Proof of Life (The Bill)

The Bill (Logo)

"Proof of Life" is a two-part episode of the long-running Thames Television series The Bill[1] to celebrate its 25th birthday.[2] It featured a major crossover with the German police drama SOKO Leipzig.[3]

Synopsis

"Proof of Life" takes place after lead-up episodes where DC Terry Perkins went undercover for a taxi firm which the police believed were dealing illegal drugs, but, in fact, they were the middlemen of a kidnapping of a German national. After the investigations in London, the German national is taken abroad via private plane to Leipzig, to the home of SOKO Leipzig, along with undercover officer Terry and an undercover German police officer. On arrival in Germany on a former Russian air field, Victor Hauptmann, the kidnapper, shoots one of his men, believing him to be an undercover officer, telling the police in London that he has killed their undercover officer bringing DCI Jack Meadows, DC Mickey Webb and DC Kezia Walker over to Leipzig along with German officers Zimmermann and Trautzschke to investigate and bring Terry back to London. The kidnappers arrive at an old GDR secret police HQ, where they carry out their plans and are succeeding in their hostage plans when eventually the police realise the stepfather of the kidnapped national is behind the abduction; they arrive at the GDR HQ and arrest everyone involved, freeing the German national. Once back in the UK, Terry is met by his daughter, who wishes to become a police officer, and admits to her that he thinks she should do it because he thinks it is the best job in the world.

Cast

DCI Jack Meadows from The Bill and PHK Hajo Trautzschke with POK Ina Zimmermann from SOKO Lepizig

Main cast

Character Actor
DCI Jack Meadows Simon Rouse
Hajo Trautzschke Andreas Schmidt-Schaller
DC Terry Perkins Bruce Byron
Jan Maybach Marco Girnth
DC Mickey Webb Chris Simmons
Ina Zimmermann Melanie Marschke
DC Kezia Walker Cat Simmons

Recurring cast

From The Bill

Character Actor Parts
PC Nate Roberts Ben Richards 1-2
Supt. John Heaton Daniel Flynn 1
Holly Perkins Florence Bell 2

From SOKO Leipzig

Character Actor Parts
Patrick Grimm Tyron Ricketts 2

Featuring

Character Actor Parts
Viktor Hauptmann Ulrich Matthes 1-2
Charlotte Fischer Anna Maria Mühe 1-2
Helen Wegner Birge Schade 1-2
Karl Wegner Max Herbrechter 1-2
Marlowe Tom Frederic 2
Dennis O'Leary Tim Chipping 2
Nick Carson Rocky Marshall 1-2
Jimmy Thompson Ian Burfield 1
Alan Brady Harry Capehorn 1
bank assistant Thomas Büchel 2

See also

External links

References

Preceded by
"Frontline" (2008)
Notable storylines
2008
Succeeded by
"Respect" (2010)