Stars Steven Hartley and Mark Wingett, who played Superintendent Tom Chandler and Detective Constable Jim Carver respectively in the long-running ITV police drama "The Bill," have reunited for a new photograph. The image, shared on social media 16 years after the series concluded, shows the actors looking significantly different from their on-screen characters.
Hartley, 65, who portrayed Supt. Tom Chandler from 2000 to 2002, posted the picture on Instagram with his "old dressing-room mucker and great friend," Mark Wingett. Wingett, also 65, was a prominent cast member for much of the show's run, playing DC Jim Carver from 1983 to 2007.
The reunion has fueled considerable excitement among fans, with many expressing hopes for a revival of the beloved series. Comments on Hartley's post included "Two legends in the acting world," "OGs! Absolute British acting legends," and direct pleas such as "They need to bring The Bill Back!" and "Does this mean a Bill reunion?! Please!"
"The Bill" originally aired from August 1983 to August 2010, amassing 2,425 episodes and chronicling the lives of officers at the fictional Sun Hill police station in East London. The show was known for its realistic portrayal of police work and also served as a launching pad for numerous actors before their rise to fame, including Emma Bunton, James McAvoy, Russell Brand, and Joanne Froggatt.
Speculation about a return for "The Bill" has surfaced previously. In July 2021, reports emerged that writer Simon Sansome had acquired the rights to the original series and was in talks with original cast members, including Graham Cole, Trudie Goodwin, and Mark Wingett. At the time, an insider suggested that UKTV was in the early stages of developing a new version of the show, with a potential airdate as early as 2023. The source indicated that "The Bill" was seen by many producers as a drama "just sitting, waiting, to be rebooted," with a format that attracted a loyal following.
During the COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020, several cast members, including Trudie, Mark Wingett, Graham Cole, and Chris Ellison, participated in a virtual reunion. The actors reminisced about their time on the show, sharing anecdotes from the set, including Ellison's recollections of filming car scenes and Wingett's memories of laughter on set. Graham Cole also humorously mentioned Keira Knightley, who appeared on the show in 1995 as one of her first television roles.
