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, Episode 6 - Kids Today

Fowler plans a camping trip for some young offenders, whereas Grim is keener for them to have a short sharp shock. Patricia has to take care of an abandoned infant and becomes broody. Habib is harrassed by some fascists and unfortunately Goody steps in to help her...

Further details

Fowler informs his officers that Gasforth has been chosen to host the Sub-District Regional Police Conference and the subject is "juvenile crime". Habib suggests that they try to encourage youngsters to get involved in things to occupy themselves that aren't illegal, so Fowler devises a camping trip. Grim is not at all happy about this and insists that he and CID will show the conference the right way to deal with juveniles: nick 'em, lock 'em up and throw away the key.

His first attempt is to try an undercover operation; he sends Kray and Crockett into a squat to catch people dealing drugs at a rave, however they are instantly identified as police and refused entry. Back at the station the uniformed branch prepare for the camping trip but events are interrupted when Habib finds a baby abandoned outside. Despite her own protestations, Patricia becomes somewhat gooey over the little one and begins dropping hints to Raymond about a family of their own.

More trouble comes in the form of a riot at a fascist meeting, which the police are called in to break up. As a group are escorted to the cells, one hurls racist abuse at Habib and Goody punches him out! Unfortunately for Goody, he is only 15 and the boy's mother resolves to press charges for unprovoked assault.

With Goody under investigation, he, Fowler, Habib and Gladstone head off on the camping trip, much to Grim's amusement. He informs Raymond that while they're off rewarding young offenders he will be nicking some. Later that day Grim and his team arrive at the squat and begin a raid, only to be informed by a neighbour that they've been taken away already - camping!

Meanwhile, the trip gets off to a pleasingly uneventful, if not slow, start. As the group prepare to head into their tents, Habib raises the alarm that one girl, Natalie, has disappeared. After a search she is found in tears, and reveals that the abandoned baby is hers. As words are exchanged amongst Natalie, boyfriend Baz, Habib and Fowler, Raymond narrowly avoids losing his cool and suggests they all go to sleep and resolve the issue calmly in daylight.

The next morning however, Fowler and his team wake to find the kids and all the tents gone! Arriving back at the station, Raymond is once again faced with a dilemma over Goody's future - but in a meeting with the fascist youth, Geoffrey, and his mother, he sees her beating her son and realises he may yet have an opportunity to settle the situation...

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 18th December 1995
Time
8:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 25th July 2011 9:20pm Gold
Monday 25th July 2011 11:20pm Gold
Tuesday 16th August 2011 9:25pm Gold
Wednesday 17th August 2011 12:40am Gold
Friday 30th September 2011 9:20pm Gold
Friday 28th October 2011 9:20pm Gold
Saturday 29th October 2011 1:55am Gold
Thursday 17th November 2011 12:00am Gold
Tuesday 10th June 2014 9:25pm Gold
Wednesday 11th June 2014 1:30am Gold
Tuesday 14th October 2014 11:15pm Gold
Wednesday 15th October 2014 2:40am Gold
Thursday 29th January 2015 1:05am Gold
Thursday 29th January 2015 3:00am Gold
Thursday 18th June 2015 12:40am Gold
Thursday 18th June 2015 3:30am Gold
Wednesday 25th November 2015 2:00pm Gold
Thursday 26th November 2015 12:00am Gold
Thursday 26th November 2015 2:55am Gold
Tuesday 22nd December 2015 12:40am Gold
Monday 7th March 2016 11:20pm Gold
Tuesday 8th March 2016 2:55am Gold
Wednesday 10th May 2017 3:20am Gold
Thursday 11th May 2017 2:40am Gold
Thursday 3rd August 2017 2:40am Gold
Thursday 10th August 2017 2:10am Gold
Wednesday 23rd August 2017 2:50am Gold
Thursday 31st August 2017 3:10am Gold
Thursday 15th June 2023 9:00am Gold
Thursday 15th June 2023 1:00pm Gold
Friday 8th September 2023 7:00pm Gold
Monday 11th September 2023 1:35pm Gold
Monday 11th September 2023 6:20pm Gold
Monday 9th October 2023 1:00pm Gold
Monday 9th October 2023 4:20pm Gold
Wednesday 21st February 2024 2:40pm 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
Stephen Fry Brigadier Blaster Sump
Alexander Armstrong (as Alex Armstrong) Posh Man
Amelda Brown Mrs Bludger (Fascist's Mother)
John Scott Mitchell Geoffrey (Fascist Youth)
Jay Simpson Baz (Young Offender)
Nicola Stapleton Natalie (Young Offender)
Albie Woodington Hippy
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

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