The Bill: Series 25
The 25th series of The Bill, a British television drama, was the penultimate series of the programme. This series saw the show transition to a post-watershed time slot of 9pm, dropping from two episodes to one week-by-week as ITV aimed to save up to £65 million. Producers used the post-watershed slot to introduce "darker, more gritty" storylines. DI Samantha Nixon left prior to the transition, after seven years on th
Season 25 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Bill Season 24.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
The 25th series of The Bill, a British television drama, was the penultimate series of the programme. This series saw the show transition to a post-watershed time slot of 9pm, dropping from two episodes to one week-by-week as ITV aimed to save up to £65 million. Producers used the post-watershed slot to introduce "darker, more gritty" storylines. DI Samantha Nixon left prior to the transition, after seven years on the show, in a special two-parter storyline that included a cameo appearance by her daughter Abigail , who was a recurring character on the show from 2002 to 2005. A six-part storyline came as part of the end of the twice-weekly episodes, Conviction, that concluded with four cast members leaving, including Superintendent John Heaton DCI Jack Meadows was promoted into the role. The four characters were part of seven who left as part of the revamp, however the axing of PC Tony Stamp after 22 years on the show proved controversial.
Episode Guide
Season 25 Progress Shield
The Morning After
Jan 1, 2009
After having been seen arguing with her boyfriend in an alleyway a young woman is found badly beaten up. When the team look into the case they find her personal life very complex a
Little Girl Lost: Part I
Jan 7, 2009
After a night out a couple return home to find their daughter missing and the story offered by the nanny ends up being unreliable.
Little Girl Lost: Part II
Jan 8, 2009
The baby girl's body is found and the nanny's boyfriend look like the guilty party. After being questioned though Sam and Jacob find themselves with a new suspect.
Teenage Kicks: Part I
Jan 15, 2009
After a teenager is found dead following house party the main suspects are soon revealed to be a couple of his class mates.
Teenage Kicks: Part II
Jan 21, 2009
Heaton hold a press conference as he attempts to get a confession out of the prime suspects in the case. When the truth is finally revealed Heaton is shocked.
Feet Of Clay: Part I
Jan 22, 2009
A body of a murdered woman is found in a park. It is soon discovered that the body belongs to a woman who has been missing since 1988 and her family are informed. Heaton seems the
Feet Of Clay: Part II
Jan 28, 2009
With CID hitting a brick wall in the investigation to the death of Susan Clark, Heaton interviews jailed murderer Ian Ellis. When another missing person is revealed, Heaton arrests
Feet Of Clay: Part III
Jan 29, 2009
Ian Ellis is rushed to hospital following a suicide attempt in his cell, and things only go worse for Heaton when Banksy discovers Ellis was in custody when the third victim went m
One Year On
Feb 5, 2009
Smithy finds a taxi driver beaten up and his takings missing. An Oyster Card belonging to Ellie Gladstone is found nearby and she is questioned about the attack. As the case develo
Bleeding Hearts
Feb 12, 2009
Nate and Ben investigate a break in at the home of Jill Bentley and learn that that her teenage daughter, Sarah, was home alone. Ben discovers that Sarah was holding a party at the
Broken Hearts
Feb 19, 2009
Maria Joseph visits Nate at work to return the handcuffs he left at her house after they spent the night together. He is not happy though when he finds out that she tends to Aisha
Righteous Kill: Part I
Feb 25, 2009
PCs Millie Brown and Mel Ryder come across a group of Polish teens hassling a burger seller whilst out on patrol. Pawel is arrested and DS Max Carter interrogates him and finds out
Righteous Kill: Part II
Mar 4, 2009
CID's raid goes pear shaped after the disappearance of Marek Jankowski, and the shooting of informant Cezar Sobiesneki. Cezar's niece, Marek's sister in law Julie, accompanies him
Bail Me Out
Mar 5, 2009
As Carter, Dasari and Banks are trying to catch a drug dealer his accomplice injures a young woman as he tries to escape. The team are determined to find out his identity.
