The Bill: Series 7
The seventh series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 105 episodes, broadcast between 1 January – 31 December 1991. The series was released on DVD for the first time on 6 June 2012, in Australia. It features the above artwork, which features images of Sgt. Alec Peters and WDC Viv Martella. A number of The Bill Audio Commentaries for Series 7 episodes have been recorded with director Stuart Urban a
Season 7 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 6.
- 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 seventh series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 105 episodes, broadcast between 1 January – 31 December 1991. The series was released on DVD for the first time on 6 June 2012, in Australia. It features the above artwork, which features images of Sgt. Alec Peters and WDC Viv Martella.
A number of The Bill Audio Commentaries for Series 7 episodes have been recorded with director Stuart Urban and camera operator Alison Chapman, specifically for the episodes 'Cry Havoc', 'The Negotiator' and 'They Also Serve'. These are available to subscribers of The Bill Podcast Patreon Channel.
Episode Guide
Season 7 Progress Shield
Grief
Jan 1, 1991 · 22 min
Norika and George are on traffic duty. He failed to see the D.A.C. so didn't salute him. Brownlow's wife is giving grief about the roof of his summer cottage.
The Chase
Jan 3, 1991 · 22 min
A man complains about his car being trashed. Norika goes to a service station which is being held-up by men with a machete. Steve and Dave give chase. During the chase Steve co
The Attack
Jan 8, 1991 · 22 min
Cathy is on the beat and notices 2 men acting strangely. When she tries to arrest them, she is attacked. A black youth not involved tells George about it, who gives chase. Insp.
Crown V. Cooper
Jan 10, 1991 · 22 min
Loxton is going to court with Garfield. One of the witnesses is giving them a hard time. Dashwood is also there griping about missing paperwork. Garfield is worried about his no
The Girl Can't Help It
Jan 15, 1991 · 22 min
A girl is missing and Reg is moaning about his mealtime being curtailed. Dave finds an incriminating notebook that indicates the girl is on the game. When Dave goes to tell the f
Machines
Jan 17, 1991 · 22 min
Roach and Carver put pressure on a defendant who postpones his appearance in court due to illness. Lines is on the trail of photocopiers stolen from an American base.
Loophole
Jan 22, 1991 · 22 min
Brownlow gives Conway a hard time about sick figures. Young is not feeling well and June thinks it could be stress related. Loxton goes to investigate something suspicious in a s
Bottle
Jan 24, 1991 · 22 min
Sgt. Maitland thinks there is a problem with a local pub landlord of the Overton Arms as well as drinking on duty. The prisoner makes allegiations about being threatened with a sh
Samaritan
Jan 29, 1991 · 22 min
Stamp and Stringer come across a man and a woman struggling. Stamp grabs the woman who collapses. The man says he saw her wandering and went to help her and she attacked him with
Fear or Favour
Jan 31, 1991 · 22 min
Jasmine Allen Estate representatives are visiting the station. Tony and Delia walk the Estate and talk to one of the residents. They chase a drug dealer to a club and the men on
Start To Finish
Feb 5, 1991 · 22 min
Brownlow is having transport problems to get to a meeting. He helps at an accident. Tom Penny who now is security guard comes in to check an arrest Dave made of a supposedly pre
Night and Day
Feb 7, 1991 · 22 min
Tony and Barry are stopped in the street by a man who says his flat has been burgled and the burglars are still on the premises. They surprise a flat owner who is in the bathroom.
