On The Streets

The rest of us might have had a Happy Christmas (Season's Greetings to one and all) but part two of The Bill's festive offering just gets darker and darker - and I love it. In Scotland? Don't miss the repeat on Monday at 11pm on ITV3.



THE BILL
On The Streets - Episode 022
Tuesday 29 2009, 21.00 to 22.00, ITV1
*Guest starring Ralph Ineson as Greg Simm*

Having spent the night on the streets, D.C Mickey Webb (Chris Simmons) is kicked awake by an aggressive street cleaner. Just as the cleaner is about to deliver a good kicking, Nicola McKenzie (Michelle Asante), a homeless girl Mickey has befriended, comes to his rescue.

Promising to see her later, Mickey meets D.C. Jacob Banks (Patrick Robinson) who tells him Reggie Sharp (Jay Simpson) won’t reveal who the mysterious ‘Greg’ is and why the homeless community are terrified of him. Back at the station, D.S. Max Carter (Christopher Fox) and Banksy head up a briefing after discovering that solicitor Jake had been volunteering in local soup kitchens in the months leading up to his death.

They also finally learn that ‘Greg’ is Greg Simm (Ralph Ineson), a local property developer with form for fraud and deception. D.C. Jo Masters (Sally Rogers) explains that Greg wanted to develop a site near the crime scene but had problems with homeless squatters.

Banksy and Jo visit Greg at work, who seems genuinely surprised by the news of Jakes death. He admits Jake wanted to meet him to talk about using some empty properties as temporary accommodation, but Greg refused. The investigation takes yet another sinister turn when elderly homeless man Lenny Wiseman (Barry McCarthy) is found dead in an alleyway by a stunned Mickey and Nicola. Is this the work of Greg...?

Later that day when Mickey and Nicola finally stumble across Reggie, the pair tell him about Lenny and Mickey persuades Reggie and Nicola to open up. They explain that Greg was responsible for Lenny losing his home and when he kicked up a fuss, Greg sent Ryan Nelson (Simon Darwen) after him.

Jake became involved when Lenny sought legal advice from him. Mickey calls Banksy to say that Ryan is linked to Jakes murder, but when the police turn up to arrest Ryan in a busy market, Nicola spots the thug and filled with rage, goes to punch him. As a brawl ensues, Mickey pulls Nicola away and the pair run off, leaving Banksy concerned by how involved Mickey is in the case.

Banksy later realises that the evidence against Nicola is mounting when he discovers she and Jake were far closer than originally thought and were due to meet the day he was murdered.

Mickey calls Banksy to see what’s happening with the investigation and is horrified to hear that Nicola is now the prime suspect and he has to bring her in. Defensive and certain she had nothing to do with Jakes murder he hangs up, much to Max’s fury. Has Mickey put his job on the line to protect a murderer...?

THE BILL is a talkbackTHAMES production and a direct commission by ITV. This episode was written by Patrick Homes, directed by Rob Knights and produced by Ciara McIlvenny.