Matters Of The Mind
Mar 11, 2009
Sally and Ben investigate a theft at a local social club. Magician Drake Danvers' gambling problems make him a prime suspect. When his girfriend is attacked, Drake admits that he i
Leap Of Faith: Part I
Mar 12, 2009
Some drugs are found at a local boxing club following an attempted suicide. The police have a hard time getting the truth out of anyone at the club. Beth and Terry finally come to
Leap Of Faith: Part II
Mar 18, 2009
Beth and Nate discover a woman lying unconscious at the bottom of her stairs after they are called out to a domestic incident. It is revealed she is married to the owner of the box
Decision Time
Mar 19, 2009
Art Minshull is found unconscious injured in a layby. Smithy thinks the lorry he was driving has been hijacked for the cigarettes it was carrying. CTV footage shows Art and woman a
On The Money
Mar 25, 2009
After Callum and Leon investigate a burglary they are called to say the missing goods have been returned. Connor Deegan admits his guilt and when his flat is searched by the police
Deal Me Out
Mar 26, 2009
Sally and Millie attend a domestic disturbance at a house. Larry is throwing his girlfriend out who is a former drug addict as he believes she is using drugs again. When Larry's da
Got You Wrong
Apr 2, 2009
Sgt Stone, called to the scene of a reported theft, realises that the suspect is the victim of domestic violence. She alerts Stone to a meeting between her husband and his criminal
Back To School
Apr 8, 2009
Nate Roberts is assigned as the Safer Schools Officer at Deansgate School after investigating a case of arson there. When he and Smithy investigate a fight in a local park, Smithy
Learning Curve
Apr 9, 2009
Nate has to investigate drugs being taken at Deansgate School after a pupil is taken to hospital after taking ecstasy. Everything is not as it seems though as he investigates the c
Peer Pressure
Apr 15, 2009
When Rhys Tanner's home is broken into Nate investigates. Nate discovers that two school pupils could be involved and investigates further.
Growing Pains
Apr 16, 2009
Nate has to break up a fight between two parents at the school. Nate later finds out that one of them has become slandered in a rape case. After he is beaten up CID investigate and
Class Action
Apr 22, 2009
Nate and Mel investigate a burglary in a class at the school which leads on to a whole another case.
School's Out
Apr 23, 2009
School pupil Kim Patterson gives Nate some surprising information. Nate discovers that her father was involved in the theft of Becky's computer. Becky tells Nate the reasons why sh
Old Habits
Apr 30, 2009
Former Sun Hill PC Diane Noble, now a Sergeant, joins Sun Hill for a night before joining her new post at Barton Street. She and Smithy lead the troops to a rooftop party at a buil
Forensic Evidence
May 7, 2009
Leon and Roger find Tommy Mackenzie and his wounded father when thay attend a call out.A friend of Tommy's mother fits the description that has been given but their ends up being m
Smash & Grab: Part I
May 14, 2009
Gayle, Armstrong and Smith attend an armed robbery at a toy shop, with the manager shot during the raid, but a pursuit fails to prevent an escape. Carter takes charge of the invest
Smash & Grab: Part II
May 21, 2009
Brown and the sister of a suspect in an armed robbery investigation are taken captive by armed drug addicts. Carter, convinced he knows who is behind both the robbery and the kidna
Full Throttle
Jun 3, 2009
Sun Hill officers investigate an armed robbery at a jewellers and are shocked to discover the true identity of the criminal.
Blame Game
Jun 4, 2009
Grace becomes concerned when Stevie completely loses her temper with Barry when questioning him.
Down South
Jun 11, 2009
Schoolgirl Lily Walmsley goes missing and CCTV footage shows her getting into a car with a man. Rebecca her friend tells the police that she has not been happy recently and that Li
To Die For: Part I
Jun 17, 2009
A restaurant is put under surveillance as it hardly has any customers but its owner Maloud Senac has been putting large deposits into his bank account. An informant tells Stevie th
To Die For: Part II
Jun 18, 2009
When Daniel Pfeiffer is questioned he ends up admitting that he and Salma Senac are in a relationship. He insists that is was his brother Gary who was involved in the drug deal wit
Prodigal Son: Part I
Jun 24, 2009
Petal Ford is knocked out just outside a known drugs den. When Leon attends the crime scene a man trying to help her runs off. After Mickey questions her he is not convinced she is
Prodigal Son: Part II
Jun 25, 2009
Jack thinks that his son has lied to him following the failed drugs bust. After talking to Sennett in hospital though he finds out that Ben actually tried to help the police. Petal
Cover Up
Jul 1, 2009
After Smithy tries to break up a fight outside a bar he discovers Andy Brennan has badly beaten up. Sergeant Stone investigates a break in at Oliver Robinson's home where a valuabl
To The Limit
Jul 2, 2009
The team discover just how many enemies Jason had following the fire at the bar. It is revealed that Jason and his father are slum landlords, forgers and drug dealers and that Jaso
