Classic cop drama 'The Bill' set for reboot with original cast members

The Bill could be on the way back, with a reboot confirmed to be in development — and several of the most beloved cast members are in talks to return.

It has been more than a decade since ITV's primetime cop show came to an end, airing from 1983 until 2010 as a stalwart part of the channel's drama slate.

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Now Radio Times has confirmed an initial report by The Sun, revealing that a potential reboot of the series is in an early stage of development.

The series is currently using the working title Sun Hill — after the main police station — and has stars Graham Cole (PC Tony Stamp), Trudie Goodwin (Sgt June Ackland), and Mark Wingett (DC Jim Carver) in the frame to hop on board.

ITV announced the cancellation of The Bill in 2010, stating: "Times change, and so do the tastes of our audience".

The decision sparked a fan campaign to save it, which was supported by Chris Moyles — then the host of the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1.

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Ben Peyton, who played PC Ben Hayward on The Bill between 2000 and 2002, told Yahoo Entertainment UK he welcomed the news of a reboot.

"Like many people, I’m still baffled as to why The Bill was axed in the first place," he said.

"If it does come back, it will bring joy to so many and provide job opportunities for hundreds of crew — not to mention work for rising stars and already established faces in the industry."

The Sun quoted a source, who said the project started picking up pace after members of the cast reconnected last year for a video call reunion during lockdown.

They added: "The idea in the early script is that it’s some new cast mixed with some of the legends of the original.

"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."

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Fans of the show have welcomed the news of a reboot on social media, with old episodes still popular on streaming platforms.

The original run of the show aired 2,425 episodes over the course of 26 series and was a consistent ratings hit.

The show managed to attract a huge audience of 10 million viewers for a live episode to mark its 20th birthday in 2003.

Notable guest stars appeared throughout the original run of The Bill, with early performances from the likes of Russell Brand, Keira Knightley and David Tennant.

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