The Bill (series 20)
Series 20 of British television drama The Bill was broadcast from 7 January until 30 December 2004. The series consisted of 96 episodes, and saw the conclusion of the long-running storyline involving PC Des Taviner, who was believed to have been killed in an explosion in a gas tower in series 19. It also saw the conclusion of another long term storyline, Cathy Bradford’s crimes surrounding her obsession with colleague Brandon Kane. Other major storylines saw Gabriel Kent collude with a sniper to kill criminals, his own murder & rape of Kerry Young and Rob Thatcher’s determination to arrest the Radford family after the death of his father in the 1980s. This series continues to use the serialized format previously introduced by Paul Marquess during Series 18.
| The Bill | |
|---|---|
| Season 20 | |
 Series 20 DVD cover | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 96 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 7 January – 30 December 2004 |
| Series chronology | |
As a celebration of the show's 21st anniversary, a special weekend of programmes were broadcast on UKTV Gold, including a special mocku-mentary which featured cast members, past and present, mulling over their time at Sun Hill during a quiet afternoon in the custody suite; as well several 'classic' episodes, past and present. ITV marked the anniversary with a special episode, which saw DCI Jack Meadows take a week's holiday to attend former DS Ted Roach's funeral - but, after suspecting Roach may have been murdered, he teams up with former Sergeants Alec Peters (Larry Dann) and Bob Cryer (Eric Richard) to find out the truth. Another spin-off from the show, The Bill: Uncovered, was also introduced; a series of four one-off documentaries narrated by their main star, telling the story of a particular character's path or journey throughout their time at Sun Hill. Episodes broadcast during this series include "Des' Story" and "Kerry's Story".
On 16 October 2013, the complete series was released on DVD in Australia as a Region 0, playable anywhere in the world. The DVD synopsis removes all titles, and tallies the episodes by number.
Cast changes
Arrivals
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Departures
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Episodes
| # | Title | Episode notes | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Trust Means Nothing" | Michael Melia and Doña Croll guest star | Nigel Keen | Damian Wayling | 7 January 2004 | 181 |
| Ackland stops a vehicle which has been reported lost or stolen, only to find the driver in possession of a briefcase containing more than £20,000. When the suspect, Harry Turner, reveals he has a past history with Gold, he offers to take part in an obbo to bring down a major Sun Hill villain. However, during the obbo, he escapes with £15,000 of the Met's money. Meanwhile, Kane is struggling to cope with the fact that Bradford has abducted his children. When Zoe manages to call her dad from Bradford's mobile, a search is directed towards the streets surrounding the station - but the entire station is unaware that Bradford has sneaked the kids into the station boiler room under their very noses. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Apple and the Tree" | Return of Polly Page, Doña Croll guest stars | Nigel Keen | Julian Perkins | 8 January 2004 | 182 |
| A turf war threatens to blow up on the Cockroft estate between Kalisha Jarrett and her rival dealers, but when one of her henchmen runs down her nephew Wayne at her request, Wayne's brother Leo Price offers to help Smithy catch his evil aunt with the proceeds of a drug deal. However, when the raid yields a stash of fake drugs, Leo is furious to discover that his aunt may be off the hook. When Bradford calls Page in prison to apologise, Ackland goes to visit her friend to find out where Bradford could be, but Page's joy at the thought of being released is quashed when she discovers Bradford's murder of ex-boyfriend Max. With search efforts fruitless, Bradford turns off the station heating in an attempt to leave a clue to her whereabouts, and she calls Harman to taunt the search party. When an engineer arrives to investigate the problem, he is knocked unconscious by Bradford, leading to Ackland and Harman find out that Bradford was closer than anyone expected. | ||||||
| 3 | "Kidnap and Ransom" | TBA | Robert Del Maestro | Patrea Smallacombe | 14 January 2004 | 183 |
| Bradford promises to release Kane's kids in exchange for Kane as a hostage, but when Gold refuses, Okaro overrides her decision. Bradford then insists Kane choose between his children. Forcing Kane to handcuff himself, Bradford relives the events of the past year, including her two murders and her lengthy list of lies she used to try seduce Kane. The station is evacuated, and the TSG arrive to provide support. Bradford's stories become increasingly unbelievable, as she tells Kane that she was abducted by a serial killer as a child. Nixon and Sharpe trawl through Bradford's history and discover that while she is lying, there is a little truth to her involvement in the case. When Kane tries to break free by seducing Bradford, she works out his plan and plots an explosive ending for the pair. | ||||||
| 4 | "Dawn Morning Light" | Final appearance of DC Brandon Kane, departure of PC Cathy Bradford | Robert Del Maestro | Jake Riddell | 15 January 2004 | 184 |
| TSG storm the boiler room as Bradford starts a fire to kill herself and Kane, but it is quickly extinguished and she is arrested. Despite the events of the previous night, Kane returns to work the next day, but Harman gives him a reality check when he loses it with an elderly woman trying to commit insurance fraud. Realizing he needs to be there for his kids, he hands his resignation into Okaro. Best is seconded to CID, and paired with Perkins, the pair investigate the mugging of a city trader by two homeless ex-servicemen. Perkins is disgusted by the world the traders inhabit and is frustrated when he learns that the mugging was a revenge attack for a sick robbery of one of the homeless men. When Best goes out on his own initiative and almost blows the case, Perkins takes matters into his own hands and threatens to reveal the trader's cocaine use. Carver's wife Marie turns up, begging him not to proceed with the trial against her for domestic violence. | ||||||
| 5 | "Saving Skin" | Departure of series regular Marie Carver, Aml Ameen guest stars | Baz Taylor | Jaden Clark | 21 January 2004 | 185 |
| Stamp conducts an arrest of a regular tearaway, Curtis Wright, for a scam to rob curb crawlers. His partner in crime, Carla Andho, is reported missing by her reverend father. Despite his hatred of young Curtis, the reverend invites him around, only for Curtis to rob him. Despite only reporting a camera stolen, Wright goes out and buys a car with his takings, leading to the revelation that he stole £10,000 from the reverend. Sharpe is suspicious as to why it wasn't reported, and there's an even bigger shock when the accountant suspected of falsifying the books is Okaro's wife Denise. Things only get worse when Okaro discovers the new Borough Commander, Louise Campbell, announces that she is on her way to see him - and he panics that he will be berated for his neglect in the Bradford incident. Carver's wife takes the stand in court and tries to twist things by claiming self defence. Despite solid testimony from Carver and Kent, it's Marie's own son Ben who unravels her lies. | ||||||
| 6 | "Grave Error" | Return of PC Des Taviner | Laurence Moody | Kathrine Smith | 22 January 2004 | 186 |
| Nixon is tasked with investigating a gang who are making and distributing fake DVDs. Her investigations lead her to a pawnshop, where a stack of the fake DVDs are being prepared for shipping to a third-world country, but her determination to bring down the gun-toting leader of the gang leads to unexpected tragedy. Meanwhile, Okaro faces a tough time as the fraud investigations into his wife Denise's finances continue, and she is arrested, following the allegations of conspiracy to commit theft. With scandal-hungry journalists gathering like vultures, it seems things can get no worse when she admits she does harbour feelings for the Reverend Andho. Murphy believes she has sighted Taviner outside the station. | ||||||
| 7 | "Shaken (Part One)" | TBA | Laurence Moody | Tom Needham | 29 January 2004 | 187 |
| Hemmingway deals with a hysterical woman who is smashing up a shop. Discovering that she is a rape victim who is being traumatised and stalked by her attacker, Perkins and Sharpe step in to try to convince another of the rapist's victims to come forward and press charges after years of keeping quiet. Okaro is forced to put his recent domestic troubles behind him and begins to build bridges with both the relief and his wife. Murphy is shaken by her sighting of Taviner the night before. Confused about why Taviner would come back to Sun Hill, Murphy becomes frantic when it appears baby Niamh has gone missing. When the baby is discovered safe and well, Murphy asks Tait to baby-sit. | ||||||
| 8 | "Devastation & Remorse (Part Two)" | Alan Ford guest stars | Paul Walker | Maxwell Young | 5 February 2004 | 188 |
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Murphy is devastated when she arrives at home to find baby Niamh unresponsive. Accompanying her child to hospital, she is crushed when Niamh dies. Tait arrives just as the news breaks, and he goes on a bender as a result, causing him to be assaulted when squaring up to two men. Seeking solace in the arms of Young, he then faces Murphy to give her his statement, having overheard Murphy’s demands to see it. Stamp and Harman arrest a retired villain for assaulting his future son-in-law, however, it soon transpires that there is much more to the case than first meets the eye. Manson muscles in on a case of Nixon and Sharpe’s involving firearms, but the cases clash when the retired villain is shot dead by his daughter. Carver, who had a history with the villain, is stunned when it is revealed in the aftermath of his death that he was a paedophile. | ||||||
