British Comedy Guide
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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Series 1, Episode 4 - Rag Week

The local college students get out of hand during their fund-raising 'rag week'. Meanwhile, Fowler and Dawkins have problems at the bank.

Further details

The local students' fund-raising 'rag week' hits Gasforth with full force, much to Fowler's irritation. Grim is not any happier, fed up with nicking juveniles rather than real, dangerous villains "like in the old days when if a man wanted to rob a bank he went out and bought a shotgun".

Following a hoax threat from the "Stneduts" demanding freedom and autonomy for "Egelloc" or they will attack with deadly "Dratsuc" (students, college, and custard) Grim decides to go to the local college to compare handwriting. He eventually comes back with a small group of students in tutus and gorilla masks who he wants charged.

Meanwhile, Fowler is under pressure from Patricia to get to the bank and sort out their standing orders. After a long wait in the queue and a row with DC Kray over using his police ID to push in, Fowler returns to work without having achieved anything.

Infuriated, Sergeant Dawkins goes herself. However, it's not long before she's in contact, radioing in to tell Raymond there's an armed hold up taking place! Grim is so happy he could cry.

As the police surround the bank, Grim enters negotiations with the would-be robbers. Fowler heads off to organise their demands for pizza, but disguises himself as the delivery man to get into the bank himself. Infuriated to see the same gorilla masks as donned by Grim's student charges earlier in the day, he soon takes control of the situation - much to Patricia's delight.

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 4th December 1995
Time
8:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

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
Jean Ainslie Old Woman
Ruth Arnold Bank Clerk
Dicken Ashworth Bank Robber
Gabrielle Blunt Old Woman
Lloyd McGuire Bank Manager
Bill Moody Bank Robber
Julian Rivett Man from Arcade
Walter Sparrow Angry Old Man
Paul Williams Pizza Delivery Boy
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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