Episode
The Bill: The Darkest Hour
Overview
CID's investigation into the paedophile ring continues to throw up unanswered questions. Meadows realises that he is sailing very close to the wind whilst trying to link Howard Sinclair over his involvement with the ring. Fitzwilliam begins to get very iffy about Meadows' actions and warns Okaro he could face disciplinary action if he fails to deal with him. Sharpe is relieved when the young child's body is revealed not to be Joanna, but is frightened that she may have come to harm. Hunter is disturbed to find his criminal contacts are being linked with the abduction inquiry, while Stamp and Best are called out to a burglary at a luxury flat and discover a little more than they initially bargained for.
Details
- Series
- The Bill
- Season
- Season 19
- Episode
- Episode 16
- Air date
- 2003-02-26
Episode context
The Darkest Hour is Episode 16 in Season 19 of The Bill. It aired on 2003-02-26.
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Episode 15: Under Pressure
Supt. Adam Okaro is under pressure from the Borough Commander to get rid of DCI Jack Meadows after Meadow's confrontation with Judge Howard Sinclair. DC Eva Sharpe is furious when she discovers that her colleagues have kept the paedophile investigation from her, but when a child is found dead, there are fears it could be Eva's daughter Joanna. DC Sharpe and Sgt. Murphy investigate a pizza delivery man's missing moped. With his career on the line, DCI Meadows turns to Sgt. June Ackland to convince a reluctant witness to make a statement against Judge Sinclair.
Episode 17: Fraught With Danger
It's the day of reckoning for CID when they finally get suspected paedophile Clive Inverdale into court, but the situation goes from bad to worse when the court is stormed by a masked man with a gun, and Inverdale is shot dead. To make matters worse, Meadows' prime suspect, Ron Gregory, has an alibi in the form of none other than Hunter. With Sinclair also out of the picture, the investigation looks to be heading nowhere. Meanwhile, Osbourne and Hollis investigate several cases of stolen masonry, including one where the owner was brutally attacked during the robbery. A search of a derelict building for the stolen goods yields much more than expected when Joanna Sharpe is found alive.
More episodes from this season
Episode 14: False Pride
Despite the objections of her colleagues, DC Eva Sharpe returns to work, escorted by new Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy. Eva's colleagues, and a special unit from Scotland Yard, do their best to investigate a possible paedophile ring without alarming Eva and her husband. PC Jim Carver finds the pressure of being the Sharpes' Family Liaison Officer too much, and finds himself tempted to have a drink, but Sgt. June Ackland is on hand to show him just how much she cares about him. DCI Jack Meadows is convinced his old friend Judge Sinclair is a paedophile, and despite DC Mickey Webb's objections to keep the investigation official and above board, Meadows confronts Sinclair on his own terms.
Episode 18: Found
DC Eva Sharpe is relieved when her daughter is found alive, although what ordeal she has been through remains unknown. The paedophile investigation into the charity ""Global Families"" continues, as the officers try to identify a dead child. PC Cathy Bradford is jealous when DC Brandon Kane starts dating a doctor. DC Drummond's son sees him meeting his mistress, and DS Phil Hunter continues to play off villain Ron Gregory and DCI Jack Meadows against each other.
Episode 13: The Cat With Nine Lives
An assault on a prison officer may not be the straightforward mugging it appears to be. PC Jim Carver moves in with the Sharpes as their Family Liaison Officer, hoping to glean some vital information on Joanna's disappearance. PC Kerry Young suspects her husband is having an affair, and notices something going on when Ashton visits his sergeant in hospital after Gilmore is attacked while guarding a witness. PC Des Taviner ignores what could be an important clue in the Joanna Sharpe investigation, as he thinks it comes from an unreliable source. When the police get word there may be a paedophile ring operating in Sun Hill, they are determined to keep this news from Joanna's distraught parents.
