The Bill title sequences
Encyclopedia
The Bill's
title sequences have varied greatly over the 26 years it has been on air.
as part of its Storyboard strand of one-off dramas entitled Woodentop
. The episode began with the regular Storyboard title sequence and an introductory scene with PC Jim Carver which was followed by the title caption of the episode.
The first series in 1984 has its own unique title sequence, featuring images of the feet of two uniformed officers walking towards the camera interspersed with shots of the streets of Sun Hill. Then the camera zooms in on the male officer's helmet and the title of the show appears, followed by the credit 'devised by Geoff McQueen'.
For the second series in 1985, the titles were completely changed: now, they began with a shot of the Area Car approaching the camera with blue light flashing and siren wailing, and then its tyres screeching as the music began: the camera would end up with a close-up on the blue light atop the car. Two-second filtered action shots of various members of the cast were then shown, interspersed with images of the blue light. "The Bill" and "Devised by Geoff McQueen" would then appear over a hold shot of the light, and then the episode would begin.
The 1988 titles removed the filter effect, and were updated to reflect cast changes. The first rework of the theme tune: "Overkill", debuted in 1988. It also introduced another trademark to the titles: Sergeant Bob Cryer was always the last person to be shown. In this title sequence, he is talking and nodding. The 1991 sequence differs as it does not actually feature the area car driving towards camera, and simply begins with the police light spinning before cutting through the cast footage. The credit "The Bill" is shown over a shot of the new area car driving past camera, and Cryer is now shouting at someone. In 1993, the title sequence changed once again to one closer resembling the one seen in 1988, with a new area car driving towards camera again and Cryer is shouting at someone (Same as the 1991 titles but slightly longer).
In 1996, an ingenious addition was made. Separate title sequences were created with specially-filled footage: one for episodes that took place during the day and one for those set at night. Again, a new Area Car in the credits, and the timing of the music was subtly changed. Instead of kicking in immediately after the screech of tyres, it now begun at the same time. In both title sequences, Cryer looks up for the camera.
In 1998, in the second major revamp of the old titles were thrown out entirely, in favour of new opening titles featuring images of generic police things: dayglo jacket
s, hat
s, a suspect
being interviewed, and a map
in CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) among other things. The Bill's current logo was introduced along with the new titles. The music was made sound more 'ethnic' by the addition of a few background notes from a sitar
or balalaika
.
The titles were changed in 2001 to show cast members moving in slow motion, fading in and out of each other with a blue filter effect and the music was remixed to take it back closer to the 1988 Pask/Morgan mix of "Overkill". This was updated in 2002 to take into account the huge cast turnaround.
With characters arriving and departed so rapidly by this stage (9 officers died in 2002), the 2003 titles vaguely resembled the 1998 ones, removing the cast members, and showed police related images over a checkerboard effect.
On the 3 January 2007 to bring in the new year, the episode opening titles
were revamped once again, paying homage to the original 1984 titles. The 2007 ones have shots of London, interspersed with police work and shots of Sun Hill Police Station. The break bumpers and music were also updated.
On 23 July 2009, the opening titles saw the biggest changes in the show's history with the theme music being changed dramatically and the titles showing a new area car speeding round the streets of London with the shows name flashing on the screen one word at a time followed by the episodes title.
(June Ackland) and Mark Wingett
(Jim Carver), but they were too busy filming other scenes so two extra
s were recruited instead—Karen England and Paul Page Hanson.
The length of the closing credits in the earlier years last over one-and-a-half minutes, with the length slowly being cut down to around 36 seconds by the mid 90s. Three versions of the credits were filmed.
In 1998, the "plodding feet" closing was scrapped, and replaced with police images. 2001's closing sequence featured police images in the style of the 2001 opening credits. Eventually, by late 2002, ITV's new policy on credits had come into force and from then on, the closing credits have adorned the ITV default backdrop. In 2007, the closing credits were renewed, now becoming clips of a camera inside an area car driving around London.
