The Bill The Short Straw (Season 9, Episode 36)
TV-14
TV Episode | 24 min | Crime, Drama

The Bill

The Short Straw (Season 9, Episode 36)

TV-14

TV Episode | 24 min | Crime, Drama

When her car breaks down on her way to the station, Viv Martella misses an important CID briefing about an onboard on a suspected armed robbery. She is furious when she is taken off the case by DI Burnside, but worse is to come.

Director

William Brayne

Writers

Geoff McQueen (deviser) | Russell Lewis (written by)

Producer

Richard Handford

Editor

Ray Ball

Casting Director

Beth Charkham

Production Designers

David Marshall | Alison Wratten

See all filmmakers & crew (36)

Edit Released

Updated Mar 26, 1993

Release date

Mar 26, 1993 (United Kingdom)

Awards

Series awards

7 wins & 26 nominations

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
34 cast members

Name	Known for
Nula Conwell W.D.C. Martella W.D.C. Martella See fewer	The Elephant Man (1980)
Eric Richard Sgt. Cryer Sgt. Cryer See fewer	Dunkirk (2017)
Christopher Ellison D.I. Burnside D.I. Burnside See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Trudie Goodwin W.P.C. Ackland W.P.C. Ackland See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Tom Butcher P.C. Loxton P.C. Loxton See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Graham Cole P.C. Stamp P.C. Stamp See fewer	Pareidolia (I) (2023)
Andrew Mackintosh D.S. Greig D.S. Greig See fewer	Poirot (1989)
Mark Wingett D.C. Carver D.C. Carver See fewer	Quadrophenia (1979)
Tom Cotcher D.C. Woods D.C. Woods See fewer	On the Line (1982)
Peter Ellis Ch. Supt. Brownlow Ch. Supt. Brownlow See fewer	An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Philip Whitchurch Ch. Insp. Cato Ch. Insp. Cato See fewer	The English Patient (1996)
Colin Tarrant Insp. Monroe Insp. Monroe See fewer	The Rainbow (1988)
Simon Rouse D.C.I. Meadows D.C.I. Meadows See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Huw Higginson P.C. Garfield P.C. Garfield See fewer	The Nightingale (I) (2018)
Andrew Paul P.C. Quinnan P.C. Quinnan See fewer	Scum (1979)
Sam Miller Sgt. Maitland Sgt. Maitland See fewer	I May Destroy You (2020)
Clive Wedderburn P.C. McCann P.C. McCann See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Tony O'Callaghan Sgt. Boyden Sgt. Boyden See fewer	The Loss Adjuster (2020)
Jo Dow P.C. Stringer (as Jonathan Dow) P.C. Stringer (as Jonathan Dow) See fewer	The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)
Jeff Stewart P.C. Hollis P.C. Hollis See fewer	A Date with Shillelagh (2019)
Louise Harrison W.P.C. Harris W.P.C. Harris See fewer	Coronation Street (1960)
Lynne Miller W.P.C. Marshall W.P.C. Marshall See fewer	Princess Daisy (1983)
Kevin Lloyd D.C. Lines D.C. Lines See fewer	Young Charlie Chaplin (1989)
Lisa Geoghan W.P.C. Page W.P.C. Page See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Jonty Stephens Sgt. Wilson Sgt. Wilson See fewer	Life on Mars (2006)
Russell Levy Varney Varney See fewer	The Bourne Identity (2002)
David Milner Foster Foster See fewer	Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Dean McGrath Stack Stack See fewer	The Bill (1984)
Maureen Sweeney Mrs. Stack Mrs. Stack See fewer	Dempsey and Makepeace (1985)
Stewart Porter Van Driver Van Driver See fewer	Valhalla Rising (2009)
Enid Irvin Pensioner Pensioner See fewer	Emmerdale Farm (1972)
Simon Greenall Doctor Doctor See fewer	Alan Partridge (2013)
Victor Gallucci D.C. Tom Baker (uncredited) D.C. Tom Baker (uncredited) See fewer	Jane and the Lost City (1987)
Russell Richardson Barrister (uncredited) Barrister (uncredited) See fewer	Me, Myself and Di (2021)