Episode 19: The Nouveau Riche
Acting DI Sam Nixon is convinced that Ron Gregory is behind the paedophile ring - but can she prove it? While DCI Jack Meadows is certain DS Phil Hunter is still working for Ron and is reporting him to the police authorities. Phil pleads, ""I'm the only one that can get a result, because I know Gregory better than anyone. Give me 24 hours and I'll have Gregory sitting in one of them cells"". But will he convince Jack to give him more time? The police now know that the murdered girl 'Angel', real name Rachel, had been brought over from Africa to sponsor parents Mr. & Mrs. Eddison. The couple now face severe questioning at the station. Were they aware abuse was taking place with their sponsor child, and could they have been the perpetrators? When Rachel's sponsor parent, Mr Eddison suddenly makes a confession, the police suspect he's been 'influenced' by someone to change his story. Did he really kill Rachel or is he just acting on someone else's orders to save his own life?When PCs Des Ta
Episode 12: Without A Trace
A massive search is underway for DC Eva Sharpe's missing eight-year-old daughter, Joanna. As a police officer, Eva is only too aware how serious the situation is, especially when a press conference is called. PC Reg Hollis is suspicious of a couple he questions during enquiries. Joe Kincaid joins the search, and Sgt. Craig Gilmore notices the attraction between Kincaid and PC Luke Ashton. PC Ruby Buxton discovers a vital clue to Joanna's disappearance at a local corner shop.
Episode 20: Classroom Politics
Boyden and Tait attend a fight at Harvey Wallace comprehensive and discover that one or two of the pupils are acting strangely around their teacher, Sonia Graham. While Tait is smitten, Boyden discovers that rumours are escalating that Sonia is having extra-marital relations with some of her students. Meanwhile, Ashton and Buxton attend a fire at a public convenience, and find two young girls trapped in the toilet cubicle. When Ashton manages to free them from danger, they both make good their escape and Ashton suspects that something is wrong. Glaze and Webb attend a shooting at a local gymnasium, where they find that none of the witnesses are willing to offer any information.
Episode 11: Dropout Factory
PC Luke Ashton is shocked to discover that his wife, PC Kerry Young, is pregnant. DC Danny Glaze sees a way to get enough evidence to arrest a teenage burglar when a young man is attacked by two thugs, although his informant may be at risk. DCI Jack Meadows is furious when DS McAllister is dropped off at work by a handsome young man. Sun Hill station holds an Open Day, and DC Eva Sharpe invites her family along, but after a row, her daughter Joanna goes missing.
Episode 21: Sleeping Dogs Lie
Abi Nixon arrives at the station on a work experience placement, and is sent out on patrol with Boyden, much to her delight. When Boyden is accused of having a sexual encounter with one of Abi's friends, Abi steps in to defend him. Young suspects that rape victim Louanna isn't telling the whole truth when she accuses one of her schoolmates of rape, despite the fact that her injuries suggest that she was attacked by more than one person. Schoolteacher Sonia Graham finds herself on the end of a sustained barrage of abuse, including offensive graffiti being sprayed on her house and pornographic material being posted through her letterbox. Ashton races to stop Young from having an abortion.
Episode 10: Thinking Out Loud
The seemingly random drive-by shooting of a young girl at a local bank seems more deliberate when her father is discovered to be an accountant for some local thugs. FDO Roberta Cryer is suspicious about PC Cathy Bradford's HIV lie after Bradford is berated by DS Phil Hunter for putting others at risk. PC Nick Klein attends Simon Kitson's memorial service, but lets his emotions get the better of him when he encounters Pat Kitson there. PC Kerry Young investigates reports of a flasher, and encounters the mysterious but charming new Aussie PC, Cameron Tait.
Episode 22: The Philadelphia Lawyer
The sustained abuse towards schoolteacher Sonia Graham runs into overdrive when she is found in her flat, having been shot through the chest, and the list of suspects soon begins to mount. Glaze struggles to get Prince's brother Nathan back on side after harsh mishandlings by Webb, so Webb decides to trail him to see if he leads him to the top prize - and soon enough, his suspicions are proved to be correct. Young finally manages to get young rape victim Louanna to open up about her ordeal, and subsequently, members of the Bevan Park crew are arrested on suspicion. On the way to respond to an urgent call for assistance, Hollis notices Boyden pulled over at the roadside in a clinch with Abi Nixon.