ITV shunts 'The Bill' to Tuesdays

[dutchman]

ITV have shifted its now-axed police drama The Bill to Tuesday evenings until its final episode transmits in August.

In July, the commercial broadcaster ditched the programme's two 8pm episode for a single, post-watershed screening at 9pmon Thursdays in a bid to increase ailing ratings. The new format also allowed for "darker, grittier and more hard-hitting" storylines.

Last month, however, the decision was made to axe the show entirely after 27 years on air following a rethink of the network's drama lineup.

The Bill's latest move takes effect from this evening at 9pm with the latest instalment titled 'Bad Blood'.

An ITV spokesperson this morning told Digital Spy: "The Bill will be moving to Tuesdays due to the election programming, which includes the first ever live election debate this Thursday. Thereafter, The Bill will remain in its Tuesday slot until the end of its run."

They added: "New factual programming will be broadcast on Thursdays in its place."

A new run of Griff Rhys Jones's Greatest Cities Of The World is slated to begin on Thursday, April 22 at 9pm.