Golden Opportunity (The Bill)

The Sun Hill fire (2002) was one of the most controversial storylines in the long-running drama The Bill.

In 2002 "The Bill" was dominated by racial tensions. In late March long-serving and popular character Chief Inspector Derek Conway died in a devastating explosion. His former colleague Inspector Andrew Monroe announced he would be organising a memorial fund for him. Superintendent Tom Chandler made a massive ostentatious donation. PC Reg Hollis and PC Des Taviner did not want to be upstaged. Unbeknown to Reg, Des "confiscated" some money from a gang of youths and they were able to make a large donation, which Des claimed was the result of a bet. He later discovered the money was forged.

The racial tensions that had caused Conway’s death were continuing and Des seized on a riot as an opportunity to destroy the forged currency. He decided to throw a petrol bomb through the window of Monroe's temporary office at the height of the riot. Unbeknown to Des, gas canisters were being concealed in Monroe’s office, resulting in an explosion that ripped through the station. Also, due to the refurbishment of the Station, the contractors had locked the fire exits due to thefts of their tools.

Six officers were trapped in the inferno; four were killed instantly whilst the remaining two died in hospital after sustaining massive injuries.

The episode attracted 8.6 million viewers. It was one of very few time when CGI images have been used on the show; images of flames roaring through a hallway were generated as actually sending a fireball through the hall would not have been possible.

Characters that died instantaneously

• Inspector Andrew Monroe - Colin Tarrant
• PC Di Worrell - Jane Wall
• PC Ben Hayward - Ben Peyton
• DC Paul Riley - Gary Grant

Characters that later died in hospital

• PC Sam Harker - Matthew Crompton
• DC Kate Spears - Tania Emery

Preceded by Don Beech Scandal	Major Event	Succeeded by The Sun Hill Fire (2005)