Poll: Will you be watching 'The Bill' at 9pm?

This week's poll's a little different in that everyone knows the answer before I've even published the results! So, casting your minds back, I asked Who is Whitney's mystery male follower?.

An overwhelming 75% of those polled guessed correctly that Ryan (yep, that's his name) is a relative of Whitney. In fact, he was yesterday revealed as her half-brother. They have the same mother in Debra Dean (Ruth Gemmell), but it's fair to say that Ryan's not her biggest fan. Debra's not a fan of Ryan's, come to think of it.

So it's Whitney who finds herself in the middle of a mother and son wrangle. But why is Ryan in Walford? Put it this way, he's looking for something. Something quite important...

Without further ado, here's where the remaining 25 of the votes went:

Someone else 9.3%
An escaped prisoner 8.9%
A stalker 4.4%
An admirer 2.4%

Now onto this week's The Bill-based question. Before that actually, here's a first look at one of the photos from the first 9pm episode 'Live By The Sword'.



If you don't already know, The Bill's moving to a post-watershed timeslot at 9pm on Thursdays. At the beginning of the year, it was announced that the police drama's output was being cut in half and would only air once a week.

From July 23, The Bill will be found in the schedule just after a newly-placed Thursday episode of Coronation Street.

I popped along to the press screening a couple of weeks ago for an advance look of the first episode in the 9pm format and I have to say, I was quite surprised by what I was watching. The show's opener is pacey and has you glued from the outset, while the new theme and credits were a refreshing change. As was mentioned at the press event, you can't have a 'new show' hampered by an old theme and credits. The new music and graphics will take a little getting used to by hardcore fans, but after a couple of episodes, it'll be like they've been there for months.

Then there's the musical score. On first watch, I personally felt there to be a little too much 'chase' or 'mood' music. However... On a second watching, it's not really noticeable. Why? I think it's the knee-jerk reaction to say that there's too much of something in a show which never had that something before.

As for the story, I can't wait to see the next episode! It's a two-part opener over consecutive nights (July 23 and 24) and I'm left eagerly awaiting the second DVD!

I'd say to anyone who hasn't watched The Bill properly in a good few years to give the new 9pm show a go. Meanwhile, those fans who have watched the show for years and are sceptical of the impending change, it's worth giving it a chance. I think you might be surprised.

If you're not convinced, then I'd suggest you have a read of my interview with series producer Tim Key to see what he has to say about the revamp.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on the forthcoming 9pm episodes of The Bill? Will you be watching? Cast your vote using the panel below.



Let me know your views on anything above by using the usual form below!