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The Bill will stay on screen until at least 2010 under an unprecedented recommisioning deal announced today.
According to Broadcast, the new contract for 480 episodes is worth around £200m, the highest the network has ever paid in one go to keep a show on air.
"We are aware that we operate in a competitive market with many other channels that want high-quality programmes so we need to ensure that The Bill remains on the ITV network," said Nigel Pickard, ITV's director of programmes. "It is a really important show for ITV and has become a major plank of our schedule."
Executive producer Paul Marquess said that the deal would allow him to develop long-term storyline arcs. "I have long been itching to tear Sun Hill apart and rebuild it from scratch," he said. "We have been thinking six months ahead for characters, but this recommission gives us chance to develop a storyline that will span two years.
"In the next few months, we will talk about the possibility of changing the look of the show. This could involve the size of the sets, the style of the show and a switch to high-definition cameras."
The Bill, which airs twice weekly, regularly attracts 8 million viewers.
According to Broadcast, the new contract for 480 episodes is worth around £200m, the highest the network has ever paid in one go to keep a show on air.
"We are aware that we operate in a competitive market with many other channels that want high-quality programmes so we need to ensure that The Bill remains on the ITV network," said Nigel Pickard, ITV's director of programmes. "It is a really important show for ITV and has become a major plank of our schedule."
Executive producer Paul Marquess said that the deal would allow him to develop long-term storyline arcs. "I have long been itching to tear Sun Hill apart and rebuild it from scratch," he said. "We have been thinking six months ahead for characters, but this recommission gives us chance to develop a storyline that will span two years.
"In the next few months, we will talk about the possibility of changing the look of the show. This could involve the size of the sets, the style of the show and a switch to high-definition cameras."
The Bill, which airs twice weekly, regularly attracts 8 million viewers.