| 9 | "Forgiveness (Part Three)" | Paul Copley and Richard Mayes guest star | Paul Walker | Emma Goodwin | 11 February 2004 | 189 |
| Sharpe is assigned to what looks like a straightforward case of bigamy when two men are arrested fighting in the local library. After witnessing a fight in custody, the suspect Leonard Noakes, admits to murdering a man many years previously, but Sharpe finds Noakes' supposed victim alive but not-so-well in St Hugh's Hospital. As the case gets more intriguing, Sharpe finds herself under scrutiny from Manson, who orders her to leave the case to MIT. When DCI Ross requests her help, Sharpe can't help but tie up the loose ends, although a furious Manson warns her that her card is marked. Tait acts coldly towards Young after their unbridled night of passion, and Murphy apologizes for blaming him for Niamh’s death after the post mortem is released. | ||||||
| 10 | "Career Ruining Secrets" | Brian Hibbard guest stars | Andy Goddard | Julian Perkins | 12 February 2004 | 190 |
| Following a tip-off from Perkins' snout, Manson goes undercover as a hitman for a woman who wants her husband killed. As De Costa investigates the domestic violence aspect of the case, the husband's involvement in an actual murder is revealed. Manson is delighted with the result, but De Costa is upset when Manson usurps her CSU authority. Stamp and Best trawl internet chat rooms looking for 'Hotpants', a suspected fraudster who has ripped off a number of "her" on-line admirers. Murphy reveals that Taviner has been to see her. Taviner finds Hollis alone guarding the chapel of rest and Hollis lets slip that Tait was babysitting when Niamh died. Hollis admits to Gold that Taviner started the Sun Hill fire. | ||||||
| 11 | "Betrayal" | 90 minute special | Andy Goddard & Bob Tomson | Tom Needham & Maxwell Young | 18 February 2004 | 191 |
| Tait and Young go in pursuit of a gang of teenage girls who have been shoplifting. When they become separated, Tait is cornered by the gang, who subsequently strip him and spray a suspicious substance in his face. Tait arrives back at the station half dressed, much to the happiness of his female colleagues. Meanwhile, Carver finds a copy of Kent's birth certificate, and struggles over whether or not to inform Ackland. Murphy is devastated, not only to discover an operation has been mounted to catch Taviner at their daughter's funeral, but that Ackland knew about it. Believing Taviner's right to see his daughter off, she tries to inform him of the operation before he is arrested. | ||||||
| 12 | "Running with Scissors" | Alex Kew guest stars | Bob Tomson | Maxwell Young | 19 February 2004 | 192 |
| Nixon and Manson investigate a cigarette smuggling operation, but the pair come to blows when Nixon tries to exert her authority over the situation, and a furious Manson is forced to pull rank on the former acting detective inspector. Carver, unable to hide the truth any longer, confronts Ackland and informs her that her lover Kent is actually her long-lost son; but does she believe him enough to stop her relationship with him? Knowing that he has been set up, Taviner pays Murphy another visit - only to end up holding her and Tait hostage to keep them quiet over his escape, however Taviner realises it is just a matter of time before his colleagues come looking for them. | ||||||
| 13 | "Heartstrings" | Final appearance of DCI Andrew Ross | Bob Tomson | Marc Peirson | 25 February 2004 | 193 |
| As the net closes in around an increasingly frustrated Taviner, he decides to let Murphy go free, on the grounds that she does not inform the Sun Hill top brass of his whereabouts. Despite Murphy's adamance that Tait was in no way responsible for his baby's death, Taviner continues to keep Tait hostage, but the pair come to blows when Tait tugs at Taviner's heartstrings. When the cop killer decides Niamh dying was his punishment for the station fire, he repents and releases Tait. Ackland confronts Kent over the shocking revelation that he is her son, but when she backs him into a corner, he drops an even bigger bombshell. | ||||||
| 14 | "New Year's Resolutions" | Polly Page becomes a CAD officer | Steve Kelly | Kathrine Smith | 26 February 2004 | 194 |
| Manson and Sharpe investigate the case of a missing girl and discover that it is the girl's abusive grandfather who has taken her away. Page returns to Sun Hill and is delighted to discover she can have a civilian position as CAD officer, but will the frustration of not being a copper get to her? Ackland assists with Manson and Sharpe's investigation, but the imminent exposure of Kent is playing on her mind, and when Carver and Kent come to blows, things boil over. Smithy and Carver agree to keep quiet for Ackland's sake. Young confides in Hemmingway about her night of passion with Tait, and despite the fact it could be the start of something special, Smithy is not happy and threatens to stand in their way. | ||||||
| 15 | "Intrigue" | Jacqueline Leonard and Lloyd McGuire guest star | Steve Kelly | Steve Trafford | 3 March 2004 | 195 |
| Nixon grudgingly works with Manson to locate dangerous escaped convict Eric Taylor, who has already eluded police twice. When Taylor is spotted, Carver pursues him into a swimming pool complex, and the two end up in the water. Kent watches as the two struggle, and is going to let Carver drown - until the cavalry arrive. Posing as a housebuyer, "June Carver", an emotional Ackland visits her long-lost son and meets her granddaughter, but she is too afraid to tell him her real identity. Elsewhere, Meadows is taken aback when his former lover Rachel Heath arrives at the station on the eve of her trial for assault. At a MET function, Meadows is stunned when a friend accuses Manson's father-in-law, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Roy Pearson, of using rent boys. | ||||||
| 16 | "Don't Bring Me Down" | Guest appearance by Mickey Webb | Ken Grieve | Simon McCleave | 4 March 2004 | 196 |
| McAllister investigates a vicious attack on two young teenage boys. Meadows' former lover Rachel Heath stands trial for assault, and threatens to go public and tell the court about their affair unless he agrees to help her, dropping the bombshell that she is pregnant with his son. With his career on the line, Meadows makes a surprise proposal, which shocks Rachel to the core. Meanwhile, the pressure starts mounting for Manson when Sharpe implies she knows about his father-in-law's sordid sexual practices and fondness for rent boys. When Sharpe tries to blackmail him in order to secure her own stake in a case, Manson manages to find a hold over her when he discovers the details surrounding Meadows' and Rachel Heath's affair - and threatens to tell all. | ||||||
| 17 | "Office Politics" | First appearance of PC Andrea Dunbar, final appearance of DC Eva Sharpe | Ken Grieve | Gerard McKenna | 10 March 2004 | 197 |
| Andrea Dunbar arrives at Sun Hill for her first shift, and her keenness seems too good to be true - but little do the relief know that they have an undercover reporter in their midst. When Sharpe discovers that McAllister told Manson about Meadows' affair, she is furious - and the pair come to blows. Tensions run high between Manson and Meadows when Manson declares he wants Sharpe out of CID - no matter what. Just as he is announcing her departure to another department, Meadows comes in with an offer from Webb for Sharpe to join MIT. Page is snubbed by Manson during her shift back, and things turn from bad to worse when she returns home to find the word 'murderer' painted across her flat window. | ||||||
| 18 | "Return of the Damned" | Elizabeth Rider guest stars | Chris Richards | Matthew Leys | 11 March 2004 | 198 |
| Klein and Hemmingway attend a disturbance at a funeral home and discover an unusual case: the body and casket of the mother of the Coombes brothers have disappeared - including £350,000. Turning the case over to McAllister and Drummond, the investigation leans towards all the involved parties, including the brother, the funeral director and the security guard. Against her better judgement, and despite warnings from Stamp, Page befriends journalist Frank Fisher who helps her out when she cops abuse and vandalism from some local youths. Smithy and Hollis check out the local swimming pool when the manager reports a break-in. Summoned back to the pool later on, Hollis is confronted by Taviner. An arrest team spearheaded by Gold culminates in Hollis arresting his best friend for murder, but there's a bigger twist to come when ex-girlfriend Murphy finds him unconscious in his cell. | ||||||
| 19 | "End of the Road" | Final appearance of PC Des Taviner | Chris Richards | Nicholas McInerny | 17 March 2004 | 199 |
| Chaos ensues in custody as Murphy battles in vain to save a dying Taviner following an assault by his cellmate, but the Sergeant's efforts aren't enough as her former lover dies on arrival to hospital. Murphy is left battling to prove her innocence as MIT try to lay blame on her for Taviner's death. Morale takes a nosedive as the relief struggle to deal with the news that Taviner won't face justice for the station firebombing. Just when it seems like things couldn't get worse, Bob Coles walks free, ending consolation hope he'll go down after escaping justice for the siege that led to the death of Best's father Alan. Okaro sets CID a task of nailing Coles in an attempt to boost morale, and Manson adds a further incentive of a weekend away in Paris after his plans for a holiday with his wife go awry. Hunter, Thatcher and Perkins hunt Coles and an associate involved in a human smuggling operation, but Hunter and Thatcher push themselves to win the trip to Paris, with Thatcher earning a reprimand from Okaro for an illegal arrest. Elsewhere, Page begins to feel disillusioned about her return to the Met after assisting Perkins, while Dunbar's editor tells her to go after Okaro after she overhears Thatcher ranting about Okaro reprimanding him. | ||||||
| 19a | "Des and Reg - Uncovered" | The Bill: Uncovered clipshow | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 17 March 2004 | 199A |
