TV series
The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Thin Blue Line is available to stream on Britbox, Britbox (Via Amazon Prime), Prime Video, Amazon Freevee, and Tubi in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Grim and Boyle enlist the help of Fowler and his officers to search the home of a suspected drug dealer, and Goody finds the drugs in the kitchen. But the too-obvious location, Boyle's discretion and Grim's indifference lead Fowler to believe something is going on behind the arrest.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Gabrielle Blunt, Guy Normas
Episode 2
Dawkins discovers circumstantial evidence of a domestically abused wife, Grim applies to join the Todgers, and Mayoress Christabel Wickham informs Fowler of the presence of an illegal immigrant in Gasforth. Fowler apparently solves the crimes, but soon realises that they seemed a little too easy.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Melvyn Hayes, Colin McFarlane, Lucy Robinson
Episode 3
Fowler receives a letter from the BBC, which then comes to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary about Gasforth Police Station. Unfortunately, Grim convinces the officers, sans Fowler, that they are all going to become international television stars, prompting them all to undergo many changes to look "nice for the telly" and end up making fools of themselves in front of the cameramen until a farmer enters the station with a gun.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Trevor Peacock, Walter Sparrow, Alan Cox, Dawn McDaniel
Episode 4
Constable Habib finds her younger sister holding drugs during a drug raid in a rave club, and hides the drugs to protect her, but she is discovered and charged for withholding evidence. Fowler, unhappy with the injustice, does his best to protect Habib.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Archie Panjabi, Bernard Gallagher
Episode 5
Gasforth Football Club is about to play Premiership team Chelsea, and Mayoress Wickham orders Fowler and his officers to personally see to it that nothing goes wrong in exchange for her recommending him for an MBE. However, things get complicated when the football players get up to no good.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Alan David, Lucy Robinson, Chooye Bay, Neil Maskell
Episode 6
Sergeant Dawkins leaves for a break with some nature-loving activists, but during this time, they get into a feud with the police for their extreme methods, forcing Dawkins to choose between their arrogant leader, Stallion, or Fowler.
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Natalie Walter, Ian Barritt, Jonathan Cake, Ben Crompton
Episode 7
Inspector Fowler proposes to Sergeant Dawkins so as to help his chances for promotion, but his lack of sensitivity during the proposal prompts her to leave him instead. Fowler tries to find a new woman, but loses his interest when he hears that Dawkins is now with someone called "Toby."
Written by Ben EltonGuest stars Kenneth MacDonald, Keeley Gainey, Paul Kynman, Ruth Levine
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Rowan AtkinsonInspector Raymond Fowler
David HaigDetective Inspector Derek Grim
James DreyfusConstable Kevin Goody
Mina AnwarConstable Maggie Habib
Rudolph WalkerConstable Frank Gladstone
Mark AddyDetective Constable Gary Boyle
Kevin AllenDetective Constable Robert Kray
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
Tiger AspectUnited Kingdom
