Twentieth Century Cop (Hardback)
The Flying Squad Detective Who Wrote 'The Bill'
Imprint: Pen & Sword True Crime
Pages: 304
Illustrations: 12 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036199517
Published: 21st May 2026
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Barry Appleton investigated some of the most notable crimes of the twentieth century, from multi-million pound robberies to cold-blooded killings that shook the world.
Walking the beat of the crime-ridden East End under the rule of the Krays, Barry went toe-to-toe with the underworld, earning multiple commendations for his courage. Following a series of high-profile murder cases, he was assigned to the Flying Squad and went undercover to investigate the assassination of Martin Luther King.
Life in the ‘Sweeney’ was dangerous and the detective’s dedication to the job saw him injured in the line of duty, pushing him and his family to the limit. After 20 years’ exemplary service with the Met, Barry’s crimefighting adventures continued when he achieved overnight success as the lead scriptwriter of The Bill, adding gritty realism to 50 episodes of the groundbreaking drama.
Now Barry has taken on one final case to unravel his own incredible life story. How did a boy from the Welsh valleys end up in a shootout on the streets of London? What made a hard-nosed cop swap his snub-nosed Smith & Wesson for a second-hand typewriter? And who was the angel always by his side?
Featuring dramatic flashback sequences and never-before-told behind-the-scenes stories from Britain’s longest-running police procedural drama, Twentieth Century Cop is an extraordinary true crime memoir that vividly captures life as an old school copper, on the streets and on the screen.
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★★★★★
Television Heaven
"A FASCINATING AND HIGHLY ORIGINAL MEMOIR THAT COMBINES TRUE CRIME, SOCIAL HISTORY AND TELEVISION STORYTELLING INTO ONE UNFORGETTABLE READ."
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An extraordinary and impressive read.
Donald Spillane
From Old Bill to The Bill, Barry Appleton has enjoyed much success in two careers. Twentieth Century Cop paints a vivid description of serving for years as a detective on Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad in the days of the Kray twins. He also provides us with a unique behind the scenes look at his writing of 50 episodes for the highly successful TV show, The Bill.
Barry Appleton knows how to hook an audience - the astonishing opening prologue sets the scene for a solid true crime book, which draws the reader in and occasionally tugs at your heart strings. This is true crime with a lot of heart. Appleton is a skilled storyteller - the chapter titles, like his Bill episodes, are first class and where other law enforcement books get bogged down in procedural or "He said / she said" tittle tattle, this book captures the action and tension of the job, and gives a real sense of who each of these brave, everyday heroes were, without losing your interest. The facts are all there, they just don't take over. Some real gems and surprises along the way too. Here's hoping this leads to a "Five Squad" series.
Bill Rutledge
A vivid portrait of the Metropolitan Police in the 1950s-1970s, from an East London footsoldier. I thought I'd read all there was to know about The Krays, but Barry's first-hand accounts make for a cracking read. The first half examines his police career, where the Flying Squad and undercover chapters are like a movie, then Barry cleverly weaves more true crime cases into the second half, detailing how he became a scriptwriter for The Bill (back when it was at its best with Burnside, Tosh etc.) Loads of great stories in this book, many of which are funny, moving and shocking in equal measure. Highly recommended.
Norman Cullen
About Barry Appleton
Barry Appleton served as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police for 20 years, working on many high-profile cases and earning multiple commendations for ability, courage and determination. In 1984, he achieved overnight success as a screenwriter, becoming the lead writer of The Bill and injecting 50 episodes with gritty realism. In 1993, he won a Writers Guild of Great Britain award for his Taggart screenplays. His other scriptwriting credits include C.A.T.S. Eyes, Circles of Deceit, London’s Burning, Mr. Palfrey of Westminster and Van der Valk. His novels include A Walking Shadow and East of Wild Goat Rocks. Barry retired to Cyprus with Pam, his wife for 49 years. They have two children and three grandchildren.
About Oliver Crocker
Oliver Crocker is a ghostwriter and TV historian. He is the author of the bestselling All Memories Great & Small, endorsed by the James Herriot estate, and two Witness Statements: Making The Bill guidebooks, featuring memories from 100 cast and crew. In 2023, Oliver ghostwrote actor Larry Dann’s acclaimed autobiography Oh, What A Lovely Memoir. As a television researcher, his credits include ITV’s This Morning and BBC’s Something for the Weekend. Since 2017, he has interviewed hundreds of special guests as producer of The Bill Podcast, played over 500,000 times in 50 countries. He is also a features writer for Best of British magazine. Oliver lives near Cambridge with his wife Tessa and their ginger cat Fawkes.
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