Feverish speculation The Bill would move to another channel appears to be unfounded, with no other broadcaster expressing an interest in buying the programme’s rights.

Both the BBC and Sky have openly ruled out the prospect of airing the show while programme maker Talkback Thames is sceptical a smaller broadcaster would commission a new series.

A spokeswoman for the show said: “The Bill has always been an ITV programme and I don’t think there’s any prospect of it moving to another channel.”