The Bill (Inside No. 9)
| "The Bill" | |
|---|---|
| Inside No. 9 episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. |
Series 3 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Guillem Morales |
| Written by | Steve Pemberton Reece Shearsmith |
| Produced by |
Adam Tandy (producer) Jon Plowman (executive producer) |
| Editing by | Joe Randall-Cutler |
| Original air date | 21 February 2017 |
 "No arguments"Craig insists that he should pay the bill |
"The Bill" is the second episode of the third series of the British dark comedy anthology television programme Inside No. 9. It first aired on 21 February 2017, being shown on BBC 2. The episode was written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, and was directed by Guillem Morales. "The Bill" focuses on four men—Archie, Malcolm, Kevin and Craig—arguing over who should pay the bill in a restaurant at closing time, much to the dismay of the waitress Anya. It addresses themes of masculinity and competition, while the English north/south divide is a recurring issue; Craig, the visiting southerner, is wealthier than the other three, and unfamiliar with some of their terminology.
The episode was inspired by a real dispute seen by the writers and starred Pemberton as Malcolm, Shearsmith as Archie, Jason Watkins as Kevin, Philip Glenister as Craig, and Ellie White as Anya. Callum Coates also appeared in the episode. Critics responded positively to "The Bill", praising its humour, direction and acting. Glenister, Watkins and White were all singled out as providing particularly compelling performances. Despite considerable praise for the writing and timing, some commentators questioned the effectiveness of a twist in the closing minutes, with a number criticising the final scene.
The second series of Inside No. 9 aired from 26 March 2015 to 29 April 2015, with a third series confirmed by the BBC in October 2015. Further information, including hints at settings and confirmed performers, was released when the series began filming in January 2016. "The Devil of Christmas", the first episode of this third series, was shown as a Christmas special on 26 December 2016 on BBC 2. "The Bill", the second episode of the third series and the first of a run of five episodes, following several months later, on 21 February 2017.
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