Double Bill: When Lincolnshire’s chief constable met Rob Lowe

American actor Rob Lowe came face to face with Lincolnshire Police’s Chief Constable Bill Skelly while filming in Boston for new ITV crime drama Wild Bill on Wednesday.

As previously reported, Rob was already enjoying getting into character as Chief Constable Bill Hixon, in full costume outside the Boston Stump as the Lincolnshire town turned into a TV set.

‘Copping’ a feel of the police jacket! Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Filming takes place in London and Lincolnshire from this week, with crews arriving in Boston on Wednesday, November 7 with a convoy of trailers and fake stalls for the market place.

Chief Constable Bill Skelly met the Hollywood actor, not as an extra, but he was trying to sneak in the back, he joked.

Lights, camera, action! Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Film crews at the scene Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

A caution notice about the filming. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The six-part drama Wild Bill stars Hollywood Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor Lowe as the Chief Constable of the fictional East Lincolnshire Police force.

The story focuses on the high-flying US cop, who arrives in Boston with his 14-year-old daughter, hoping to flee a painful recent past.

Filming at Boston market. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

And action! Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Rob Lowe and Angela Griffon on set. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

It also stars Angela Griffin who is no stranger to crime TV shows, having appeared in dramas such as The Detail, Midsomer Murders and Lewis.

Local people and stallholders have been roped in to the filming too, with some gaining roles as extras and others neighbouring the action from their regular trading spots.

Angela Griffin on the set in Boston. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Rob Lowe previously said: “As an actor, Wild Bill is a larger than life character who’s outrageously articulate, has nothing to lose and revels in being an American fish out of water. As a Executive Producer, I’m excited to work with such talented partners and to come back to work in the UK, which I always love.”

Rob Lowe getting into character. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Angela Griffin writing in her police notebook. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The drama is the first time 42 (Traitors, Ironbark, Watership Down) Anonymous Content (13 Reasons Why, Maniac, Mr. Robot) and ITV Studios label, Shiver, have collaborated to produce a drama series for the channel.

Wild Bill is created by David Griffiths (The Hunted, Collateral Damage), Kyle Killen (Halo, Awake) and Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble (Silent Witness, Thorne: Sleepyhead & Scaredycat, Trial & Retribution), and will be written by lead writers and show-runners Keeble and Appleton.