Breaking Point
Jul 8, 2009
Smithy and Ben come across a lorry shipping Afghan immigrants whilst they are out on patrol. DC Stevie Smith finds out that the translator at the station asked a young girl to lie
Walk The Line
Jul 9, 2009
Stevie and Jason are in hospital following the riot. Smithy feels bad about attacking Jason and Stone advises him to say nothing about what he has done. Khaled who is going out wit
Riot City
Jul 15, 2009
Callum and Smithy end up in a fight when they attend a training session. Allegations are made against Smithy by Jason Devlin who claims he set him up. Rachel learns from Heaton tha
Judgement Day
Jul 16, 2009
Ara Byat calls to say that her niece has disappeared on the morning of the court case. It looks like the Devlin family have kidnapped her to stop Khaled Hasiq from testifying. Smit
Live By The Sword
Jul 23, 2009
Danny Sissoulu ia discovered by Callum and Ben badly beaten unconscious and his brother Kip and friend Mo covered in blood. When Callum confronts Ollie Readshaw who is acting suspi
Die By The Sword
Jul 24, 2009
When Danny Sissoulu dies the team now have to deal with a murder enquiry. After Craig Middleton becomes the number one suspect he is brought in for questioning. He insists that he
Cry Wolf
Jul 30, 2009
Macey, Mickey and Banksy question a girl about an alleged rape and find out that the attack actually took place two years. The team watch a video tape and her step father is disgus
Absolute Power
Aug 6, 2009
Joel Fuller is arrested after attacking a man in a pub. After his wife is questioned she admits that Joel has just found out that she is having an affair with her boss, Dave. When
Psychiatric Help
Aug 13, 2009
After a child is found abandoned in a market, all he will say is that somebody called Clara is dead. After his mother is traced it turns out that Clara is his nanny. Clara is disco
Reaching Out
Aug 20, 2009
Neil be lives that somebody has a vendetta against Julia Bickham. After Jared Miles innocence is proved, he identifies a man he saw with Thomas Sands called Stephen Fairfax. Neil l
Lost Soul
Aug 27, 2009
An emergency call is made informing the police that a newsagent called O'Halloran has been murdered. Banksy discovers that the call came from Joseph Sissoulu's mobile. Finger print
Powerless
Sep 3, 2009
Neil and Max investigate after Ashley Simmons is found shot dead. After her mother's boyfriend's car was seen near the scene of the crime he becomes the prime suspect. The forensic
Innocence Betrayed
Sep 10, 2009
Paul Brewer is questioned by Carter and Masters after indecent images of a young girl are found on his computer following a raid. Paul names paedophile George Fielding as being res
Trust Me
Sep 17, 2009
When Jo and Max raid the house of Jimmy Mack they fail to find his drugs consignment or his girlfriend, Rochelle who has gone missing. Sally and Roger go to the house of former pro
Backlash
Sep 24, 2009
Fran Morris is assaulted and her 12-year-old Noah goes missing. The primary focus is to first find Noah when his t-shirt is found with blood on it. When he is found, he bonds well
Long Gone
Oct 1, 2009
Mel meets a youth called David Jarvis who claims he has been imprisoned and abused five years by a man called Gareth. David's sister is unable to verify who he says he is. When Gar
Fall Out
Oct 8, 2009
After an 8 year old boy is reported as missing, his mother tells the police that she and her husband are going through a bad divorce. Phil isn't happy when he is questioned like he
In The Know
Oct 15, 2009
The police discover that Mark Wilson is making Ria, who is dating his brother, bring a phone into prison for him. The police want to bug the phone. Ria is attacked at the prison by
That's Love For You
Oct 22, 2009
Leon and Nate are asked for help from Lily Wright after her car is stolen with her baby daughter Chelsea inside. Inspector Smith has to break the news to Lily and to Chelsea's fath
Show Of Force
Oct 29, 2009
Smithy leads a raid on a housing estate which has a lot criminal activity. The main objective of the raid is to get drugs dealer Dave Clayton but when he is caught he has no drugs
Rescue Me
Nov 5, 2009
A shocked Leon finds Lily's 18-month-old baby Chelsea unconscious after he responds to a call. Leon thinks that Lily is lying when she says the baby fell out of her high chair and
Twist Of Fate
Dec 10, 2009
Guest starring Ian Kelsey as Brendan Newlyn. DC Grace Dasari re-opens the investigation into an old missing person case when the sister of the woman involved holds a man at kni
Unforgiven
Dec 17, 2009
Banks and Webb look into the disappearance of teenager Saskia, whose father Eamonn is about to be released from jail. They soon learn that Saskia was seeing the son of man her fath
Invisible Man
Dec 22, 2009
When a tramp is found dead in a local river, Mickey goes undercover as a homeless man.
On The Streets
Dec 29, 2009
Mickey is rescued from a beating by Nicola McKenzie, a homeless girl after he spends a night on the streets. Max and Banksy find out more about Greg and discover that he is Greg Si