| Hollis returns home from work to find a VHS video which has been posted through his letterbox. The video, which was recorded just hours before Taviner's capture, is a personal message from Taviner to Hollis. On the video, Taviner explains that the noise of a police car is one he used to love, but now hates. He also explains that despite all of his misgivings, he did truly set out to be an upstanding member of the community and lay down the law. He also apologises for his part in the Sun Hill fire, and claims that throughout his career as an officer, Hollis was his best friend. The video finishes with Taviner apologizing for all of the times he was horrible to Hollis, and regrets ever leaving him behind. | ||||||
| 20 | "Drive on By (Part One)" | Sally Faulkner guest stars | Brett Fallis | Jaden Clark | 18 March 2004 | 200 |
| Klein investigates when Brendan Bailey, a man who murdered a young girl fourteen years previously, is attacked and robbed on the way home from the pub, and is unable to remember anything prior to the incident. Klein suspects that the attacker may be the father of another young girl who disappeared without trace just months after the first murder. When the man is exonerated, he takes it upon himself to track down Bailey and hold him at gunpoint until he reveals the location of his missing daughter's body. Klein manages to defuse the situation, but when Bailey follows him to Jamaica Wharf, Bailey is shot twice at close range, with Klein being the only witness willing to identify the mysterious gunman. | ||||||
| 21 | "Drive on By (Part Two)" | TBA | Brett Fallis | Tom Needham | 24 March 2004 | 201 |
| Klein is stunned when Bailey dies after his shooting. Hunter and Drummond interview the young girl whom Bailey was grooming prior to the attack, and whilst searching her photo album, Hunter finds a picture of his daughter, Maddison. When the young girl identifies herself as Dennis Weaver's goddaughter, Hunter shows Klein a file of mugshots of Weaver's associates, and Klein identifies the gunman as John Finnegan. When Hunter lets slip to Weaver that Klein is willing to testify, Weaver's gang kidnap Klein and pump him full of heroin. Meanwhile, De Costa and Page investigate when a young boy from the Czech Republic is found amongst a group of yobs involved in an organised chain of football hooliganism. | ||||||
| 22 | "Crocodile Tears" | TBA | Christopher King | Simon J Ashford | 25 March 2004 | 202 |
| Hunter and Drummond attempt to find an amateur surgeon who is selling organs on the black market. Their investigation begins with a young girl who has sold her kidney for £2,000, but before she can give evidence, she dies of kidney failure. They then begin their search for the mysterious operating theatre where the operations are taking place. Meanwhile, as Klein recovers from his forced heroin overdose at the hands of Dennis Weaver's henchmen, Smithy and Young try to prove his innocence beyond doubt as his condition and his previous history with drugs make his testimony against gunman Finnegan unreliable. Klein later confronts Hunter and accuses him of telling Weaver of his past history with drugs. | ||||||
| 23 | "Cross Wires" | TBA | Christopher King | Tom Higgins | 31 March 2004 | 203 |
| Harman and Hemmingway arrest a young girl following an incident of criminal damage, but during the interview, she claims that she was raped the night before. Thatcher and Drummond are assigned to the case, and they investigate a man seen following the victim on CCTV footage. However, when the man is given a rock solid alibi, Thatcher starts to doubt if the woman was raped at all. Meanwhile, Hollis investigates an altercation between a schoolboy and his teacher, but the young boy refuses to speak out against his real attackers. When he and Chambers go train-spotting after their shift, they watch on as the young boy is set upon by a gang, only to discover that the victim may be the ringleader. | ||||||
| 24 | "Smoking Gun (Part One)" | PC Jim Carver is promoted to DC, Paul Putner guest stars | Nic Phillips | Mark Greig | 1 April 2004 | 204 |
| Manson organises an obbo on long-time villain Bryan Ferris, who is wanted following the stabbing of a dealer on the Parkmede Estate. Having received information that he is starting his own sideline in illegal substances, Manson raids a pub where he finds Ferris and his cronies in the middle of a deal. Ferris offers to give information on a bigger player in the chain, Ivan Grazdani, in return for leniency with his sentence. A search of Grazdani's hotel room yields a number of false passport applications signed off by a local district judge, Colin Wakeling. McAllister investigates a surprising link between Wakeling, Grazdani and none other than Manson himself. Tait witnesses a meeting between Hunter and Weaver. | ||||||
| 25 | "Smoking Gun (Part Two)" | Paul Putner guest stars | Nic Phillips | Mark Greig | 7 April 2004 | 205 |
| McAllister and Drummond search for the missing girl in the passport photo, only to find her badly beaten in St. Hugh's. She subsequently reveals that she was smuggled into the country and later made to enter prostitution. As McAllister discovers that district judge Wakeling's lady friend is none other than Grazdani's sister in disguise, McAllister seizes her chance when uniform manage to track down the illusive Grazdani at a nearby industrial estate. Meanwhile, Klein puts his life in danger by leaving the safe house and fleeing back to Sun Hill, where Okaro agrees to let him go back out on the beat one last time. Elsewhere, Page discovers that her so called lover, Frank Fisher, is behind the harassment campaign against her. | ||||||
| 26 | "Settle the Score" | Final appearances of CAD officer Polly Page, PC Nick Klein and Cathy Bradford, Paul Putner and Harry Towb guest star | Crispin Reece | Colin Wyatt | 8 April 2004 | 206 |
| Hunter agrees to set up an operation to nail Dennis Weaver once and for all. With Klein back in the safe house, Weaver arranges the hit. Meeting with the hitman to retrieve the gun and a photo of Klein's body, Weaver realises Hunter has set him up when an arrest team swoop in on them. Escaping into North Canley Forest, a terrified Hunter barely escapes with his life as a maniacal Weaver swears revenge for his treachery. Meanwhile, Young and Hemmingway investigate a possible case of abuse at a local care home, where two of the residents are left badly shaken, Page is warned off by Ackland when she investigates a forged driver's licence, and a visit to Bradford makes her decide to resign. With the operation to nail Weaver failing, Klein is placed into permanent witness protection, complete with a new identity. | ||||||
| 27 | "Needing a Friend" | TBA | Crispin Reece | Paul Ebbs | 14 April 2004 | 207 |
| Smith and Young attend a call to a burglar seen attempting to gain access to a houseboat, but their arrival sparks the assailant into falling into the fast flowing river, forcing Smithy to jump in after him. A woman then arrives at the station to make a complaint of rape against the assailant. Meanwhile, Tait and Kent find a man badly injured after falling from the roof of a disused warehouse. Their investigations lead them to discover the organised crime of 'tramp bashing', where professionals pay homeless people sums of money to beat the hell out of one another. However, they soon discover that the fights are a decoy for a money laundering operation, involving the proceeds of a rather impetuous drug smuggling operation. | ||||||
| 28 | "A Time and A Place (Part One)" | Louise Jameson guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Steve Griffiths | 15 April 2004 | 208 |
| A major road traffic accident in Sun Hill sees a seriously injured man, Adrian Collins, rushed to St Hugh's Hospital. When a handgun and balaclava are discovered in Collins' car, Collins admits he was on his way to a bank robbery. When an alarm is triggered at a nearby bank, Smithy realises the robbery has proceeded without Collins. With SO19 delayed in traffic and Gold & Okaro away at a conference, Smithy has trouble commanding the respect of his officers amidst rumours of Young's alleged rape. An angry Tait confronts him, and the two nearly come to blows until they agree to concentrate on the job at hand. The situation gets even worse when the bank's terrified manager is pushed out into the street with a bomb strapped to his waist. | ||||||
| 29 | "A Time and A Place (Part Two)" | Louise Jameson guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Maxwell Young | 21 April 2004 | 209 |
| Young is found injured but alive in the rubble after the explosion behind the bank, but the booby-trapped bank manager is killed in the blast. As Nixon investigates the aftermath, there is considerable question over where the blame will lie. Tait begs Young not to reveal that they were arguing when the bomb went off, but he later reveals this to Nixon, as well as telling her about Young's accusation of rape against Smithy. Smithy comes under scrutiny as he was in charge of the operation, and Dunbar fights to save her career when widower Julie Willets accuses her of saying the bomb was a fake. Under pressure from her editor, Dunbar attempts to keep him sweet with the date rape story, which is now the talk of the station. Kent steals CCTV footage to protect Young. | ||||||
| 30 | "Rookies & Professionals" | First appearance of PC Lance Powell and SCP Jonathan Fox, Linda Lusardi guest stars | Ged Maguire | Joe Fraser | 22 April 2004 | 210 |
| Dunbar tells Gold that Kent may be the press leak, and Kent finds himself banished to the Siberia of Sun Hill – the Cole Lane Estate. When he discovers a group of kids harassing a transvestite resident, he takes vigilante action by arresting the ringleader. New CPS lawyer Jonathan Fox causes a storm when he clashes with Kent and Gold. A series of professional robberies of vehicles from a transport company baffles CID, and it looks like an inside job. Probationer Lance Powell is paired with Best, but they end up blowing the operation when they stumble upon the criminal's warehouse. Okaro is furious, and his reaction intrigues Dunbar, who is trying to prove he is racist. Meanwhile, Okaro asks Perkins to go undercover in prison. | ||||||
