The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.

Creators and Cast

Creators

Rate

Ben Elton

Creator

Cast

Rate

Rowan Atkinson

Inspector Raymond Fowler

Rate

Serena Evans

Sergeant Patricia Dawkins

Rate

David Haig

Detective Inspector Derek Grim

Rate

James Dreyfus

Constable Kevin Goody

Rate

Mina Anwar

Constable Maggie Habib

Rate

Rudolph Walker

Constable Frank Gladstone

Rate

Mark Addy

Detective Constable Gary Boyle

Episodes

Specials

2 episodes

S0 E1 · Best of British Ben Elton

No summary.

S0 E2 · Smiles People Ben Elton

No summary.

Season 1

7 episodes

S1 E1 · The Queen's Birthday Present

1995-11-13

It is the tenth anniversary of Fowler and Dawkins' relationship, but Fowler manages to forget, being instead more concerned with the Queen's Official Birthday.

S1 E2 · Fire and Terror

1995-11-20

Habib falls for a fireman named Gary, much to Goody's jealousy, while Fowler finds himself pestered frequently by a man who claims to have committed impossible, solved or extremely historical crimes, much to DI Grim's amusement, until a terrorist begins making threats that cause Special Branch to become involved.

S1 E3 · Honey Trap

1995-11-27

After Fowler drunkenly admits to having kissed Habib during a pub quiz match, Dawkins begins to suspect the two of having an affair behind her back when Grim enlists Fowler and Habib's help in catching a criminal via entrapment.

S1 E4 · Rag Week

1995-12-04

It's Rag Week in Gasforth, and Fowler and his men are frequently disturbed by teenagers in scary masks – that is until a bank robbery by three men in rag masks occurs while Dawkins is there, leaving it uncertain whether or not the robbery is genuine.

S1 E5 · Night Shift

1995-12-11

Pestered by his ex-wife, Fowler reluctantly agrees to let his son Bill stay with him and Dawkins for a fortnight. When Dawkins overhears Bill making love to his girlfriend in the bedroom, she becomes envious and attempts to talk Fowler into going to see a sex therapist. Guest appearance by Sheila Gish.

S1 E6 · Kids Today

1995-12-18

Fowler and Grim clash over their views of handling juvenile troublemakers so they decide to take them on a retreat. Further tension arises when Goody punches a teenage skinhead for racially abusing Habib and is subsequently charged for assault.

S1 E7 · Yuletide Spirit

1995-12-26

Goody buys Fowler a puncture repair kit and Habib some lingerie, but accidentally gives them the wrong presents, and matters are made more complicated when Dawkins believes the lingerie is a gift for her from Fowler.

Season 2

7 episodes

S2 E1 · Court in the Act

1996-11-14

Grim and Boyle enlist the help of Fowler and his officers to search the home of a suspected drug-dealer, and Goody finds the drugs in the kitchen. But the too-obvious location, Boyle's discretion and Grim's comfortableness lead Fowler to believe something is going on behind the arrest.

S2 E2 · Ism Ism Ism

1996-11-21

Dawkins discovers circumstantial evidence of a domestically abused wife, Grim applies to join the Todgers, and Mayoress Christabel Wickham informs Fowler of the presence of an illegal immigrant in Gasforth. Fowler apparently solves the crimes, but soon realises that they seemed a little too easy.

S2 E3 · Fly on the Wall

1996-11-28

Fowler receives a letter from the BBC, who then come and make a fly on the wall documentary about Gasforth Police Station. Unfortunately, Grim convinces the officers, sans Fowler, that they are all going to become international television stars, prompting them all to undergo many changes to look "nice for the telly" and end up making fools of themselves in front of the cameramen until a farmer enters the station with a gun.

S2 E4 · Alternative Culture

1996-12-05

Constable Habib finds her younger sister holding drugs during a drug raid in a rave club, and hides the drugs to protect her, but she is discovered and charged for withholding evidence. Fowler, unhappy with the injustice, does his best to protect Habib.

S2 E5 · Come on You Blues

1996-12-12

Gasforth Football Club is about to play Premiership team Chelsea, and Mayoress Wickham orders Fowler and his officers to personally see to it that nothing goes wrong in exchange for her recommending him for an MBE. However, things get complicated when the football players get up to no good.

S2 E6 · Road Rage

1996-12-19

Sergeant Dawkins leaves for a break with some nature-loving activists, but during this time, they get into a feud with the police for their extreme methods, forcing Dawkins to choose between their arrogant leader, Stallion, or Fowler.

S2 E7 · The Green Eyed Monster

1996-12-23

Inspector Fowler proposes to Sergeant Dawkins so as to help his chances for promotion, but his lack of sensitivity during the proposal prompts her to leave him instead. Fowler tries to find a new woman, but loses his interest when he hears that Dawkins is now with someone called "Toby."