I. Jack Meadows (Simon Rouse) and D.I. Neil Manson (Andrew Lancel) work together in order to establish the truth and are devastated when a witness comes forward to say he saw Smithy attacking Jason.

However, as the witness is one of Jason’s tenant's, CID hope to establish that he has been paid to lie by the Devlin's. Jack and Neil task D.C. Stevie Moss (Lucy Speed) with asking Smithy if he wishes to change anything in his statement before it’s examined in court, much to Stevie’s discomfort. Stevie tells Smithy about the allegations that have been made, but the Sergeant tells her he didn’t touch Jason or have anything to do with the evidence found.

At the end of a long day, Superintendent Heaton (Daniel Flynn) tells Rachel that he’s particularly keen to get a good result on this case as he’s leaving to head up a specialist unit targeting human trafficking – and he wants her to go with him…

THE BILL is a talkbackTHAMES production and a direct commission by ITV. This episode was written by Maxwell Young, directed by Indra Bhose and produced by Kevin Rundle.