| 31 | "Smoking Demons" | Return of ex-DS Don Beech, Ricci Harnett and Tony Haygarth guest star | Susan Tully | Julian Perkins | 29 April 2004 | 211 |
| Perkins goes undercover in prison, where he investigates convicted child sex offender Charles Mawdsley, who is believed to be running a paedophile ring with the help of one of the prison guards. De Costa appears as a prison counsellor, acting as Perkins' contact with the outside world, but when Perkins opens up in a group therapy session, De Costa begins to suspect that he was abused as a child. By arresting a corrupt guard who was dealing drugs, Okaro hopes to force Mawdsley to play his hand, but in interview, the guard reveals that the prison's assistant governor is also corrupt. Meanwhile, Manson receives a call from a prisoner at the same nick who wants to pass on information about a planned robbery, former Sun Hill DS and cop killer Don Beech. | ||||||
| 32 | "Reliable Information" | TBA | Ged Maguire | Tony McHale | 30 April 2004 | 212 |
| Nixon and McAllister investigate when the stolen digger turns up at a transport site. Manson's suspicions are proven to be correct, but nobody else knows that Manson's tip-offs are coming from Beech. The arrival of Peter Cavanaugh, an Australian inspector on attachment to the NCIS, sets hearts a-flutter, but Meadows is furious when Manson's liaisons with Beech are revealed. Powell arrests a black teenager on suspicion of shoplifting, but cops a warning from Okaro to tread more carefully with the black community in future. An angry Powell is fair game for Thatcher and Dunbar, who are both seeking to prove that Okaro has it in for his black officers. Best is stunned when Powell tells him that he is gay. | ||||||
| 33 | "The Cautious Approach" | Tony Haygarth and Shobu Kapoor guest star | Martin Hutchings | Dawn Harrison | 6 May 2004 | 213 |
| CID and SO19 lie in wait for Trevor Little's team to pull off the diamond robbery, but when the raid is aborted at the last minute, Beech's information to Manson isn't looking so kosher. Meadows warns Manson away from Beech, but Manson goes to see him again when he is beaten up in prison. Young is under pressure from Gina to make a decision about whether to make her rape allegation against Smithy official. Young then assists De Costa when a young Asian girl is raped but refuses to testify. Kent investigates a break-in on the Cole Lane Estate, but when he discovers that the victim was previously arrested on child sex offences, his vigilante instincts lead him to take the law into his own hands once again. | ||||||
| 34 | "Rogue Tourist" | First appearance of Laura Bryant, Tony Haygarth guest stars | Martin Hutchings | Chris Webb | 7 May 2004 | 214 |
| After failing to capture Trevor Little and his gang after their aborted diamond raid, Manson begins to have his doubts about Cavanaugh, and suspects he may be leaking information to the gang. The rivalry between the two inspectors escalates, but Cavanaugh has his eye set on Nixon, and the two share a passionate kiss. Kent continues his vendetta against Cole Lane resident Roy Stafford, who he suspects is a paedophile. When he discovers Stafford has staged a robbery to gain access to the victim's grandchildren, he crosses the line and attacks Stafford, beating him badly. Okaro sends the hate mail he has received for forensic examination. Gold and Fox's verbal sparring also turns into unexpected passion. | ||||||
| 35 | "Robbery, Act II" | Tony Haygarth guest stars | Dermot Boyd | Nicholas McInerny | 19 May 2004 | 215 |
| Manson's suspicions about Cavanaugh continue during an obbo on the diamond heist suspects. When the suspects get away from them, Cavanaugh doesn't seem particularly concerned. Concerned for the safety of Nixon and Tait, who are undercover as waiting staff on the target boat, Manson orders Hunter on to the boat as well. When the suspects work out that police are on board, guns are drawn. Kent finds himself in trouble when Roy Stafford turns up at the station to report his assault. Gold is delighted that she may be able to get rid of the evil Gabriel at last, but a Cole Lane resident arrives and gives Kent an alibi. Fox asks Gold out on a date, and Okaro continues to receive hate mail. | ||||||
| 36 | "Nemesis" | Final appearance of ex-DS Don Beech, Melanie Gutteridge and Linda Lusardi guest star | Dermot Boyd | Julian Perkins | 20 May 2004 | 216 |
| Beech has the only evidence that could incriminate Cavanaugh, and Meadows is reluctant to have to rely on the slippery character, but Okaro insists he is their only choice. Cavanaugh contacts Nixon and declares his love for her, begging her to join him on the run. She agrees, but informs Meadows of his plans. Using her mobile as a tracking device, Meadows closes in, but when Cavanaugh realises he's been betrayed, he takes her hostage. Manson and Hunter take Beech to visit Maggie Black, who has the incriminating tape, and Beech asks Manson if he can have ten minutes alone to "say goodbye" to Maggie. When Manson goes to interrupt their little liaison, he and Hunter are assaulted and Beech escapes. | ||||||
| 37 | "Taking Flak" | TBA | Susan Tully | Tom Needham | 27 May 2004 | 217 |
| Thatcher and Drummond are on an overnight obbo, watching the flat of a crucial witness in a fraud case, when Drummond's teenage son Alex shows up, claiming to have caused the death of a prostitute. His life begins to collapse around his ears when his distraught son volunteers a full confession, and then threatens to jump to his death from a warehouse roof. Elsewhere, Nixon is haunted by the memory of her recent relationship with corrupt copper Cavanaugh, who gloatingly suggests that Manson deliberately let Beech escape from custody. With little evidence to prove his own innocence, Manson is forced to sit back and take the allegations being thrown at him as the DPS start a full-blown investigation. | ||||||
| 38 | "Game Over" | TBA | Bob Tomson | Tom Higgins | 2 June 2004 | 218 |
| Kent and Young attend a call to what initially appears to be the case of a "bunny-boiler", Sharon Wallace, stalking her ex-boyfriend. Kent, however, sees the fear in the Sharon's eyes, and when she is later attacked, he probes further and discovers that the boyfriend is blackmailing her with some nude photos in his possession. Manson is cleared of any involvement in Beech's escape, but Meadows warns him he's still on thin ice. Drummond is also relieved when his son is cleared of manslaughter. CID's attention is diverted when a car containing a baby girl is stolen. They find the car and the thief, David McLinden, but David tells Hunter and McAllister that his girlfriend has claimed the baby as her own. | ||||||
| 39 | "The Tunnel (Part One)" | First appearance of Sgt Marc Rollins, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Bob Tomson | Tony McHale | 3 June 2004 | 219 |
| Hunter is desperate to find his daughter Madison, who has been abducted by Dennis Weaver. Meadows orders him not to get involved in the investigation, and assigns Nixon to keep an eye on him. They investigate when a kilo of cocaine is found following a car chase. Hemmingway arrests a 17-year-old girl, Shirley Moss, on shoplifting charges and forms a bond with the girl when Shirley tells her she's pregnant. Hemmingway convinces the shopkeeper to drop the charges, and when the father of Shirley's child turns out to be big-time drug dealer Rifkin, Nixon and Hunter organise an SO19 raid on Rifkin's flat, but with drug courier Sonny and Shirley both in police custody, Rifkin clearly has his bases covered. | ||||||
| 40 | "The Tunnel (Part Two)" | Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Christopher King | Graham Mitchell | 9 June 2004 | 220 |
| Nixon drags a wounded Hunter out of the line of fire of an enraged Dennis Weaver, and the two escape into an abandoned Tube tunnel. Hemmingway is frustrated when red tape prevents her from helping pregnant teenager Shirley, who has been badly beaten. She angrily confronts Okaro, and his reaction attracts the interest of Thatcher. Best tracks down Shirley's mother and Hemmingway convinces both to testify against Rifkin for sleeping with a minor. Realising Nixon and Hunter are missing, Manson and McAllister try to track them down with the help of his informant Stephen Fletcher. A delirious Hunter admits to Nixon that he blackmailed and betrayed Klein, but when Nixon tries to get help, Dennis Weaver attacks them. Determined to end his life or Hunter’s, SO19 close in as a gunshot rings out. Kent’s obsession with Young takes a sinister turn when he violently rapes her. | ||||||
| 41 | "Twisting the Truth" | TBA | Christopher King | Steve Trafford | 10 June 2004 | 221 |
| Young is in turmoil after her rape at the hands of the evil Kent. Naturally, he denies the charge, and he insinuates that Young has "cried wolf" before, when she accused Smithy of rape. Confiding in fiancé, Tait, Young is shocked when Tait doesn't believe her story. He insists she makes the allegation official if they are to stay together, but Young is reluctant to do so after the incident with Smithy. Nixon must decide whether to defend Hunter when questions arise over the death of Dennis Weaver. As the only witness, Nixon can clear Hunter's name if she confirms Weaver was killed in self-defence. Back in CID, Carver and McAllister investigate a young man who is going nuts on steroids. | ||||||
| 42 | "Insensitivity (Part One)" | First appearance of recurring character Hugh Wallis, Tony Selby and Bhasker Patel guest star | N G Bristow | Tom Needham | 17 June 2004 | 222 |
| Kent's vigilante actions on the Cole Lane Estate spiral out of control when he arranges for a skinhead gang to attack two black youths as revenge for mugging an elderly Asian lady. With his former allies on the estate turning against him, he must act quickly to ensure his involvement is not discovered. Murphy is in court on the case of a drink-driving Rastafarian she arrested for refusing a blood test, and is humiliated when the case is thrown out of court, and she is accused of racism. Jerome Taylor alerts the Borough Commander to the case, and Okaro is forced to offer Murphy a transfer or demotion. After talking down a suicidal father in a bear outfit, Tait and Harman are horrified when a car containing two children rolls into the river in front of them. | ||||||
