Is The Bill coming back in 2021? Cast members, characters, theme tune – all of the series 27 rumours explained

Famed British police drama The Bill could return to screens after more than 10 years away, according to reports.

After writers acquired the original rights to the hit show, two new series are thought to be in the works, according to The Sun.

Three of the show’s original cast members – Graham Cole, Trudie Goodwin and Mark Wingett – are said to be in talks with the team behind the comeback.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

Who’s making the reboot?

The show is unlikely to go under its original moniker, but could be called ‘Sun Hill’, after the police station at the centre of The Bill’s goings on.

Writer Simon Sansome is thought to be in charge of bringing The Bill back to screens, and is reportedly in advanced talks with channels interested in broadcasting the series.

Sansome has written an early script, and is reported to also be in discussions with longtime EastEnders writer and Holby City creator Tony McHale about bringing the new show to screens.

A source told The Sun the project started picking up pace in 2020, after the cast got together to mark 10 years since the show last aired.

“Simon started investigating the rights and managed to acquire them,” they said. ”Three of the best known stars are in talks and he’s hopeful he can get them on board. Tony has seen the script and they hope they can get him signed up too.”

Who could star in it?

Graham Cole, Trudie Goodwin and Mark Wingett are the actors who are said to be interested in reprising their Sun Hill roles.

They played PC Tony Stamp, Sgt June Ackland and DC Jim Carver respectively, though it is not thought they will be the ‘stars’ of any new show.

Instead, their onscreen roles could see them as older police “consultants”, passing down their knowledge to a new generation of crime stoppers.

“The idea in the early script is that it’s some new cast mixed with some of the legends of the original,” said The Sun’s source. “The new, green, coppers need a helping hand after murder and suicide rates go sky-high in Sun Hill so they bring back the legends as consultants to help with their investigations.”

Last month, Wingett said he “hope it does come back” after 11 years off screen, describing the cop programme as “extraordinary” when Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway asked him what the chances are of a reunion.

“I think we are a bit old now aren’t we, to tell you the truth,” he said. "I would probably not take part in it but it would be great if it did come back.”

When can I watch it?

A comeback for The Bill is yet to be officially confirmed, and all of the above details are subject to change.

As such, it’s unclear when Sun Hill would be broadcast if it was to get the go-ahead.

It might not even air on ITV as the original series did – The Sun’s source has said there are “a couple of channels” interested in bringing back the well-loved show.

“They’re in constant contact and the project has begun to move on quickly,” they said. “They think, like the original, it’ll be hard-hitting but also with a nice tone the family could enjoy.”

When did The Bill first air?

The legendary TV cop drama first aired on UK television in 1983 on ITV.

Fans of the show will remember the men and women in blue from Sun Hill Police Station who enforced law and order on the beat in East London.

The show ran for more than 25 years, until ratings began to drop in the run up to 2010, making it the worlds longest-running TV police soap.

In 2003, the show marked it’s twentieth year on screen with a live episode, which the likes of Corrie and Eastenders have since copied.

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