Neil Manson

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Neil Manson
Andrew Lancel as DI Neil Manson
First appearance	Episode # 178 (24/12/03)
Portrayed by	Andrew Lancel
Information
Occupation	Detective
Title	Detective Inspector
Spouse(s)	Phillipa Manson

Neil Manson is a fictional character in the long-running TV series The Bill. He has been in the show since 2003. He is played by Andrew Lancel. As he is a CID officer he does not have an allocated general callsign and in radio communications is simply referred to as "DI Manson", but when a major incident occurs he is allocated the callsign "Sierra Oscar 70" (SO 70).

[edit] Biography

After serving as Acting Detective Inspector for eighteen months, DI Nixon is devastated when she is informed that she is to be demoted to Detective Sergeant and that a new Detective Inspector is to be appointed.

Manson is no stranger to controversy and his personal life seems to be the one thing that can make or break his career. His swift rise through the ranks is largely thanks to his connections: his father-in-law is a Deputy Assistant Commissioner. However his womanising ways and his father-in-law's habit of frequenting brothels put a considerable stain on his marriage and his work. He has a relationship with PC Andrea Dunbar, the affair only end when she dies. He also shares an intimate moment with DC Suzie Sim; this consequently costs him the chance to be promoted to Acting DCI, a position he subsequently gains by default.

Neil is married to a lawyer Phillipa and the pair has a five year old son called Jake. The pair agrees to give their marriage another go after Phillipa confronts Neil about his extramarital affair, but when Neil's investigation into a paedophile ring leads to the death of her father, Phillipa lashes out at Neil before leaving him and moves with her mother to Spain. Jake remains in Neil's custody, though it is currently unclear whether it will stay that way.

Manson is at one stage arrested for murder. In this case, Manson is nearly kidnapped en route to a prison transfer, but this is thwarted with a swift intervention by TROJAN officers led by Jack Meadows. His boss manages to prove his innocence and Manson is returned to his position.

He later returns the favour when Meadows is also at the centre of controversy.