| 43 | "Insensitivity (Part Two)" | Sgt. Sheelagh Murphy is demoted to PC, departure of Laura Bryant, Tony Selby, Lynda Bellingham, Bhasker Patel and Philip McGough guest star | N G Bristow | Tom Needham | 24 June 2004 | 223 |
| Tait launches himself into the river to rescue the children from the sinking car, but he is dealt a double blow when he first can’t rescue one of the children, then when the one he could rescue dies in hospital. Elsewhere, Kent's vigilante actions on the Cole Lane Estate could be his undoing when primary supporter Laura Bryant decides he's crossed the line, and reports his actions to Thatcher. As Thatcher and Drummond follow up Laura's allegations, Kent's accomplice Kev is found beaten and locked in the boot of a car. Drummond sees Irene Radford, head of a ruthless crime family on the estate, and it looks as though the Radfords are running a protection racket. McAllister leads a raid to arrest an aggravated burglary suspect, and Nixon realises he fits the profile of their serial rapist. Hunter returns to work, but makes excuses due to his injury. | ||||||
| 44 | "The Start of a Problem" | First appearance of PC Steve Hunter, Lynda Bellingham guest stars | David Holroyd | Tony McHale | 30 June 2004 | 224 |
| Thatcher is keeping a close eye on the Radfords, despite the warnings of his colleagues. He eagerly arrests David Radford for selling bootleg DVDs on the Cole Lane Estate, but when David's mother Irene turns up with a proof of purchase, Thatcher knows he's been set up. Hunter is running the CSU, and despite Carver's misgivings, his forceful manner gets results when he convinces a reluctant and pregnant domestic violence victim to testify. When a casino punter is mugged after a large win, Carver organises an undercover operation with Tait and Harman. Young returns to the station to declare her love to Tait, but after being taunted by Kent, she discovers Tait and Harman sharing a kiss in the locker room. | ||||||
| 45 | "Puppywalking" | TBA | David Holroyd | Nick Saltrese | 7 July 2004 | 225 |
| Hemmingway accompanies probationer Steve Hunter on his first day at Sun Hill, and eager to impress, he lets slip some juicy gossip about his brother's impotency. The furious sergeant demands his brother be transferred to another station, but desperate to make amends, the rookie constable follows up an informant's info on a bootleg alcohol ring. Young boldly confronts Kent at his flat, and records him admitting to her rape. Murphy and Powell investigate when homophobic graffiti is scrawled over a restaurateur's car and business. The man insists he isn't gay, but when they check the CCTV, Murphy is shocked when it leads them to a friend of her son, Conor. A high-speed chase ends in disaster for Ackland. | ||||||
| 46 | "Second Strike (Part One)" | Maurice Roëves guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Jake Riddell | 8 July 2004 | 226 |
| Best is approached by DCI Bill Wicklow of the OCG regarding an operation into a major drugs ring which has links to his estranged brother, Joe. Best decides to go undercover to retrieve information on his criminal activities, and soon manages to infiltrate Joe's gang of friends in an attempt to get close to the ringleader, Lenny Boswell. However, Best soon finds himself becoming Boswell's golden boy - and it's not long before he asks him to take part in a major operation. Under the strain of the situation, Best begins to reconsider his career in the force in favour of a life on the run. Meanwhile, Stamp finds himself under investigation following the PolAcc involving Ackland, who begins to recover in hospital. | ||||||
| 47 | "Second Strike (Part Two)" | Maurice Roëves guest stars | Sylvie Boden | Jake Riddell | 14 July 2004 | 227 |
| Best tries to hunt down his brother Joe when he escapes from the clutches of the gang, but is torn over whether or not to begin a relationship with his brother's girlfriend. Meanwhile, when he tries to find the mysterious Barry Jones, Best discovers that DI Henry may be pulling him a line. As Best continues with his own investigation, the net closes in on Lenny Boswell, but not before he manages to slash another victim. As Boswell comes after Joe, Best is forced to put his neck on the line. Word gets back to DCI Wicklow that Best may have gone native, but is Best really foolish enough to throw away everything he has worked for a criminal life? Stamp is cleared of reckless driving by internal investigations. | ||||||
| 48 | "Jigsaw Puzzle" | TBA | Laurence Moody | Matthew Leys | 15 July 2004 | 228 |
| Nixon and Wallis concentrate on the Royal Navy link to the serial rapist, and interview a Scottish prostitute whose rape in the late 1980’s previously matches the profile - and may have started the rapist off. Dunbar hides a press clipping of an article she wrote about the incident, but fears for her cover when a journalist colleague arrives at the station to interview Powell as the 'new face of Sun Hill'. Powell investigates what looks like another homophobic hate crime when a man is attacked outside a gay club. Murphy is shocked when she recognises her son Conor on the CCTV, and Powell is forced to arrest Conor for GBH. Carver and Harman investigate when a fortuneteller has her crystal ball stolen. | ||||||
| 49 | "Blind Detection" | Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Laurence Moody | Damian Wayling | 21 July 2004 | 229 |
| Nixon manages to identify a prime suspect as the serial rapist, and in her desire for revenge, Young shows one of the victims a picture of Kent - and then confronts him and tells him that she is determined to prove that he is the rapist. He isn't remotely fazed by her threats, and manages to goad Tait enough into a starting a violent outburst in the canteen. Meanwhile, Thatcher continues pursuing his vendetta against the Radford clan when he seizes the chance to investigate when Wayne Radford is carjacked and then handcuffed to a clapped out banger. Murphy finally loses patience with Powell and is furious when he suggests that her son might be gay - which could reveal the reasons behind his behaviour. | ||||||
| 50 | "The Rapture" | Final appearance of PC Cameron Tait | Brett Fallis | Jaden Clark | 22 July 2004 | 230 |
| Serial rape prime suspect Alan Kennedy finds the net is closing in around him, but CID are not impressed when several raids - on his flat, his allotment, and his deceased mother's house - fail to turn up any leads. Nixon discovers a link to falconry, and a raid on the local falconry society leads to Kennedy's arrest. Fox warns that more than just forensic evidence is needed to prosecute Kennedy, and reluctant witness Khadija Miah is brought into the station to identify him as her assailant. However, when Khadija runs into Kent, Young realises she could lose her job over the fact that she may have "tainted" the witness by showing her Kent's photograph. Tait's job is also on the line after his attack on Kent. | ||||||
| 51 | "Cause and Effect" | TBA | Brett Fallis | Nicholas McInerny | 28 July 2004 | 231 |
| With insufficient forensic evidence to charge serial rape suspect Alan Kennedy, Manson and Nixon have just twenty-four hours to extract a confession from him. Fox, who previously defended Kennedy on an assault charge, watches the proceedings with great interest, but he jeopardises his relationship with Gold when he makes a comment about her not having children. With CID scouring Kennedy's mother's flat for forensic evidence, Manson and Nixon continue their interview strategy. When Wallis finds a knife in his flat, Nixon manages to piece together the evidence and Kennedy confesses. With Kennedy behind bars, the relief attend a party organised by Okaro, but tragedy strikes when a bomb explodes. | ||||||
| 52 | "Bite the Bullet (Part One)" | PC Gary Best is promoted to Acting DC, Freema Agyeman and Lynda Bellingham guest star | Menhaj Juda | Julian Perkins | 29 July 2004 | 232 |
| Manson orders Stamp and Powell to stay out of the wreckage of the pub, but when Stamp realises Okaro is still inside, he risks his life to rescue him. Unaware of the chaos nearby, Thatcher slips another racist hate letter into Okaro's internal mail. When it looks like Okaro was the bomb's intended target, Thatcher and Jerome Taylor realise their letter campaign could be their undoing when SO13 investigate. Thatcher discovers CCTV footage of one of the Radford boys near the pub at the time of the explosion, and he follows the Radfords into a trap. Meadows takes charge when his baby is kidnapped by a religious fanatic, but when the baby is recovered safe and well, Rachel rebuffs him and asks him to stay away. | ||||||
| 53 | "Bite the Bullet (Part Two)" | Tim Plester guest stars | Menhaj Juda | Steve Griffiths | 4 August 2004 | 233 |
| Powell tries to work out who sent him the text message about the bomb, and realizes only three people had his new number: his family, his boyfriend, and Conor Murphy. He tells Murphy about his suspicions, and she is disgusted that he could think her son could be capable of the bombing. Meadows leads a search on Murphy's house, and the phone used to send the message is found in Conor's room. When the bomber is discovered to be one of Conor's friends, Okaro is forced to apologize to Jerome Taylor for accusing him, but Taylor says it's too late, and he is determined to destroy Okaro's career. Best goes undercover to catch a drug dealer for Drummond, but finds himself on the wrong side of a beating. | ||||||
| 54 | "On the Wrong Side of the Fence" | TBA | Nigel Keen | James Stevenson | 5 August 2004 | 234 |
