| Episode No. | Series | |
| 88 | 1989x005 |
The Chain of Command is the 88th episode of The Bill.
Ch. Insp. Conway is late for a meeting with a Mr. Trevelyan from the Department of Trade and Industry, who wants police help in shutting down Radio Sun Hill, a pirate radio station. Conway orders the winos who blocked his car taken off the streets, but when one of them tries to escape from his cell, Sgt. Cryer recognises him as an old friend from his army days, who turns out to be undercover. P.C. Smith asks W.P.C. Martella to talk to a lady who has been beaten up by her boyfriend. She changes her mind about pressing charges as she doesn't want her husband to know. She then explains the injuries by saying the police beat her up, and her husband turns up and attacks Smith. Despite D.S. Roach's objections that it's a waste of police time, he, Carver, Dashwood and Edwards raid Radio Sun Hill, but they escape.
Main cast
- Eric Richard as Sgt. Cryer
- Nula Conwell as W.P.C. Martella
- Eamonn Walker as P.C. Haynes
- Larry Dann as Sgt. Peters
- Ben Roberts as Ch. Insp. Conway
- Tony Scannell as D.S. Roach
- Robert Hudson as P.C. Smith
- Colin Blumenau as P.C. Edwards
- Trudie Goodwin as W.P.C. Ackland
- Nick Reding as P.C. Ramsey
- Roger Leach as Sgt. Penny
- Mark Wingett as D.C. Carver
- Jon Iles as D.C. Dashwood
- Mark Powley as P.C. Melvin
Guest cast
- Mrs Lavery - Stella Gonet
- Mr. Trevelyan - Gilbert Wynn
- Trevor Ross - John Cording
- Major Briley - Ray Armstrong
- Mr. Lavery - Derek Lea
- Dolly - Joyce Grundy
- 1st Wino - Christopher Guinee
- 2nd Wino - Ronnie Letham
- Radio Sun Hill D.J. - Brian Bovell
Notes[]
Brian Bovell, who plays the voice of Radio Sun Hill, would later join the cast as D.C. Rob Thatcher. Bovell is barely visible in this episode, but his voice can be heard on Haynes's radio.