ITV to axe The Bill after 25 years

The show – set in the fictional Sun Hill – was given a major revamp last year to win back viewers but audiences have fallen steadily in recent years.

ITV said yesterday that the series was being axed to reflect the changing tastes of viewers, but pledged to continue investing in "high-quality drama".

The move, which will see the show end this year, was said to be a creative decision rather than simply to save costs. Audiences have slipped from about seven million viewers five years ago to under four million in recent months.

Peter Fincham, ITV director of television, said: "The Bill has been a fixture on our screens for more than 25 years... But times change, and so do the tastes of our audience."