| Murphy and Powell deal with a domestic violence case involving two gay men, but when they hand the case on to CSU, Hunter convinces the victim not to proceed. When Conor doesn't come home, Murphy accompanies Powell and Rollins on a night out at a gay club to find him. McAllister is determined to prove that Meadows is making a mistake by reconciling with Rachel Heath. To prove Rachel is still "on the game", she gets Best to call Rachel and make an appointment at a hotel. When Meadows confronts her, she denies that the meeting was for her purpose. Thatcher and Drummond investigate an arson attack on an ice-cream van, and are horrified when the main witness is killed in a hit-and-run. | ||||||
| 55 | "A Solemn Song" | TBA | Nigel Keen | Jake Riddell | 11 August 2004 | 235 |
| Rachel Heath exacts a violent revenge on Martin Grainger, convinced he was responsible for telling Meadows about her continuing involvement in the vice trade, with Meadows unaware that none other than a scheming McAllister is behind the betrayal. De Costa returns to CSU and is appalled by the way Hunter has handled things in her absence. | ||||||
| 56 | "Hope" | Adjoa Andoh guest stars | Julie Edwards | Stuart Blackburn | 12 August 2004 | 236 |
| Okaro is furious when he discovers that Thatcher has asked Young to go undercover with the Radfords, without permission from himself, Gold or Meadows. Ackland returns to work after being hit by the Area Car, despite the fact that in a week she is taking further leave to marry Carver, with preparations for their wedding coming along nicely. Nixon's daughter gets involved with a local criminal, much to her dismay. Has she really flown off the rails, or is someone persuading her to do something she doesn't want to do? Meadows decides to apply for custody of his son with Rachel Heath, but finds that the situation is much more complicated than first expected when it transpires she has more than one child. Young leaves work early, after being told she can't go under cover, she goes to a bar and chats up the elder Radford brother | ||||||
| AN1 | "The Bill @ 21 Weekend (Part One)" | TBA | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 14 August 2004 | AN1 |
| Ackland, Hollis and Best find it a quiet night at the station, Reg digs out a photo album with memories and they recall some of the finest moments of the past twenty-one years, including a sniper with a grudge against Ackland, Burnside receiving stick from Reid, Lines' children being held up in a bank robbery, Ramsey being shot and Roach being fired for punching Monroe. (Special presentation, with a full reprise of the episodes "New Moves", "Fat'Ac", "The Short Straw", "Dinosaur", "Punch Drunk", "Don't Like Mondays", "Still Waters", "Repossession", "Tinderbox", "Video Nasty", "Bad Pictures", "Fire", "All Tucked Up" and "Bait".) This presentation was broadcast on UKTV Gold. | ||||||
| AN2 | "The Bill @ 21 Weekend (Part Two)" | TBA | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 15 August 2004 | AN2 |
| Stamp brings surprise guest in to custody - former PC George Garfield. They start reminiscing about the past. Ackland recalls the death of PC Melvin, a large HGV tanker spewing its load over the streets of Sun Hill, and the Sun Hill firebombing, during which six much-loved officers died - Worrell, Spears, Harker, Monroe, Riley and Hayward - as well as the events leading up to the attack, which saw the death of Conway. (Special presentation, with a full reprise of the episodes "Spill", "Instant Response", "Urgent Assistance", "Dancers", "Stuffed", "Deep Secret", "Badlands", "Trojan Horse" and "Golden Opportunity (008)".) This presentation was broadcast on UKTV Gold. | ||||||
| 57 | "Happily Ever After" | Guest appearance of former regular Marie Graham, Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Julie Edwards | Kate Wood | 18 August 2004 | 237 |
| As Ackland and Carver prepare to tie the knot, the past threatens to catch up with both of them and shatter their happiness. Kent plays mind games with the pair, suggesting the marriage is merely a sham, and tries to dissuade Ackland from proceeding with the ceremony. The situation turns from bad to worse when Carver's ex-wife Marie turns up uninvited, and drunk, and causes a scene in front of the congregation. Meanwhile, Young wakes up in bed at the Radfords' house, and begins to get caught up in their criminal world, but Thatcher tries to persuade her to keep digging, until he find some concrete evidence to nail them. However, his day turns out better than expected when he spots an opportunity to set up Okaro. | ||||||
| 58 | "In Too Deep" | Departure of SCP Jonathan Fox, Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Susan Tully | Graham Mitchell | 19 August 2004 | 238 |
| Still working undercover, Young gets in way over her head after witnessing the death of a Radford escort girl and being ordered to beat one of the others by family matriarch Irene. Thatcher begins to fear the worst when she goes for days without reporting back, and when a girl's body is found in a burnt-out vehicle. Thatcher watches on with glee as his plan appears to have pulled itself off. As Manson's relationship with Dunbar blossoms, he lets slip some of his most closely guarded secrets about his colleagues - not least big cheese Okaro, whose cannabis possession story soon ends up on the front pages of the newspapers. Gold is distraught to discover Fox has requested a transfer to another station. | ||||||
| 59 | "Only Fools and Coppers" | Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Susan Tully | John Milne | 26 August 2004 | 239 |
| Smithy realises that Young has embarked on a foolhardy undercover mission to investigate the Radford clan and tracks her down, begging her to pull out before it's too late - but she turns a deaf ear to his pleas, putting both their lives in peril. Against her wishes, he organises a raid to rescue her, but Thatcher soon puts a spanner in the works and the pair come to blows - but Smithy manages to talk him round. Meanwhile, newlyweds Carver and Ackland return to Sun Hill, Okaro refuses to accept a caution for possession of cannabis, and arrives at work to be met by a mob of journalists baying for his blood, and Hollis and Chambers get to know one another better in the station's stationery cupboard. | ||||||
| 60 | "Luck of the Draw" | Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Nic Phillips | Oliver Brown | 1 September 2004 | 240 |
| Young and Smithy are minutes away from a bullet in the head from Wayne Radford's goons, when a raid on Hedley's Club takes place just in time to save them. Unable to say anything about their ordeal, the pair claim to have been innocently having a drink at the club when the raid occurred. Okaro and Gold are furious that the raid took place without their consent. When Wayne is nicked for possession, he blows Young's cover in interview. Nixon tries to file a misper report after her daughter Abi fails to return home. When Abi's clothes and travelcard are found by the side of the Thames, Nixon realises the nightmare is only just beginning. Perkins and De Costa rescue a young boy from a convicted child sex offender. | ||||||
| 61 | "Desperation" | Lenora Crichlow and Lisa Hogg guest star | Nic Phillips | Ray Brooking | 2 September 2004 | 241 |
| Sam leads the enquiry into her daughter's disappearance. Debbie takes the credit for Gary's work. Ramani catches Terry browsing a paedophile website. Terry discusses his childhood sexual abuse with his brother, Ben. Yvonne struggles to deal with Shirley, who steals Dean's disabled badge for money, and then claims to be HIV-positive. | ||||||
| 62 | "Suicidal Thoughts" | Lenora Crichlow, Sarah Hadland and Zig Byfield guest star | Adrian Vitoria | Scott Cherry | 8 September 2004 | 242 |
| Terry tracks down the man who abused him and his brother as children. Yvonne tries to stop Shirley Moss from selling her baby. Debbie discovers her baby's nanny has been working as a prostitute from her flat. Sam is convinced that missing daughter Abi has been taken against her will, but struggles to find any proof. | ||||||
| 63 | "Transcendence" | Lynda Bellingham, Sam Callis and Zig Byfield guest star | Adrian Vitoria | Tom Needham | 9 September 2004 | 243 |
| Wayne Radford has been found dead in his prison cell. It appears to be suicide, but Radford also has a number of bruises and cigarette burns on his body. Gina hears from Radford's cellmate that a copper was spreading rumours that Wayne was a child killer. Malcolm Willard's garden centre has reported him missing, and Ramani is concerned as she suspects Terry has been to see his childhood abuser. Reg and Steve find Willard alive and well at his home, but are called back later to find Terry's brother Ben trying to drown Willard. Andrea is on a crusade to clear Okaro's name, and angers Manson when she illegally submits one of Jerome Taylor's cigarette butts for a DNA test, to prove that he planted the marijuana in Okaro's car. | ||||||
| 64 | "An Eye for an Eye" | First appearance of DI Rowanne Morell, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | David Holroyd | Dawn Harrison | 15 September 2004 | 244 |
| Malcolm Willard has been shot dead from long range, and once again Terry and his brother Ben are in the frame. Terry is shocked when he turns up at CID to hear that Willard is dead, and that MIT want to interview him. He and Ramani head to Ben's lockup, where they find an empty rifle case. They then head to the old Perkins house where the abuse took place, and SO19 storm in and arrest Ben, but he is later cleared, as the bullet that killed Willard was a different calibre. Okaro is on trial for drug possession, and Manson's wife is his defence barrister. His chances are not looking good though, as the prosecution tears through witnesses Steve and Rob. Manson and Andrea discover that the DNA on the drugs matches that of Jerome Taylor, and they locate the man who sold Taylor the drugs. Needing an excuse to arrest him so they can get a legitimate DNA sample, Manson goads Taylor into attacking him. Okaro is cleared of all charges, but returns to the station to find they may have a serial sniper on the manor, and that Taylor may have had inside help from Rob. | ||||||
| 65 | "Acting with Caution" | TBA | David Holroyd | Emma Goodwin | 16 September 2004 | 245 |