Favours
Feb 12, 1991 · 22 min
Dashwood and Roach investigate a burglary at a scrapyard. Dashwood recognises the name of an ex-copper who knows Roach and Dashwood thinks Roach is prejudiced and too helpful. Th
In Chambers
Feb 14, 1991 · 22 min
Greig gets the evidence for an arson case from the property officer and goes to a conference in chambers and parks in the wrong space. The suspect is not responsible for his actio
Kids Don't Cry Anymore
Feb 19, 1991 · 22 min
June sees a boy being bullied at a playground. On investigation she finds a lunch box with packets in it as well as a notebook with a list of names and some drawings. The list is
Too Many Chiefs
Feb 21, 1991 · 22 min
After dropping off a girl at a children's home, Dave and Cathy get called back in for a potential suicide. The girl Dave brought back in the morning seems to be the last person to
Every Mother's Son
Feb 26, 1991 · 22 min
June, Tony, Dave and Reg are doing an obbo. Dave and Reg are lost while the doctor is attacked. The doctor was called to a hoax emergency call. The lady who was supposed to have
Furthers
Feb 28, 1991 · 22 min
A man is murdered by a shotgun after talking to Dashwood. A man who has escaped from prison turns up in Dashwood's flat after he has put the safety chain on the door. A gunshot h
Closing The Net
Mar 5, 1991 · 22 min
A young girl is approached by a man in a playground. Burnside thinks that they can't do anything until a crime is committed. tosh is noticing the suspect getting bolder. Ron has
The Public Interest
Mar 7, 1991 · 22 min
A man comes in to talk to someone in authority because an ex-employee is having sex with a 15 year old. CPS has thrown out June's assault case. She is thinking of taking a priva
Photo Finish
Mar 12, 1991 · 22 min
Datta is watching a pub when a youth is seen leaving with drugs. While reading a playboy in the boy's room, Garfield finds over £200 hidden in the magazine and an acqinance of the
Just Desserts
Mar 14, 1991 · 22 min
burnside and Lines go for a lunchtime drink. Tony and George go to a building site where a self-employed tiler fell off the top floor. An eye witness says he was pushed. The vi
832 Receiving
Mar 19, 1991 · 22 min
June and Delia catch a girl who has stolen a purse. June suspects the mother of fraud. Delia goes back out and watches 3 youths interfere with a car before she is told to invest
The Better Part Of Valour
Mar 21, 1991 · 22 min
Burnside and Reed go to an accident involving a security van. Ted thinks it is an inside job. Ted finds a job application for a man with form. Tosh talks to the guard. Martell
Double Or Quits
Mar 26, 1991 · 22 min
Delia and Viv talk about a perpetual villain before they go to court. Viv's witness is having second thoughts. D.C.I. Reed gets a phone call about Viv reading previous charges in
We Could Be Heroes
Mar 28, 1991 · 22 min
Tony and Dave rush an injured woman to hospital when the ambulance is delayed after an accident. They go to see the driver of the other car. He is a sales rep who hopes to be ban
Cold Turkey (1)
Apr 2, 1991 · 22 min
Tony and Dave go to a sudden death. Monroe arrives and thinks it is a suspicious death. The man was a locum working at the doctors. Dave and Tony are called to a flat where arg
Cold Turkey (2)
Apr 4, 1991 · 22 min
Dashwood talks to one of his snouts to find out the name of the man. June talks to the man on the phone after George left a phone outside the flat. Conway negotiates for the man
Now We're Motoring
Apr 9, 1991 · 22 min
Reg helps a man tow away a car. The owner comes to complain about the towing. Reg comes across another towing. Lines talks to a man about welding his car to make the MOT. He i
Dead Man's Boots
Apr 11, 1991 · 22 min
Cryer tries to stop an elderly woman, who gave evidence as a witness in a murder trial, from being victimised on a council estate. The vacant position of duty sergeant is on offer
Caught Napping
Apr 16, 1991 · 22 min
The Metropolitan Police Serious Crimes Squad sweep into Sun Hill and commandeer the station's briefing room, setting a few noses out of joint in the process. They are there to inve
Hammer To Fall
Apr 18, 1991 · 22 min
In an attempt to end the rift between D.I. Burnside and D.S. Roach, D.C.I. Reid partners them together on a joint operation with the drugs squad.
Cry Havoc
Apr 23, 1991 · 22 min
Quinnan and Stamp go to Whitegate Estate to arrest a man involved in a glassing the night before. When Peters tries to apprehend the assailant, he is stabbed and rushed to hospital
Rules Of Engagement
Apr 25, 1991 · 22 min
Viv goes to a club. A bouncer is suspicious and when she goes outside to call in Burnside, he hits her over the back of the head. Her assailant is possibly involved with stolen p
Delivery On Time
Apr 30, 1991 · 22 min
Barry and Cathy are walking the beat when they are called to a burglary. Cathy and Barry are doing follow up calls when they are told the van is back. Jim is hungover and goes w
Black Monday
May 2, 1991 · 22 min
Tosh's car gets towed. He catches a bus and see a man who is supposed to have died 5 years ago. Burnside thinks it is a windup. After being spotted by Norika, he goes into the r
Jobs For The Boys
May 7, 1991 · 22 min
Burnside investigates a break in at a cash and carry. Jim is suspicious of the security guard. Some meat as well as cash was taken. Hollis sees an old man trying to take a packe
Without Consent
May 9, 1991 · 22 min
A prostitute comes into the station to report a rape. Loxton tells her it is classed as non-payment of goods. June has problems making people treat it as a rape.
