Twentieth Century Cop (Hardback)

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"Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Fascinating behind the scenes memories. Interesting to see how policing has changed over the years. Great writing, easy to read."

Wendi Cornish

"I can highly recommend this brilliant book!"

Sarah Went, The Billaton

"Barry Appleton is an excellent storyteller. If you buy one book this year - make sure it's this one!"

Ben Adams, The Bill Obbocast

A brilliant story about a fascinating man living life on the beat and beyond. This book tells the remarkable story of Barry Appleton, who served in the Metropolitan Police for 20 years including a stint working in the Flying Squad, before going on to be scriptwriter for some of the most beloved crime dramas to come out of UK television.

I was struck with just how much Barry experiences in his working life as police officer and some of the most notorious criminals he came across, from the Kray Twins to the man who murdered Martin Luther King. A man who not only used his unique life experiences to write some of the all time great episodes of The Bill, but someone who helped to lay the creative groundwork for the long-term run of the series. And yet threaded throughout all of all this, is an emotional and beautiful tale of a man who tried to make his dreams come true and just how those dreams would manifest themselves in wonderful ways. There is also at the heart of this book a simple and beautiful love story crafted masterfully by both Barry and Oliver Crocker that simply makes this book a must-read.

In a nutshell - Twentieth Century Cop: Come for the crime. Stay for an incredible life story.

Patrick Stratford, TV historian.

"New Detective Memoir is Top of the Cops"

Newmarket Journal

A gripping account of a life spent fighting and writing crime!

Like many I’d been looking forward eagerly to this book from the moment it was announced, and it doesn’t disappoint. Twentieth Century Cop is the memoir of Barry Appleton, the former policeman who spent twenty years in the Met, as a uniform PC, a CID detective and a member of the Flying Squad, before going on to become the key writer in the early years of The Bill. It’s a fascinating insight into policing in the 1960s and 1970s, a period where huge changes took place to both society and the police. Barry was there as the gang war between the Krays and the Richardsons heated up and the force had to take special measures to remove the Krays from the streets. His stories are at times astonishing, not least his close encounter with the killer of Martin Luther King. However, his most dangerous and damaging case was not the one you’d expect, a reminder that ‘the job’ is impossible to predict from one day to the next.

This book has been put together with huge care by Barry and Oliver Crocker, and charts the route Barry took from his police career into screenwriting. The role of Michael Chapman, The Bill’s first and longest serving executive producer, was crucial; he took a chance on someone with no track record and Barry repaid him massively. Barry has a strong claim to be the architect of The Bill, doing so much to develop characters as well as stories. His episodes are dramatic and engaging, and have the authentic ring of someone who has done that job, which makes them a pleasure to revisit. We also get details of the projects he was involved in during his decade as an in-demand writer that never came to fruition, showing that the credits on screen are only the tip of the iceberg.

Twentieth Century Cop makes for a very enjoyable read. It's a must for anyone with an interest in true crime, fictional crime and the overlap between them. This is a story of someone who has led a long, rewarding life, close to extraordinary events that we can only imagine.

Edward Kellett, TV historian

★★★★★

"A FASCINATING AND HIGHLY ORIGINAL MEMOIR THAT COMBINES TRUE CRIME, SOCIAL HISTORY AND TELEVISION STORYTELLING INTO ONE UNFORGETTABLE READ."

Read the full review here

Television Heaven

An extraordinary and impressive read.

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.

Donald Spillane

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