TV Drama Texts for Analysis

The Bill

 The show focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any certain aspects of police work.When The Bill started, the majority of Police  were opposed to the programme, claiming that it portrayed the police as a racist organisation, feelings towards the programme became mellowed as it carried on being aired. It was decided that the editorial relationship between the police and the show was sufficient so that there were no difficulties with filming or unhappy Police officers.

 As part of a new serial format, much more of the characters' personal lives were explored. The change to this new format also allowed The Bill to become more reflective of modern policing with the introduction of officers from ethnic minorities, the new Superintendent, Adam Okaro was also a key minority character now introduced to show the diversity of the police. It also allowed coverage of the relationship of homosexuals within the show.

Textual Analysis

The still to the right is an action shot of various members of this met police department going to some form of emergency. The rank of police varies within this picture with the women at the back and the man on the far left being possibly some form of detective or non-uniform police officers. These two with the two uniformed officers show the cohesiveness between the department and how these people come together as a strong team to help the populous as real police would do in times of emergency. Another thing to notice with this being a more recent image from the TV series is the diversity of people even within this small group, the police have always been accused of sexism and racism whereas in the image there is a women and a black man. The equipment the people are carrying also show the form of emergency they are going to, the small ram and other equipment in the black rucksacks show that officers are equipped at all times to deal with any manner of situation. The many police vans in the background also show the amount and possibly how quick the police can react to a reported situation. With these officers also running towards the camera it seems to show them as some form of heroes with them running from the direction of the sun to reveal themselves to those in need of help.

This image represents the other half to the lives of the police men and women that are in the service. The image contains a group of off duty officers in smart suits who have gone out to have as can be seen a drink. The dark environment with the leather chairs and dark tables shows the pub environment that they are socialising in and showing that they are not just police officers every day of the week 24/7 they have lives and are normal people to which the show, The Bill really looks into.