The Thin Blue Line (British TV series)

• Rowan Atkinson as Inspector Raymond Fowler, an old-fashioned, by-the-book policeman whose lack of interest in sex annoys his live-in girlfriend of ten years, Sergeant Dawkins. He has a son, Bill, from a previous marriage. • Serena Evans as Sergeant Patricia Dawkins, a desk sergeant. She is Inspector Fowler's long-suffering partner and is forever on a quest for more sexual attention from him, who is usually reluctant to oblige. Despite her frustration and anger, she loves Fowler devotedly and dreams of marrying him and having a child. ==Episodes==

Series 1 (1995) Episodes were broadcast at 20:30 on Mondays on BBC1. Series 2 (1996) Episodes were broadcast between 21:30-21:40 on Thursdays on BBC1 apart from the final episode which aired on a Monday. ==Development==

Creator and writer Ben Elton is a fan of ''Dad's Army'', and many of the characters were influenced by the show. Fowler's relationship with Grim is very similar to that of Captain Mainwaring to Warden Hodges, in that they are both on the same side yet enemies. Also, Constable Goody is rather like Private Pike in being a "stupid boy" who often irritates Fowler. Constable Gladstone's habit of interrupting a briefing with a story about life in Trinidad is similar to Lance Corporal Jones's penchant for reminiscing about Sudan during Captain Mainwaring's speeches. Other references include in the episode "Rag Week", when Fowler is briefly seen walking out of a shop called "Mainwaring's". Elton has appeared in the programme himself, as a homeless man in the Christmas special episode "Yuletide Spirit". In the first series, the 'wanted' poster behind Fowler's desk in the briefing room is an E-FIT of Elton. ==Home media==

Both series have been released on DVD in the United Kingdom (Region 2) by Vision Video Ltd. The Thin Blue Line is available in Region 1 (North America), having been released by BBC Warner. Episodes in the first series were not in broadcast order on both Region 1 and 2 DVDs. The Series 2 episodes in the Region 1 DVD are cut to fit about 30-minute runtime. The Region 1 release has English closed captions. The UK Region 2 does not have any subtitles. It was also released on DVD in Region 4 by Umbrella Entertainment. ==References==

• Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003 ==External links==