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.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 6 - Road Rage
Further details
A controversial bypass is under construction around Gasforth and a group of environmentalist protestors have set up camp in an area of woodland that needs clearing. Much to Fowler's disbelief, Patricia takes a fortnight's holiday in order to join them in the rooftops.
Matters are made more awkward for Raymond when he finds his men are required to clear the protestors during Patricia's stay, and he's far from amused to receive a letter informing him that MI5 have infiltrated the group. Grim, however, is far more concerned by a 'ding' received in his beloved, shiny Nissan Micra. He is, after all, an excellent driver himself...
Fowler and his men head out to the protest site, where he eventually finds Patricia sat on a treetop platform. She refuses and cries 'police brutality', to which a large, muscled man called Stallion - aka the Green Avenger - swings in to her rescue. Incapacitating Raymond, he and Patricia make a hasty retreat to his own sleeping space.
Left alone for another night and having seen Sergeant Dawkins disappear with Stalion, Raymond begins feeling bad about having dismissed her beliefs and principles. The next morning he heads back to the camp alone with breakfast in order to make peace. When he arrives, however, Stallion is inciting violence amongst the other relative passive protestors, and Patricia attempting to arrest him. A fight looks certain, but with a little distraction they overpower and arrest him.
Back at the station, Fowler announces to a stunned Patricia that Stallion has been freed. He is in fact the undercover MI5 agent, Carlton. Dawkins is furious, but Raymond is powerless. However, it becomes quickly apparent that it is neither Fowler nor Dawkins who the suave spy has issue with.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 19th December 1996
- Time
- 9:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 34 minutes
Cast & crew
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 |
Mark Addy | D.C. Boyle |
Jonathan Cake | Stallion |
Natalie Walter | Elf (Chained Protestor) |
Ian Barritt | Surveyor |
Ben Crompton | Struggling Protestor |
Ben Elton | Writer |
John Birkin | Director |
Geoffrey Perkins | Producer |
Ben Elton | Producer |
Peter Bennett-Jones | Executive Producer |
Steve Tempia | Editor |
Charlie Fawcett | Editor |
James Dillon | Production Designer |
Howard Goodall | Composer |