| Lance and Steve attend to a carjacking, but is the victim telling the truth about how the incident played out? Okaro briefs the relief that there is a serial sniper on the loose in Canley. Sam continues the search for her missing daughter, before a vital clue begins to concrete her beliefs regarding an abduction. Okaro confronts Rob over planting cannabis in his car. | ||||||
| 66 | "The Pocket Cop" | First appearance of DC Suzie Sim | Martin Hutchings | Kathrine Smith | 22 September 2004 | 246 |
| DC Suzie Sim arrives for her first day at Sun Hill, and it's Gary who ends up playing sidekick when the pair investigate a spate of incidents at a local Asylum Hostel. The investigation, however, leads to the arrest of Terry Perkins' nephew Bradley, who faces charges of criminal damage and sexual assault on an Asian immigrant. | ||||||
| 67 | "Some Brighter Days" | Sam Callis guest stars | Martin Hutchings | Sue Mooney | 23 September 2004 | 247 |
| Ramani suspects that Terry's brother Ben has been abusing Bradley and his brother, Christopher, however, Terry refuses to believe her. Meanwhile, Jack is called away on private business, Kerry becomes involved with a known criminal, and Rob continues his outrageous campaign to try and bring down the Radfords. | ||||||
| 68 | "Last Orders" | Guest appearances of Bob Cryer and Alec Peters | Audrey Cooke | Peter J. Hammond | 30 September 2004 | 248 |
| Jack, Bob Cryer and Alec Peters attend the funeral of old friend and colleague, ex-Sun Hill DS Ted Roach, and are soon drawn to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Back at Sun Hill, Terry is driven to break into his brother's home in desperation, to save his nephews from further abuse. | ||||||
| 69 | "Ulterior Motive" | Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Audrey Cooke | Simon McCleave | 6 October 2004 | 249 |
| Sam becomes worried when she is sent a video message from her missing daughter, Abi, but Phil suspects an ulterior motive to the whole situation. Meanwhile, Suzie and Debbie investigate a stabbing outside the flat of a prostitute, and Rob believes he has the information required to bring the Radfords to justice once and for all. | ||||||
| 70 | "Heartless" | Lynda Bellingham and Liz May Brice guest star | Sven Arnstein | Christopher Reason | 7 October 2004 | 250 |
| The relief are sickened when an 11-year-old blind girl is savagely assaulted, tied up and gagged. A link to the mother’s past reveals she was a drug addict, and her old boyfriend Christopher Spinks, is named suspect number one after being spotted in the house. When they find his clothes burnt after fleeing in a stolen van, Sim blasts Dunbar when a piece of crucial evidence is destroyed. Things take a dramatic turn when a smug Spinks is gunned down after walking free at court. When Okaro confirms there is a serial sniper on the patch, he is left horrified that one of his team is feeding info to the killer, or worse, is the sniper. Meanwhile, Gina reprimands Kerry after finding out about her involvement with the Radfords. | ||||||
| 71 | "What Goes Around..." | Lynda Bellingham and Liz May Brice guest star | Sven Arnstein | Andrew Taft | 13 October 2004 | 251 |
| Sim and Dunbar discover the real culprit in the attack case, while suspects Kent knows more than he’s letting on. Nixon realises somebody is playing games with her when a girl, matching Abi's description, is found on mud flats by the River Thames just metres from where her clothes were found. | ||||||
| 72 | "Going Native" | Lynda Bellingham and Daniel Coonan guest star | Christopher King | Mark Greig | 14 October 2004 | 252 |
| Young’s attempts to increase her reputation are boosted when she double crosses David Radford by arresting him conducting an armed robbery. During celebratory drinks, she catches Manson and Dunbar in a passionate clinch. When she goes to confront Dunbar, she finds evidence that names Dunbar as a journalist. Things get even better when Ackland lets slip that Kent is working under a false ID. Just as she plans to take down the man who raped her and the journalist who leaked her date-rape story to the press, she is arrested for conspiracy to rob as Radford turns the tables on her. Meanwhile, Okaro briefs the team on the possibility that Sun Hill has a serial sniper in its midst. | ||||||
| 73 | "Friendly Fire (Part One)" | Rick Warden guest stars | Christopher King | Matthew Leys | 20 October 2004 | 253 |
| After discovering from Ackland that Young knows his false identity, Kent breaks into Young’s in an attempt to confront her. When she is reported missing by Kent, Smith fears she has been abducted by the Radfords. Kent tracks Young down at St. Hugh’s whilst investigating a stabbing. Smith meets her and she states her dad has had a stroke; when doctors say he will pull through, Young decides to take her evidence on Kent and Dunbar to Gold. As she arrives at the station, she and Smith declare their love for each other, only for Kent to gun her down with a sniper rifle. Elsewhere, Thatcher distracts himself from the Radfords by assisting McAllister on an investigation into a flyposter with a sideline in drugs. | ||||||
| 74 | "Friendly Fire (Part Two)" | Final appearance of PC Kerry Young, Lynda Bellingham guest stars | Nigel Keen | Cris Cole | 21 October 2004 | 254 |
| Smith fights to save the life of his lover Young, and demands Okaro grants access to an ambulance. Kent makes his escape in the chaos of SO19’s arrival to clear the area. When Young eventually gets to hospital, Smith watches on devastated as she dies. Kent’s joy at silencing Young is quashed when DI Morrell reveals Young was pregnant with his son when she died. Despite his guilt, he is taken aback when Ackland questions his involvement in Young‘s murder, as he sneers that she can’t speak out on his false identity. Smith questions Okaro’s decision to delay the ambulance for Young, then goes after David Radford. | ||||||
| 75 | "The Starting Grid" | Lenora Crichlow and Barbara Wilshere guest star | Nigel Keen | Tom Needham | 27 October 2004 | 255 |
| Nixon works out that the body found on the riverbank may hold a clue as to where her missing daughter Abi is. Morrell continues to question Kent, Drummond and Sim suspect of Young being the press leak and an associate of the sniper, destroying her reputation and leaving Morrell to focus on the sniper rather than Young’s death. Elsewhere, Hemingway gets distracted when Murphy and DeCosta investigate Shirley Moss for smashing up the foster home where her baby is being cared for. | ||||||
| 76 | "Long Overdue" | Geoffrey Beevers guest stars | Richard Standeven | Nick Saltrese | 28 October 2004 | 256 |
| Carver struggles to repay his debt, and whilst investigating the case of a young drugs mule with Drummond, begins to realise there is no way out of his troubles. Meadows and McAllister continue their private investigation into Wesley Patterson, and Hemmingway causes trouble when she arrests her sister's husband for possession of drugs. | ||||||
| 77 | "Old Timer" | First appearance of PC Roger Valentine, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Richard Standeven | Nicholas McInerny | 3 November 2004 | 257 |
| Carver strikes an £11,000 win on the dogs, but ends up losing all his money when Fletch gives him false info on another bet. New PC Roger Valentine arrives at Sun Hill, and immediately offends Powell when he finds out Powell is gay. Meanwhile, Shirley Moss finds herself in trouble once again, Nixon worries when CCTV of daughter Abi being taken by a man is discovered. | ||||||
| 78 | "Playing with Fire" | Geoffrey Hutchings guest stars | Philip John | Tom Needham | 4 November 2004 | 258 |
| Kent’s attitude is questioned by the relief when he breaks down at Young’s funeral. When Smithy confronts him in a violent clash at the wake, Kent can’t resist telling the entire relief that Young was carrying his unborn child when she was killed. With Meadows breathing down his neck about Fletch, Carver takes a £40,000 loan to pay him off and get evidence of their partnership in a rigged dog ring back, only for McAllister to tell him they have an alternative angle to get Fletch’s associate Patterson. Having given the loan shark the deed to Ackland’s home, Carver decides to come clean so they can work to pay it off, but Ackland stuns him by saying she wants to retire. Elsewhere, it’s a day of conflicting emotions for McAllister as she reminisces with Meadows before kissing him, but later discovers son Andrew has been hurt in a fall. | ||||||
| 78a | "Kerry's Story: Uncovered" | The Bill: Uncovered documentary | Henry Klejdys | Julie Hill | 4 November 2004 | 258A |
| Confined to a courtroom, Gabriel reveals all behind Kerry's time at Sun Hill. From the relationships to the high life, from the career choices to the bad decisions. No stone is left unturned. No barrier is left closed. Who was Kerry Young? Let Gabriel tell all. | ||||||
| 79 | "Where Loyalties Lie" | Final appearance of DS Debbie McAllister | Philip John | Steve Griffiths | 10 November 2004 | 259 |
| McAllister lines up plans to nail Wesley Patterson‘s drug smuggling ring with Honey’s ex-fiancée Fletch. Just as she’s ready to conduct the arrest, son Andrew is admitted to hospital after his fall the day before, causing her to reassess her entire life. Meanwhile, Gold confirms to Smithy and the relief that Young was pregnant with Kent’s child, and Ackland makes the mistake of involving Kent in the case of a pregnant teen intent on having an abortion. Dunbar shares the news with Smith that Young said she was raped by Kent. | ||||||
| 80 | "Not the Real Thing" | Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Nic Phillips | Simon Moss | 11 November 2004 | 260 |
| Stamp and Hollis arrest a prolific burglar who points them in direction of a victim who had a severed arm in his house. Best and Sim investigate, and Best thinks he’s gotten his big break when he comes across it, but he becomes a laughingstock when MIT, forensics and Meadows arrive to discover it’s a fake. Redemption comes when they find a real one in the suspect’s shed. Meanwhile, Smithy is teamed up with Kent when local villain Jimmy Cross is targeted for selling dodgy consignments of vodka, unknowingly sparking a turf war with none other than the Radfords. On Smithy's advice, Dunbar informs Morrell during interview that Young had accused Kent of raping her shortly prior to her death. | ||||||
