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Season guide

The Bill: Series 3

12 episodes Premiered Sep 21, 1987 Updated Sep 28, 2026

The third series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of twelve episodes, broadcast between 21 September and 7 December 1987. The series was first released on DVD as part of a three-season box set on 10 May 2006 in Australia. It was later made available as a separate season in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2007 and in Australia on 3 August 2011. The above DVD artwork is taken from the most recent Austral

Previously on The Bill

Season 3 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 2.
  • ⚡ 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 third series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of twelve episodes, broadcast between 21 September and 7 December 1987. The series was first released on DVD as part of a three-season box set on 10 May 2006 in Australia. It was later made available as a separate season in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2007 and in Australia on 3 August 2011. The above DVD artwork is taken from the most recent Australian release. It features an image of Ch. Supt. Charles Brownlow. The British artwork features a collage image featuring DI Roy Galloway, PCs Nick Shaw and Viv Martella, and DC Mike Dashwood. The image right is the Australian three-season DVD box set features a sole image of chief superintendent Charles Brownlow.

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Season 3 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 3 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 3: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

25%
75%
Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (9): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S3·E1 Mytharc

The New Order of Things

Sep 21, 1987

Sgts. Peters and Penny apprehend a man standing outside the station waiting to attack P.C. Muswell (who had left the force six months previously). P.C. Jim Carver begins his CID tr

S3·E2 Core

Some You Win, Some You Lose

Sep 28, 1987

Ch. Supt. Brownlow and D.I. Galloway lead a massive raid on a drug den on a local council estate which escalates into a full-blown riot, but half a million pounds worth of crack co

S3·E3 Core

Brownie Points

Oct 5, 1987

P.C. Reg Hollis has been nominated for the position of the station's Federation Rep. He's sure he's a shoo-in, but P.C. Shaw tells him W.P.C. Ackland has applied as well. A D.A.C.

S3·E4 Core

Missing, Presumed Dead

Oct 12, 1987

There's been a shooting, but none of the neighbours seem to have witnessed anything. While chasing a possible suspect, Sgt. Bob Cryer hits a pedestrian. During door to door inquiri

S3·E5 Core

Domestics

Oct 19, 1987

Residents take action against a women's refuge in their area, while P.C. Yorkie Smith gives advice to the husband of a woman at the refuge. As D.I. Galloway gets tough with his det

S3·E6 Core

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Oct 26, 1987

A boy causes a bus accident by throwing a milk bottle at it. He has 6 siblings. P.C.Frank marks bikes for children. A bike with the wrong postcode is stolen. Shaw has a car a

S3·E7 Core

Blind Alleys, Clogged Roads

Nov 2, 1987

P.C. Jim Carver is sent to the morgue to investigate a suspiscious drowning. The victim has clearly been planted with several items such as theatre tickets, badly-fitting clothes a

S3·E8 Core

Double Trouble

Nov 9, 1987

D.I. Galloway wants eight men for an identity parade after an attack on a woman. They run into a mob of football supporters who are ""persuaded"" to help them out. P.C. Melvin help

S3·E9 Core

Sun Hill Karma

Nov 16, 1987

Martella applies for a position in the Bermuda police force, but after being punched during a fight, and failing to prevent a suicide jumper, she feels she is not up to the job and

S3·E10 Core

Skipper

Nov 23, 1987

W.P.C. June Ackland's father is dying in hospital. P.C. Taffy Edwards is given traffic duty after arriving late for parade. P.C. Jim Carver gets beaten up in a bus queue. Sgt. Crye

S3·E11 Mytharc

Overnight Stay

Nov 30, 1987

Half the relief, including CID, are at a hotel guarding a sequestered jury in a gangland murder trial. There are several attempts to spook the jury over the course of the night. D.

S3·E12 Mytharc

Not Without Cause

Dec 7, 1987

Sgt. Penny is asked by a landlord to talk to a lady on the top floor who is keeping cats. He is shot through the door after finding out his radio doesn't work. When Penny doesn't r

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