ITV chiefs are set to slash The Bill to just one episode a week as ratings fall, TV Biz can reveal.
The cop drama, which has been running for nearly 23 years, is currently screened on Wednesdays and Thursdays in a primetime 8pm slot.
But ratings have dropped by a million to an average of five million. Bosses tried to revamp the cast by hiring ex-EastEnder Louisa Lytton.
But insiders fear storylines have gone off the boil. And the show has not been helped by the departure of long-running stars including Trudie Goodwin, whose final scenes were shown in March.
A TV insider said: “We have a big responsibility to make sure ITV primetime stays fresh.
“As part of this we are looking at taking The Bill down to one episode a week.
“ITV are getting a bit bored of The Bill and are keen to try out new dramas at 8pm.”
ITV have recently launched a revamped Jane Austen season and have commissioned a new drama, Rock Rivals, by the makers of Footballers Wives.
The news comes as BBC1’s EastEnders is set to go to five episodes a week to rival Corrie and Emmerdale.
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