The Thin Blue Line

1995 | Classics | Comedy | Crime

The Thin Blue Line (a colloquial term for police forces) is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson and written by Ben Elton. It aired on the BBC from 1995 to 1996.

The Thin Blue Line is set in the police station of the fictional English town of Gasforth near London. One of the main themes was the rivalry between the uniformed squad led by Inspector Fowler and the CID led by Detective Inspector Grim (often Fowler's antagonist, though they were on the same side of the law). Episodes frequently saw the uniformed branch and CID locking horns over similar, or even the same, issues while having conflicting views or methods of operation. Generally the uniformed section triumphed over the detectives, although not without their own foibles.

The other comedic plot lines centered around the characters below and their peculiarities, although other PCs and staff were usually visible in the background and at meetings.