The Bill (1984)

The check is in the mail and The Bill (1984-2010) is on TV. Or, at least it was for more than 25 years in the UK. This long-running series is a lesson on how to make a police procedural work. Despite earning controversy for its violence on television, the show received a Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award, two British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, and was named Best Drama at the Inside Soap Awards for four years in a row! The popular series also boasts notable guest stars including Emma Bunton, Hugh Laurie, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Nicholas Hoult, Ray Winstone, Roger Daltrey, Russell Brand, and Sean Bean. Set at the London-based Sun Hill police station, the crime drama centers around various men in blue, from Sergeant Bob Cryer (Eric Richard) to the corrupt Detective Sergeant Don Beech (played by England’s Billy Murray, not to be confused with America’s Bill Murray), with D.S. Frank Burnside (Christopher Ellison) and D.S. Jim Carver (Mark Wingett) in between. When not busting thugs and solving crimes, these dashing dicks remain calm and carry on with internal affairs. Even though none of the constables bare their bobbies, Gary Best (Ciarán Griffiths) briefly brandishes his bum to the delight of his fraternal friends in a hazing incident. Plus, Tait (Daniel MacPherson) and Ashton (Scott Neal) display their naked T&A in early episodes. Suffice it to say, this soap copera has enough appealing peelers to have you begging to walk their beat!