During the first three series, the first two names shown in the closing credits would always be those of DI Galloway (John Salthouse
) and Sgt Cryer (Eric Richard
), although not always in the same order. This trend continued following Galloway's departure, and in the 1988 & 1989 closing credits Sgt. Bob Cryer - regardless of how dominant his role in the episode - was always the first person to be credited, unless he did not appear at all. A good example of this is in the 1989 episode "Duty Elsewhere" where Sgt. Cryer had only one line and P.C. Haynes featured in the whole plot with several lines - Sgt. Cryer was still credited first.
. Rick Wakeman was offered the chance to write the theme tune either for this series or for Lytton's Diary (1985). He chose the latter, believing that it had the best potential of the two to be a long-running series. It ran for two seasons.
There were several arrangements of "Overkill". The first, used for the 1984-87 titles, featured a guitar riff, with synthesiser, bass and drum accompaniment, with "middle-eight
" sections performed on synthesizers. It was reworked in 1988 with a new arrangement of instruments. This version (of various lengths) was used throughout the 1988-1998 titles. A bouncy prominent saxophone riff was introduced, and is better known than the original. Both versions were written in the irregular time of 7/4 with the exception of the "middle-eight" sections which were written in 4/4.
Later in 1998, Mark Russell
arranged a new version of the theme, to go with that year's revamp of the series. It was "jazzed" up to make it more soapy sounding, the saxophone becoming more prominent (or "stressed out"), and had a metre of 4/4 instead of the irregular 7/4. The "middle-eight" sections were omitted from this arrangement, as with the other arrangements from this point on.
Another new version, arranged by Miles Bould and Mike Westergaard, came with the 2001 titles. This had the 7/4 time of the original arrangement, and was performed with electronic instruments, which had the effect of making the theme darker in tone. There have been two recordings of this arrangement - one cuts out some of the beginning riff, and the other uses the full main riff. The arrangement which came with the 2003 titles was by Lawrence Oakley, and was a pumped-up version of the original 1984 arrangement of "Overkill"; this was changed slightly for the 2007 titles.
The original 1984 arrangement of "Overkill" was released as a 7" vinyl single in 1985. It featured a 'B' side containing the track "Rock Steady", which was also written by Pask/Morgan. The vinyl was distributed by Columbia Records.
On 2 July 2009, it was announced that "Overkill" was to be dropped in favour of a brand new, more dramatic theme tune when the show moved to a 9pm timeslot at the end of that month. Series producer Tim Key stated that this new tune would contain two motifs of "Overkill", but these would be very subtle. The new theme, along with the revamp, had been poorly received by many viewers. British team of composers 'Simba Studios' had scored the new 9pm episodes. In the closing credits of the final episode, this theme was reworked; this time, however, more akin to "Overkill".
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
title sequences have varied greatly over the 26 years it has been on air.
Woodentop
The series started as an episode for ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
as part of its Storyboard strand of one-off dramas entitled Woodentop
Woodentop (The Bill)
"Woodentop" is an episode of the Thames Television series of one-off plays Storyboard. The programme was originally broadcast on 16 August 1983. It is also the forerunner to the long-running British police television series The Bill...
. The episode began with the regular Storyboard title sequence and an introductory scene with PC Jim Carver which was followed by the title caption of the episode.
Opening Credits
The 1988 titles removed the filter effect, and were updated to reflect cast changes. The first rework of the theme tune: "Overkill", debuted in 1988. It also introduced another trademark to the titles: Sergeant Bob Cryer was always the last person to be shown. In this title sequence, he is talking and nodding. The 1991 sequence differs as it does not actually feature the area car driving towards camera, and simply begins with the police light spinning before cutting through the cast footage. The credit "The Bill" is shown over a shot of the new area car driving past camera, and Cryer is now shouting at someone. In 1993, the title sequence changed once again to one closer resembling the one seen in 1988, with a new area car driving towards camera again and Cryer is shouting at someone (Same as the 1991 titles but slightly longer).