| 81 | "Long Buried Secrets" | Lynda Bellingham, Sam Callis and Anthony Jackson guest star | Nic Phillips | Harold Jordan | 17 November 2004 | 261 |
| Stamp and Hollis attend the scene when the grave of Wayne Radford is desecrated with paint. CCTV reveals that career criminal Jimmy Cross is responsible for the attack, and Gold is forced to break the news to Irene and David. Gold believes she has convinced Irene to let the police deal with Cross, but later receives a call to say that Cross has been shot in a drive-by shooting. Forensics reveals that the gun used in the shooting was the same gun used to kill Thatcher's father over twenty-years ago, and a review of the case uncovers some possible new evidence. Meanwhile, Morrell questions Kent after Dunbar's allegations that he raped Young, and a gleaming Hunter discovers Manson and Dunbar's affair. | ||||||
| 82 | "Mexican Stand-Off" | Lynda Bellingham, Sam Callis, Lois Baxter and David Simeon guest star | Laurence Moody | Harold Jordan | 18 November 2004 | 262 |
| Thatcher confronts Karl Radford when he discovers through a friend in MIT that new evidence suggests that a third party was involved in the shooting of his father, only for Karl to reveal that his mother, Irene, was the one who pull the trigger. After giving David Radford a severe beating, Thatcher goes on the rampage and attempts to finish the Radfords once and for all - confronting Irene face to face, before being shot himself by David. Thatcher manages to escape, but ends up going on the run to save his own skin. Meanwhile, Nixon is disturbed by three roses which arrive at the station, until she is sent a link to a website which shows Abi locked in a shipping container - with a clock in the corner. | ||||||
| 83 | "Closer to Home" | Hywel Bennett guest stars | Laurence Moody | Graham Mitchell | 24 November 2004 | 263 |
| With little over fours remaining, Nixon must rally the team to discover Abi's location before it is too late. Looking over her old cases, she realises that her nemesis Peter Baxter may have something to do with Abi's abduction, but in interview, he claims to be totally innocent. When Wallis trips up and mentions one of Abi's nicknames in passing, Nixon realises that Abi's abductor has been under her nose all along. A search of Baxter's industrial unit reveals a series of numbers, which have been graffited on the wall, which provide co-ordinates as to Abi's location. A search of a local container yard finds Abi alive and well, but Nixon is upset to find that her evidence against Wallis has disappeared from his car. | ||||||
| 84 | "Beginner's Luck" | First appearance of PC Amber Johannsen and series regular Margaret Barnes, Hywel Bennett guest star | Rob Evans | Harold Jordan | 1 December 2004 | 264 |
| PC Amber Johannsen arrives late for her first day. DeCosta deals with a woman who has accused her husband of beating her, but is puzzled when the husband completely denies all knowledge. Nixon is startled when Abi reveals Hugh as her abductor, but she chooses to go home and live with him instead of giving evidence against him. | ||||||
| 85 | "Closing the Book" | TBA | Rob Evans | Stuart Blackburn | 8 December 2004 | 265 |
| At Ackland’s leaving party, Carver reveals the extent of his debts. Steve Hunter tries living up to big brother Phil’s reputation when he Johannsen have a quick rendezvous, DeCosta attempts to build bridges between Maggie and her husband, and Johannsen’s second day on the job proves eventful when she and Ackland uncover a family terrorising residents on a local estate. | ||||||
| 86 | "Salvation" | Departure of Sgt. June Ackland, Lenora Crichlow and Freddie Cunliffe guest star | Brett Fallis | Mark Johnson | 9 December 2004 | 266 |
| Ackland decides to give Carver one more chance, before pairing with old friend Stamp for her final day at Sun Hill, investigating an alleged vengeance against a country and western singer. She waits for Carver after her shift, unaware he has been kidnapped by Zacadelli. When Carver is freed he returns to the station, he finds a letter from a June... complete with her wedding ring. Elsewhere, Perkins and Sim investigate a case of a youth leader who has assaulted two of his club members. | ||||||
| 87 | "A Different Kind of Justice" | Lenora Crichlow, Sean Gilder and James Ellis guest star | Brett Fallis | Scott Cherry | 14 December 2004 | 267 |
| Kent learns Smithy reported him over Young’s rape allegation and the two come to blows - but retribution comes from an unexpected source when the corrupt copper is gunned down by the Sun Hill sniper. Elsewhere, suspicion falls on Shirley Moss after Hemmingway’s niece accidentally swallows an Ecstasy tablet. | ||||||
| 88 | "The Perfect Alibi" | First appearance of PC Leela Kapoor | Peter Butler | Harold Jordan | 15 December 2004 | 268 |
| New recruit PC Leela Kapoor proves her mettle on her first day at Sun Hill, but the exposure of a dark secret from her past sours her working relationship with Murphy. Carver contemplates stepping outside the law to pay off his gambling debts, while another shooting by the serial sniper leads to an influx of armed officers, but Rollins warns partner Powell off public displays of affection as he tries to hide his sexuality from SO19. | ||||||
| 89 | "Anything for a Dime" | TBA | Peter Butler | John Milne | 16 December 2004 | 269 |
| Carver sinks to a new low when he pawns a watch from evidence to raise the cash he needs to pay off his gambling debts – then promptly blows the lot on a horse. Dunbar refuses to abandon her undercover assignment after editor Bruce Malcolm is hauled over the coals by Okaro over leaked stories. Kent goes to find Jason Hardy's rifle, but Smithy finds it before him, and it appears to be only a matter of time before the culprit is finally caught. However as the building is cleared, Kent rushes to Hardy's address, threatening that no one would care if he was shot. Grabbing a nearby pistol, a struggle ensues and the gun goes off. As SO19 rush to the apartment, Kent forces Hardy over the balcony railing but he holds on for dear life as PC Steve Hunter looks on from the ground level, but Gabriel 'drops' Hardy and he falls to his death. | ||||||
| 90 | "An Unwanted Death" | PC Yvonne Hemmingway is promoted to A/Sgt, Lenora Crichlow guest stars | Alan MacMillan | Maxwell Young | 21 December 2004 | 270 |
| DI Morrell arrives to investigate the death of the Sun Hill sniper. Kent tries to convince Hunter to tell MIT that he tried to save Hardy but dropped him. Elsewhere, Stamp and Hollis engage in a pursuit that leads to the death of the driver, but his seriously injured passenger is revealed as Shirley Moss. Hemmingway discovers sister Beverley on scene when she stumbles into Drummond and Sim’s OBBO to nail a supplier linked to Moss. Hemmingway eats humble pie and apologizes to Moss, but the young mother turns it down. Rollins initially lashes out at Powell when SO19 find out he’s gay, but he changes his tune and stuns his boyfriend with a proposal. Johannsen gets the attention of the entire relief when she kisses a barmaid at the Christmas party, while Manson is shattered when he sees Dunbar kissing Smithy. | ||||||
| 91 | "One Rule for One" | Lynda Bellingham and Lenora Crichlow guest star | Alan MacMillan | Harold Jordan | 22 December 2004 | 271 |
| It's a difficult day for Hemmingway as she makes up with Shirley Moss, but events take a devastating turn when Shirley tragically dies from the injuries sustained in the car crash. Gold believes her eyes are deceiving her when she gets sight of Irene Radford, but Meadows confirms it is all too true - Sun Hill's crime matriarch is indeed back. Stamp and Dunbar investigate a sudden death before breaking up a disturbance at a club, where Dunbar is hospitalized after a serious assault. When she awakes in hospital, she has Smith and Manson vying for her affections. Murphy convinces a conflicted Powell to accept Rollins’ proposal. | ||||||
| 92 | "Bust" | Lynda Bellingham and Pip Torrens guest star | Robert Bierman | Emma Goodwin | 23 December 2004 | 272 |
| Gold is left unconvinced when Irene Radford says she returned because she has cancer and wants to make peace. Keen to unravel the lies, Gold sends Hunter to watch Irene meet her son David in prison. When he gets distracted with an old flame, DS Saunders, Hunter is forced to lie when the tape is reset and all the activity is lost. Fed duff information, Gold leads a bungled raid on a factory. As they clean up, Prison Liaison Officer Saunders arrives and tells Nixon that David Radford is being transferred, and Hunter & Gold arrive to find the van being raided. | ||||||
| 93 | "Return of the Gang Queen" | Final appearance of DC Rob Thatcher, Lynda Bellingham and Ruth Sheen guest star | Robert Bierman | Christopher Reason | 29 December 2004 | 273 |
| When Irene Radford’s raid on son David’s van fails, the gang queen takes Gold hostage and drives her to an isolated cottage while planning her next move. The two women, good and bad side of the penny, realize they have more in common than first thought. After arranging the murder of old accomplice Jack Gaunt, the kidnap squad race to the cottage to rescue Gold, but she is driven away at speed by Radford. Arriving at an airfield, SO19 close in, only for Thatcher to show up to the showdown. Elsewhere, the Hunter brothers are berated by their female colleagues for their recent sexual discrepancies. | ||||||
| 94 | "The Cold Winter Blues" | Colm Ó Maonlaí, Ruth Sheen and Elliott Jordan guest star | Jo Johnson | Martin McCardie | 30 December 2004 | 274 |
| DeCosta borrows Perkins to investigate a suspected paedophile, but her doubts about her colleague's ability to deal with the job is proven when he decides to go back after brother Ben. CID, Hunter and Drummond in particular, struggle to deal with Thatcher’s death. Meanwhile, the relief let their hair down at Powell’s stag party - only for the guest of honour to be kidnapped. | ||||||
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