I like a good TV crossover, and frankly, we simply don’t have enough on British television. Yes we might get Charlie Fairhead walking through an episode of Holby Blue on his way to the loo or something, but that’s not a crossover, that’s just lazy. So as you can imagine, I’m cock-a-hoop at the news that perennial ITV drama, The Bill, is to celebrate its 25th anniversary with an audacious crossover project…
Sadly, however, we won’t be seeing DCI Jack Meadows and his team turning up in Bonekickers to arrest Gillian Magwilde and her brood of wannabe Indiana Joneses for trespassing. Shame. The long-running police procedural will actually be going further afield for this celebratory enterprise and team up with a show that few people on these shores will have seen.
Police drama serial SOKO Leipzig has been running on German television since 2001, and the production teams for both shows have come together to craft a two-part collaboration that will feature characters from the both The Bill and SOKO Leipzig…
The story will follow Leipzig’s Hauptkommissar Hajo Trautzschke (Andreas Schmidt-Schaller) as he travels to London to investigate the disappearance of his goddaughter, seeking assistance from The Bill’s perennial guv’nor, DCI Jack Meadows (Simon Rouse). Other characters from The Bill and SOKO Leipzig will also feature, including Chris Simmons as DC Mickey Webb.
I find myself getting quite excited by this - the first time The Bill has done that in about 20 years. My only reaction to the show these days is a weary: “Oh, is it still on?” But I used to love it back in the early days - heck, I even bought John Burke’s novelisation of some first series episodes. I was the kind of boy who bought TV tie-ins.
What I like about the notion of this anniversary crossover is that it feels quite innovative and forward thinking, certainly for British television. We might not have seen SOKO Leipzig in the UK, but it will give a fresh perspective to an old faithful of British television.
And for those who are interested, thanks to the wonders of Youtube, we can bring you the very exciting looking title sequence for SOKO Leipzig…
German cop shows are always more exciting than ours - at least of late. "Der Puma - Kämpfer mit Herz" even got Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen in to direct an episode (or two).
Personally, I don't see the point of doing a cross-over with a show that hardly anyone in this country will have seen. The whole point of a cross-over is the fun of seeing familar characters mixed together in different settings.
Plus most euro-anglo collaboratuions I've seen on TV are awful.
Couldn't it have been a crossover with CSI? That would be so much cooler, altho I think the Bill would be embarrassed because CSI's just got the slicker production values and the exotic different factor. Can you imagine Gary Sinise in Sun Hill? Doesn't quite work doesn't it. They'd have to bring their lighting team and dop over too.
We looked at some German soaps at uni for broadcasting courses, they were so camp and unashamedly commercial. The cast would make albums that would be advertised in the programme breaks, the soaps would spawn bands, and show merchandise. Hang on, now it makes sense, now wonder ITV are joining ranks with German Television. The Bill the Boyband anyone?