In 1996, an ingenious addition was made. Separate title sequences were created with specially-filled footage: one for episodes that took place during the day and one for those set at night. Again, a new Area Car in the credits, and the timing of the music was subtly changed. Instead of kicking in immediately after the screech of tyres, it now begun at the same time. In both title sequences, Cryer looks up for the camera.
In 1998, in the second major revamp of the old titles were thrown out entirely, in favour of new opening titles featuring images of generic police things: dayglo jacket
Jacket
A jacket is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear...
s, hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
s, a suspect
Suspect
In the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a known person suspected of committing a crime.Police and reporters often incorrectly use the word suspect when referring to the...
being interviewed, and a map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
in CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) among other things. The Bill's current logo was introduced along with the new titles. The music was made sound more 'ethnic' by the addition of a few background notes from a sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
or balalaika
Balalaika
The balalaika is a stringed musical instrument popular in Russia, with a characteristic triangular body and three strings.The balalaika family of instruments includes instruments of various sizes, from the highest-pitched to the lowest, the prima balalaika, secunda balalaika, alto balalaika, bass...
.
The titles were changed in 2001 to show cast members moving in slow motion, fading in and out of each other with a blue filter effect and the music was remixed to take it back closer to the 1988 Pask/Morgan mix of "Overkill". This was updated in 2002 to take into account the huge cast turnaround.
With characters arriving and departed so rapidly by this stage (9 officers died in 2002), the 2003 titles vaguely resembled the 1998 ones, removing the cast members, and showed police related images over a checkerboard effect.
On the 3 January 2007 to bring in the new year, the episode opening titles
were revamped once again, paying homage to the original 1984 titles. The 2007 ones have shots of London, interspersed with police work and shots of Sun Hill Police Station. The break bumpers and music were also updated.
On 23 July 2009, the opening titles saw the biggest changes in the show's history with the theme music being changed dramatically and the titles showing a new area car speeding round the streets of London with the shows name flashing on the screen one word at a time followed by the episodes title.
Sgt Cryer's expressions (1988–1997 titles)
From 1988 to 1997, Sgt. Bob Cryer was always the last person shown in the title sequences. These are his actions depicted.| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 1988–1990 | Talking, nodding, and giving a reprimand |
| 1991–1992 | Shouting (he noticeably appears to be mouthing the words "I have no idea what you're talking about!") |
| 1993–1994 | Shouting (longer version of the 1991–1992 action) |
| 1995 | Raising head |
| 1996–1998 | Looks up to face the camera |
Closing Credits
Possibly the most iconic part of The Bills presentation was the closing titles between 1984 and 1998, featuring two pairs of policeman's feet—male and female, side-by-side -- "plodding" away from the camera along a cobbled street. These accompanied the opening titles of the 1984 credits, but were kept on after the original opening sequence was scrapped. The feet were originally intended to be those of Trudie GoodwinTrudie Goodwin
Trudie Goodwin is an English actress best known for playing Sergeant June Ackland in the high-profile British television police drama The Bill from 1984 to 2007. On September 7th, 2011 it was announced that Goodwin is to join the long-running soap Emmerdale...
(June Ackland) and Mark Wingett
Mark Wingett
Mark Wingett , is an English actor. He is best known for playing the role of Jim Carver in the ITV1 police procedural The Bill.-Career:...
(Jim Carver), but they were too busy filming other scenes so two extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
s were recruited instead—Karen England and Paul Page Hanson.
The length of the closing credits in the earlier years last over one-and-a-half minutes, with the length slowly being cut down to around 36 seconds by the mid 90s. Three versions of the credits were filmed.
In 1998, the "plodding feet" closing was scrapped, and replaced with police images. 2001's closing sequence featured police images in the style of the 2001 opening credits. Eventually, by late 2002, ITV's new policy on credits had come into force and from then on, the closing credits have adorned the ITV default backdrop. In 2007, the closing credits were renewed, now becoming clips of a camera inside an area car driving around London.