Saints and Martyrs
May 14, 1991 · 22 min
June investigates a break in and thief of a pension book. June is told CPS won't be taking up her assault case so she brings a private summons. Brownlow, surprisingly, defends Ju
Observation
May 16, 1991 · 22 min
Reid takes over a joint surveillance operation. Burnside and Martella are asked to leave the flat they are observing from by the drunken tenet who then beats his wife. When he co
The Greater Good
May 21, 1991 · 22 min
Tosh and Jim are watching a wrecking yard. A car is seen driven into the yard stolen from a man who runs a youth centre. Tosh thinks it is an insurance fraud involving cars disap
The Best You Can Buy
May 23, 1991 · 22 min
June's case goes to court. She gives evidence as does Tony who is questioned as to being prejudiced towards the defendant as is dave. The defendant also gives evidence. The rest
Addict
May 25, 1991 · 22 min
Quinnan arrests 2 men in the underground because 1 has a knife. Sgt. Peters' wife gives him a ride to work. Brownlow, Conway and Reid have a meeting with publicans.
Black Mark
May 30, 1991 · 22 min
Dashwood talks to one of his snouts, who has been charged with stealing, on the way to court. The prisoner makes a complaint against him. Brownlow thinks it is serious enough to
The Right Thing To Do
Jun 4, 1991 · 22 min
Lines and Carver go to a club where they find drugs in the band's jackets. The manager thinks it is very funny that a paper is interviewing the band 5 minutes before they are raid
The Harder They Fall
Jun 6, 1991 · 22 min
Loxton is attacked after a break-in at a night club and helped by a cabbie who is a special constable. Loxton blacks out and can't remember the incident. One of his attackers lat
Something Personal
Jun 11, 1991 · 22 min
Dashwood and Carver are driving along when they notice a man trying to break into a house. His girlfriend has overdosed. Dashwood spots a snout who tells him she took methampheni
Hijack
Jun 13, 1991 · 22 min
Burnside talks to the driver of a lorry who was hi-jacked. Martella raids the house of the snout who complained about Dashwood. Burnside wants Dashwood to use him again as his sn
With Intent
Jun 18, 1991 · 22 min
Lines and Carver are going to court about a burglary case. CPS are reducing the charges against 2 of the defendants. Carver discovers documents are missing that are needed in cou
Initiative
Jun 20, 1991 · 22 min
George and Phil are talking to a lady about fireworks through her letterbox when they see a purse snatching. CID are working on a murder that might have occured during a street r
Careless Whispers
Jun 25, 1991 · 22 min
Burnside arrests a man on suspicion of robbery with violence. Tosh and Carver get given wrong addresses. Burnside's suspect is identified in an id parade but she tells Jim his sn
Minimum Force
Jun 27, 1991 · 22 min
Tony and George go to a burglary. The home owner caught the burglar and beat him up. The wife comes back and says the burglar was a work mate collecting some pills for her. Viv
Skeletons
Jul 2, 1991 · 22 min
WPC June Ackland finds a man stabbed in his car, and DC Lines' investigation into the incident are impeded by the victim's unhelpful wife. PC Reg Hollis and PC Tony Stamp discover
Targets
Jul 4, 1991 · 22 min
The D.A.C talks about street robberies and taking the streets. D.C.I. Reid talks about her pilot project on street robberies. Tony is at a traffic depot by a cemetery and talks
The Negotiator
Jul 9, 1991 · 22 min
Reg chases a man with a shotgun into a shop. Reg tries talking the gunman, who held up the building society. into letting the assistant go. June and George check at the man's hou
Reputations
Jul 11, 1991 · 22 min
Carver talks to his snout about a security job and gets a name for a burglary instead. Tosh had made a bet with Burnside about the burglar staying straight. A bag is found in the
The Juggler and the Fortune Teller
Jul 16, 1991 · 22 min
A court case is adjourned. Burnside and the defense council have an argument in the corridor. Viv goes back to the station to warn witnesses. The rape victim is upset. While Vi
Joey
Jul 18, 1991 · 22 min
June is watching a p.e. class at a school before talking to them about theft and robbery. Loxton chases a boy who has stolen a lady's chain. The boy appears too frightened to te
Your Shout
Jul 23, 1991 · 22 min
Cathy is spoken to by Brownlow about a promotion board. There is a possible child abduction and the mother is complaining they weren't fast enough. Cathy is feeling guilty about
Ladykiller
Jul 25, 1991 · 22 min
Martella drives to a car fire to find a lady was trapped in the car. A man who tried to get the lady out of the car saw a man watching as he arrived.
