A Touch of Braid
Series: The Bill
First Aired UK: 1/7/94
First Aired Aust:
Writer: Edwin Pearce
Director: Frank Smith
Producer: ~
Character name: Mr Hopkins
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This was Ged Simmons' first appearance on The Bill and it was a very small guest role. The story revolves around an abortive CID raid on a flat on the Cockcroft. CID believe that Terry Livingston, who is staying there with his sister, has possession of a load of stolen pocket tellies - but nothing is found. Worse than that, Livingston's 14 year old nephew, Collin Price, attempts to escape by climbing on to the next balcony - and falls three floors to the ground. As a result the Cockcroft turns nasty and when George Garfield answers a false call there he is ambushed by a mob of rock-throwing youths. When backup arrives he does manage to catch one of them - Dylan Hopkins.
Ged's first scene is in an interview room. His character is there as the 'appropriate adult' for his son. George and Norika Datta are interviewing the boy. As one might expect Mr Hopkins looks quite a bit younger than DI Alex Cullen. There are still sideburns but the hair is much longer and curly. Mr Hopkins is warmly, not to say snugly, dressed in jeans, a grey zip up jacket, a greenish v-necked jumper/vest and a blue-grey checked shirt. Ged is using a fairly noticable 'northern' (I'm an Aussie - how would I know?) accent. His character does little more than chew gum but he does get three lines and as one would expect of Ged the facial expressions and body language tell a great deal more. In the interview we get three parental interjections -
Orr-right, orr-right!
Look, there's no need for this!
Come on, Dylan, tell the man!
His son does, more or less inadvertently, spill sufficient beans to allow CID to save their chestnuts by finding the pocket TVs hidden in Collin's instrument case at school.
Ged's second scene is at the custody desk. Matt Boyden and Garfield are there as well as Mr Hopkins and his son. Matthew is explaining the terms on which the boy is being released. Mr Hopkins chews gum, nods and gives very expressive looks. That unfortunately is it.