Review: Time Bomb

So what happens when my TV reviewer calls in sick? I swap previews for reviews and write the column myself... about The Bill naturally.


ON THE BOX
with Liam Rudden

The Bill (ITV3, 11pm, last night)

WOODENTOP – the clue is in the title of the pilot episode.
When The Bill first hit TV screens, way back in 1983, it was called Woodentop. The action revolved around a old-fashioned Dixon of Dock Green-type duty sergeant, as he guided and shaped a relief of young uniformed coppers. Upstairs meanwhile, the ‘superstars’ (CID) solved the big crimes.

In the years since, however, it has been the exploits of Sun Hill’s Criminal Investigation Department that have, more and more, come to the fore. In fact, at one stage, sightings of a PC with more than the odd line to say – “Hello, hello, hello” – were few and far between.

That said, when the drama was re-launched last year (and returned to a post watershed time-slot) it soon began to rediscover its gritty street-based roots. With a series of storylines driven by the uniformed characters the emphasis has reverted to the ‘beat bobbies,’ and never more so than in the last month.

Time Bomb, last night’s episode provided the perfect example of this new-old approach, as viewers tuned to ITV3 are sure to have noticed – ever since STV opted to play the tartan shortbread card in favour of award-winning network drama Scottish fans of The Bill have been able to play catch up on ITV3 every Monday at 11pm.

The episode found Sergeant Stone, played with a calm, brooding menace by Sam Callis, tackling a letter bomb sent to the offices of a high profile company.

Addressed to the manager, the delivery of the explosive package set off 50 minutes of drama with more twists, turns and red herrings than an entire series of Taggart.
Callis, fast becoming the Mr Angry of Sun Hill, and newly promoted Sgt Jo Masters, played by Sally Rogers, now provide an combustible chemistry which is tantalisingly hinting at things to come.

With some of the sharpest dialogue – laconic gallows banter and quirky one-line throwaways – in a long time, add spectacular panoramic camera angles that capture the London skyline in all its sprawling glory, The Bill is now state-of the-art TV drama, every bit as thrilling as any imported crime drama.