During the first three series, the first two names shown in the closing credits would always be those of DI Galloway (John Salthouse
John Salthouse
John Salthouse is a British actor and producer. He is perhaps best known for creating the role of Tony in Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party and DI Roy Galloway in The Bill from 1984 to 1987...
) and Sgt Cryer (Eric Richard
Eric Richard
Eric Richard is an English actor.His theatre work includes plays at the Royal Court Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, as well as seasons with the Royal Exchange, Manchester, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Sheffield Crucible Theatre and Paines Plough...
), although not always in the same order. This trend continued following Galloway's departure, and in the 1988 & 1989 closing credits Sgt. Bob Cryer - regardless of how dominant his role in the episode - was always the first person to be credited, unless he did not appear at all. A good example of this is in the 1989 episode "Duty Elsewhere" where Sgt. Cryer had only one line and P.C. Haynes featured in the whole plot with several lines - Sgt. Cryer was still credited first.
Music
The Bill's theme music until 2009 was called "Overkill". This was originally written by Andy Pask and Charlie MorganCharlie Morgan
Charlie Morgan is an English drummer and percussionist.In 1985 his drumming work with Nik Kershaw attracted the attention of Elton John, who booked him to play on his Ice on Fire album. Later that year John invited him to play with his band at Live Aid...
. Rick Wakeman was offered the chance to write the theme tune either for this series or for Lytton's Diary (1985). He chose the latter, believing that it had the best potential of the two to be a long-running series. It ran for two seasons.
There were several arrangements of "Overkill". The first, used for the 1984-87 titles, featured a guitar riff, with synthesiser, bass and drum accompaniment, with "middle-eight
Thirty-two-bar form
The thirty-two-bar form, often called AABA from the musical form or order in which its melodies occur, is common in Tin Pan Alley songs and later popular music including rock, pop and jazz...
" sections performed on synthesizers. It was reworked in 1988 with a new arrangement of instruments. This version (of various lengths) was used throughout the 1988-1998 titles. A bouncy prominent saxophone riff was introduced, and is better known than the original. Both versions were written in the irregular time of 7/4 with the exception of the "middle-eight" sections which were written in 4/4.
Later in 1998, Mark Russell
Mark Russell (composer)
Mark Russell is a British composer whose works include music for the television series Cold Feet, Murder City and Kingdom. He presented Mixing It on BBC Radio 3 from 1990 to 2007, when the programme ended...
arranged a new version of the theme, to go with that year's revamp of the series. It was "jazzed" up to make it more soapy sounding, the saxophone becoming more prominent (or "stressed out"), and had a metre of 4/4 instead of the irregular 7/4. The "middle-eight" sections were omitted from this arrangement, as with the other arrangements from this point on.
Another new version, arranged by Miles Bould and Mike Westergaard, came with the 2001 titles. This had the 7/4 time of the original arrangement, and was performed with electronic instruments, which had the effect of making the theme darker in tone. There have been two recordings of this arrangement - one cuts out some of the beginning riff, and the other uses the full main riff. The arrangement which came with the 2003 titles was by Lawrence Oakley, and was a pumped-up version of the original 1984 arrangement of "Overkill"; this was changed slightly for the 2007 titles.
The original 1984 arrangement of "Overkill" was released as a 7" vinyl single in 1985. It featured a 'B' side containing the track "Rock Steady", which was also written by Pask/Morgan. The vinyl was distributed by Columbia Records.
On 2 July 2009, it was announced that "Overkill" was to be dropped in favour of a brand new, more dramatic theme tune when the show moved to a 9pm timeslot at the end of that month. Series producer Tim Key stated that this new tune would contain two motifs of "Overkill", but these would be very subtle. The new theme, along with the revamp, had been poorly received by many viewers. British team of composers 'Simba Studios' had scored the new 9pm episodes. In the closing credits of the final episode, this theme was reworked; this time, however, more akin to "Overkill".