The Thin Blue Line. Image shows from L to R: D.I. Grim (David Haig), P.C. Habib (Mina Anwar), Inspector Fowler (Rowan Atkinson), P.C. Goody (James Dreyfus), D.C. Boyle (Mark Addy), Sergeant Dawkins (Serena Evans), P.C. Gladstone (Rudolph Walker). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1995 - 1996
  • 14 episodes (2 series)

Police sitcom about fastidious Inspector Raymond Fowler, his array of uniformed officers, and the oafish CID Inspector Grim. Stars Rowan Atkinson, David Haig, Serena Evans, James Dreyfus, Mina Anwar and more.

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Episode menu

Series 1 - Yuletide Spirit

The Thin Blue Line. Image shows from L to R: Inspector Fowler (Rowan Atkinson), Traveller Boyfriend (Ben Elton). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
Grim is on the search for a group of dangerous carol singers, and the politics of Christmas workplace gift-giving throw the station into disarray when Goody buys Maggie some sexy lingerie. Fowler, meanwhile, has am-dram panto on his mind...

Preview clips

Further details

Christmas has arrived at Gasforth and with it the annual amateur dramatics society's production of Peter Pan. Raymond is determined to once and for all get the part of Captain Hook. Unfortunately he fails once again and just to add insult to injury, the part goes to none other than Grim.

Meanwhile, Goody has been getting into the Christmas spirit, splashing out on presents for his colleagues - including special ones for Fowler and Habib. However, neither get quite the treat they were expecting when Habib opens a bicycle puncture repair kit, and Fowler some lacy red lingerie...

Come Christmas Eve and a group of new-age travellers arrive at the station, having been detained for causing an obstruction. Whilst Raymond dismisses most of the group in annoyance, a heavily pregnant young woman and her boyfriend refuse to leave as their van has been impounded and are otherwise homeless. Predictably, it's not long before she goes into labour!

Grim, meanwhile, is juggling learning his lines for the panto with chasing a group of carol singers who distract residents at the front door whilst their gardens and homes are robbed round the back. It seems like it's going to be a good Christmas when he sees the group in action and calls for backup to assist in their immediate arrest, red-handed.

Back at the station, Goody's present mix-up causes a major headache for Raymond when Patricia finds the sexy undies and assumes them to be her gift; amidst all of the evening's interruptions, it seems Raymond could be in for quite a frosty Christmas morning...

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 26th December 1995
Time
8:50pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 5th December 2010 10:55pm Gold
Thursday 9th December 2010 7:20pm Gold
Wednesday 6th August 2014 11:40am Gold
Sunday 14th December 2014 9:50am Gold
Sunday 14th December 2014 5:35pm Gold
Tuesday 17th March 2015 5:00pm Gold
Wednesday 18th March 2015 12:40pm Gold
Monday 16th November 2015 3:20pm Gold
Tuesday 17th November 2015 2:00am Gold
Saturday 5th December 2015 9:30am Gold
Saturday 5th December 2015 4:30pm Gold
Sunday 13th December 2015 8:20pm Gold
Monday 14th December 2015 2:40pm Gold
Friday 2nd September 2016 10:55pm Yesterday
Monday 9th January 2017 10:05am Gold
Thursday 11th May 2017 3:15am Gold
Friday 16th June 2017 8:00am Gold
Friday 16th June 2017 1:15pm Gold
Friday 7th July 2017 7:00am Gold
Thursday 21st September 2017 2:55am Gold
Thursday 21st September 2017 3:20am Gold
Friday 16th June 2023 9:00am Gold
Friday 16th June 2023 1:00pm Gold
Saturday 17th June 2023 8:20am Gold
Monday 11th September 2023 6:55pm Gold
Tuesday 12th September 2023 1:40pm Gold
Tuesday 12th September 2023 6:20pm Gold
Tuesday 10th October 2023 1:00pm Gold
Tuesday 10th October 2023 4:20pm Gold
Friday 19th January 2024 12:40am Gold
Thursday 22nd February 2024 2:40pm Gold
Sunday 25th February 2024 10:20pm Gold
Monday 26th February 2024 1:15am Gold

Cast & crew

Cast
Rowan Atkinson Inspector Fowler
David Haig D.I. Grim
Serena Evans Sergeant Dawkins
James Dreyfus P.C. Goody
Mina Anwar P.C. Habib
Rudolph Walker P.C. Gladstone
Kevin Allen D.C. Kray
Joy Brook D.C. Crockett
Guest cast
Geoffrey Chater Chief Constable
Jacqueline Defferary Pregnant Traveller
Ben Elton Traveller Boyfriend
Cherith Mellor Second Home Owner
Phil Nice First Home Owner
Jake Wood Lead Carol Singer
Writing team
Ben Elton Writer
Production team
John Birkin Director
Geoffrey Perkins Producer
Ben Elton Producer
Peter Bennett-Jones Executive Producer
Graham Hutchings Editor
James Dillon Production Designer
Howard Goodall Composer

Video

Christmas Eve at the Police Station

It's Christmas Eve in Gasforth Police Station.

Featuring: Rowan Atkinson (Inspector Fowler), James Dreyfus (P.C. Goody), Mina Anwar (P.C. Habib) & Rudolph Walker (P.C. Gladstone).

Press

12 Days of Christmas Specials 7: The Thin Blue Line

I think that The Thin Blue Line has become somewhat forgotten in recent years, and that's just not right. It really is a classic sitcom, so why not remind yourself by enjoying this Christmas Special. And a word to Gold - please repeat this show!

Rhianna Evans, The Comedy Blog, 20th December 2019

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