The Corporal of Horse
Jul 30, 1991 · 22 min
Cathy is acting Sgt. with C relief. She watches one of the relief drive away in an unmarked police car without wearing his tunic after Smollett pointed it out. She tries to sort
Cause and Effect
Aug 1, 1991 · 22 min
Delia and Tony discuss the merits of follow up calls. They get a call out to research labs. Loxton finds a security guard on the floor.
Getting Involved
Aug 6, 1991 · 22 min
Stamp talks to a man about paint stripper on his car - 2nd time in a month. Ron knows him. Reg and June are later called to an industrial estate where a man is damaging the car.
Benefit of the Doubt
Aug 8, 1991 · 22 min
A barrister is arrested for GBH on a prostitute. He uses his phone call to ring D.A.C. Hicks. Brownlow is concerned about wrongful arrest. Greig gives Mike some disturbing new
Crack-Up
Aug 13, 1991 · 22 min
Reg is in a pawn brokers when a man wearing a hat, scarf, and glasses leaves carrying a bike helmet leaving behind a bag with a gun in it. The shopkeeper calls CID as he thought h
The Last Laugh
Aug 15, 1991 · 22 min
Quinnan and Garfield respond to an armed robbery. Turns out to be a wind-up. There was a struggle and the informant got injured. CID thinks he is very bent. Monroe thinks the i
Access
Aug 20, 1991 · 22 min
CID investigate a burglary of an O.A.P. who has an asthma attack. Stamp talks to a lady who turned away a man supposedly from the Gas Board. Stringer and Loxton finish dealing w
Six of One
Aug 22, 1991 · 22 min
P.C. Stringer chases a girl, on foot, who has stolen goods from a jewellers but P.C. Stamp arrests her because she was in a car. Stamp gets bullied, as does Inspector Monroe, by th
Married To The Job
Aug 27, 1991 · 22 min
Stamp and Ackland go to a domestic. they also deal with a burglary of a pub. Tony's girlfriend has broken it off after talking to other police wives. Sunhill is getting ready f
Domestic
Aug 29, 1991 · 22 min
Reid goes to see the CPS about a case. She is late for a meeting with Meadows from the Murder Squad. A rape victim says the allegation was false after CPS gave the go ahead for
Stress Rules
Sep 3, 1991 · 22 min
Brownlow comes back from a conference and wants to startan anti-stress program. A boy is stabbed and Young and Marshall investigate. Young finds the suspected stabber who says h
They Also Serve
Sep 5, 1991 · 22 min
The relief is reserve troops for a demonstration. It is very boring waiting on waste ground. At a meal break, Delia, Norika and June find a distressed probationer in the toilets.
Inside Job
Sep 10, 1991 · 22 min
A shop assistant is attacked and robbed of the week's takings by thieves on a motorcycle.
Bones of Contention
Sep 12, 1991 · 22 min
Sgt. Cryer investigates when anonymous letters expose P.C. Stringer's affair, in police time, with a prisoner's wife. W.P.C. Datta and P.C. Stamp lie in wait for a blackmailer. Ch.
Wide Off The Mark
Sep 17, 1991 · 22 min
A professional hired killer is active in Sun Hill. A dubious informant provides a tip-off that divides D.I. Burnside and D.S. Greig.
Hitting The Mark
Sep 19, 1991 · 22 min
D.I. Burnside hunts for a hired killer to prevent him from making his next hit.
Bending The Rules
Sep 24, 1991 · 22 min
A yob arrested for shoplifting turns out to be a respected police officer. D.I. Burnside unravels the story of the change in his behaviour.
Skint
Sep 26, 1991 · 22 min
It's P.C. Garfield's birthday, but a party only adds to his money troubles.
