The Bill series 9


The ninth series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 155 episodes, broadcast between 5 January and 31 December 1993. The series was released on DVD for the first time on 3 October 2012, in Australia. As of the year's first episode, the series increased its weekly output to three 30-minute episodes, having been twice-weekly half-hour episodes since 1988. The series saw a number of high-profile exits, including a shooting murder for WDC Viv Martella, the dismissal of DS Ted Roach for assaulting Inspector Andrew Monroe and the mysterious at the time exit of DI Frank Burnside, whose exit reason would not be revealed until he returned in 1998. Characters from previous years joined the series, including DS Danny Pearce, who appeared as a DC from another station the previous year. In addition, Chief Inspector Philip Cato and DI Harry Haines joined after past guest stints; Haines, like Pearce, appeared the year before as DS Haines, while Cato had appeared in 1990 as the Inspector at Barton Street, the man who ended the career of Sergeant Tom Penny.
Audio commentaries have been released for the episodes "No Thanks To You", "Blind Spot", "On the Loose" and "Compliments of the Service" with actor Mike Burnside.

Cast changes

Arrivals

Departures

  • WDC Viv Martella – Shot dead on duty
  • PC Ron Smollett – Unexplained
  • DS Ted Roach – Resigned after assaulting Inspector Andrew Monroe
  • PC Barry Stringer – Transferred after resigning as Fed Rep
  • Sgt John Maitland – Transferred to Hendon
  • DI Frank Burnside – Joined what later became the National Crime Squad for undercover work
  • Sgt Jane Kendall – Unexplained
  • DI Harry Haines – Transferred back to the Drugs Squad

Episodes