Friday and Counting
Oct 1, 1991 · 22 min
Hollis, a missing handbag, and a recluse police pensioner, all help to unravel a murder investigation.
Lest We Forget
Oct 3, 1991 · 22 min
Ch. Supt. Brownlow is questioned by Yorkshire Police about his involvement in a murder enquiry seventeen years before that led to a wrongful conviction.
Downtime
Oct 10, 1991 · 22 min
A suspected violent break-in begins to suggest more clues about the house's occupants than anything else – especially as they are missing.
Out Of Order
Oct 15, 1991 · 22 min
P.C. Young reaches out to W.P.C. Datta and, when she rejects his advances, he sexually assaults her.
Empire Building
Oct 17, 1991 · 22 min
Duty Sgt. Cryer sets up a major operation to arrest defaulters on fine payments. Sgt. Peters accuses him of empire building.
Innocence
Nov 22, 1991 · 22 min
Following his interview about a wrongful conviction and allegations of corruption against a former colleague, Ch. Supt. Brownlow meets up with him. Two boys are reported missing an
Losing It
Oct 24, 1991 · 22 min
P.C. Young discovers a suicide and is deeply affected. Later, he visits Datta in the section house and attacks her.
Shots
Oct 29, 1991 · 22 min
Sun Hill officers attend a firearms training course. When an armed villain is reported in a building, P.C. Loxton shoots.
The Square Peg
Oct 31, 1991 · 22 min
Young goes missing on his beat. Monroe orders a search. Quinnan and Loxton find Young's body in his car. He has committed suicide by feeding exhaust fumes into the vehicle.
Balls In The Air
Nov 7, 1991 · 22 min
On his first day at Sun Hill, Sgt. Matthew Boyden's past life catches up with him. Boyden shows that he knows all the angles, and Insp. Monroe is not impressed with his casual appr
Turning Back The Clock
Nov 14, 1991 · 22 min
D.I. Burnside is determined to clear up a three-year-old case of robbery and murder when an old acquaintance is released from prison. D.C.s Carver and Lines begin to have their dou
Discretion
Nov 19, 1991 · 22 min
On his first day as Home Beat Officer, P.C. Smollett investigates the mugging of an old lady and discovers a rather unusual high-rise supermarket. Meanwhile, P.C. Stringer deals wi
Chapter and Verse
Nov 21, 1991 · 22 min
D.I. Burnside wants to question a man about a missing girl, but he is "drunk and incapable" in the custody suite and Sgt. Maitland is determined to uphold P.A.C.E.
The Whole Truth
Nov 26, 1991 · 22 min
W.P.C. Datta is in court to testify in a drink-driving trial, but the case is complicated by a mouthwash that the defendant claims to have taken.
Thicker Than Water
Dec 3, 1991 · 22 min
P.C.s Loxton and Stringer are called to a domestic disturbance. The man found beating his wife turns out to be a P.C. from Stafford Row.
On The Take
Dec 5, 1991 · 22 min
D.S. Roach is investigating an armed robbery. A series of unexplained tip-offs reveals the possibility that a D.S. at Sun Hill is guilty of corruption.
Caring
Dec 10, 1991 · 22 min
W.P.C. Ackland and P.C. Smollett deal with a possible case of wife battering. The alleged victim, the mother of a schizophrenic son, is uncooperative.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Dec 12, 1991 · 22 min
D.C.I. Reid tries to overcome the continuing clash of personalities with D.I. Burnside. D.S. Roach has problems when a juvenile prisoner lies about his age, then has an epileptic f
Imposters
Dec 17, 1991 · 22 min
Maitland and Monroe investigate a pornography racket. Marshall and Stamp look for a beggar who seduced a mentally disabled girl.
A Woman Scorned
Dec 19, 1991 · 22 min
June and Ron call on a lady about her husband's dog who has dug up a skeleton in the garden. There is a new D. Supt. of the Murder Squad replacing Meadows. Reid talks to Burnsi
Vital Statistics
Dec 24, 1991 · 22 min
A Relief is stung into action on discovering that their arrest rate is inferior to that of B Relief.
Decent People
Dec 26, 1991 · 22 min
P.C. Quinnan works undercover on a building site to investigate the theft of kitchen units but finds himself in a compromising situation.
Breakout
Dec 31, 1991 · 22 min
On New Year's Eve, a learner driver backs into a prison van, allowing a dangerous prisoner to escape from custody.