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It's the show that gave A-listers like Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Sean Bean their first break before they shot to global fame.

And another name has been added to The Bill's surprising all-star line-up, as Russell Brand admitted he starred in the police drama for a one-off episode back in 1994.

The stand-up comedian revealed that aged 18 he played a cocky young thief called Billy Case who was accused of assault.

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Who's that? Russell Brand admitted he starred in crime drama The Bill back in 1994 (pictured)

Giving a knowing nod to his television past, Russell tweeted a GIF clip of him on the drama, which he captioned: 'Me in The Bill. Aged 18!'

The episode, called Land Of The Blind shows Russell, now 42, already sporting the long locks that would become part of his trademark look. 

Fans went wild for Russell's youthful appearance, with some calling him a 'young whippersnapper' and commenting that he looked 'very cute'.

Another gushed that he had barely changed in over two decades, penning: '18!? you STILL LOOK THE SAME...! with the addition of a few lovely whiskers! How do U do it?' 

Guilty: Reminiscing about his days as an 18-year-old starting out in acting, the stand-up comedian revealed that he played a cocky young thief called Billy Case who was accused of assault

Sue me: The episode, called Land Of The Blind shows Russell, now 42, already sporting the long locks that would become part of his trademark look

The throwback moment comes after the show, which ran for 26 years, gears up to make its return to our screens.

The Bill's stars have reunited seven years after the show was axed in honour of its impending return to screens. 

Six of the ITV series most memorable faces came together, along with the 1990s Vauxhall Vectra police car used in the series, to mark the first time the show has been broadcast since it came off the air in 2010. 

Getting into the role: Teenage Russell gave his all for the performance, which saw him enter a courtroom 

Throwback! Giving a knowing nod to his television past, Russell tweeted a GIF clip of him on the drama, which he captioned: 'Me in The Bill. Aged 18!'

Exciting: Fans went wild for Russell's youthful appearance, with some calling him a 'young whippersnapper' and commenting that he looked 'very cute'

The Bill, which ran for 26 years from 1984 until 2010 and was broadcast in more than 55 countries, will now be shown in full by UKTV’s Drama Channel.

The weekly drama followed the lives of policemen and women working at the fictional Sun Hill Police Station in East London. 

Trudie Goodwin - who played June Ackland from the pilot in 1983 until 2005 - lead the charge as the team reunited.

Reunited: (L-R) Chris Simmons, Lisa Maxwell,Mark Wingett, Trudie Goodwin and Graham Cole and Eric Richard have reunited seven years after The Bill was axed in honour of its return to TV

Stealing back time: Youthful Trudie Goodwin - who played June Ackland from the pilot in 1983 until 2005 - lead the charge as the team reunited

Throwback snap: Also joining the reunited team was Mark Wingett, 56, who played Jim Carver in the long-running show until 2005

Back on screen: Six of the ITV series most memorable faces came together, along with the 1990s Vauxhall Vectra police car used in the series, to mark the first time the show has been broadcast since it came off the air in 2010

Speaking to the Radio Times, the 65-year-old actress said the long-running show should have never been axed and it hasn’t been replaced.

She reasoned: 'I see no reason why that programme shouldn’t still be on if it had been handled properly. 

'What we lost was something like 90 hours of drama a year, which has never been replaced really.'

Also joining the reunited team was Mark Wingett, 56, who played Jim Carver in the long-running show until 2005. 

Ageless beauty: Loose Women's Lisa Maxwell, 53, played Samantha Nixon for seven years until 2009

As seen on screen: Chris Simmons, 42, played DC Mickey Webb until the end of the show

Interesting premise: The weekly drama followed the lives of policemen and women working at the fictional Sun Hill Police Station in East London

Loose Women's Lisa Maxwell, 53, played Samantha Nixon for seven years until 2009.

Meanwhile, Chris Simmons, 42, played DC Mickey Webb until the end of the show.

Graham Cole, 65, starred as PC Tony Stamp, a role he played for 25 years from 1984 until 2009. 

Looking good: Graham Cole, 65, starred as PC Tony Stamp, a role he played for 25 years from 1984 until 2009

Show favourite: Eric Richard, 77, joined The Bill in 1984 and played desk sergeant Bob Cryer for 20 years

Eric Richard, 77, joined The Bill in 1984 and played desk sergeant Bob Cryer for 20 years. 

He said last year of the series: 'Any TV show which runs for over 25 years will have something special about it - and The Bill was no exception.

'It featured great casting, great plot lines and most of all a certain magic that clearly helped take it to the nation's hearts.

'There was an incredible depth of acting talent and behind-the-scenes staff - I worked with more than 5,000 actors while I was in The Bill and there aren't many shows that can claim that.' 

Back on screens: The Bill, which ran for 26 years from 1984 until 2010 and was broadcast in more than 55 countries, will now be shown in full by UKTV’s Drama Channel

As well as boasting a strong and renowned cast, the series was famed for giving stars their big break.  

Celebrities including actress Keira Knightley, funnyman David Walliams, actor David Tennant, singer Emma Bunton and comedian Russell Brand all appeared as unknown extras on the show.

It also featured stars such as Robert Carlyle, Alex Kingston, Omid Djalili, Hugh Laurie and Denise Van Outen.

Last year the show regularly topped the most-watched lists of on demand service UKTV Play again as fans watched it to spot stars in their youth.

The Bill from the very beginning is available for the first time from August 14 only on Drama and available to catch up on UKTV Play.

10 stars who appeared in The Bill

 1. Robert Carlyle: The James Bond baddie, also known for his roles as Begbie in the film Trainspotting and Gary Schofield in The Full Monty, guest starred in 1991 episode The Better Part of Valour

2. David Walliams: The Britain's Got Talent judge appeared in a 2002 episode of The Bill as an animal rights activist who takes part in an anti-vivisection march

David Walliams is now a judge on Britain's Got Talent after getting his big break on The Bill in 2002 as an animal rights activist

3. Alex Kingston: The English actress who went on to star in global TV medical smash hit ER as Dr. Elizabeth Corday made one of her first TV appearances in The Bill in 1988

4. Emma Bunton: Before the world had ever heard of The Spice Girls, Bunton played a troubled teenager in 1993 episode Missionary Work

Before she found fame as a Spice Girl, Emma Bunton had a small part in The Bill as a troubled teenager in a 1993 episode of the show

5. David Tennant: The Doctor in TV's Doctor Who made an appearance as kidnapper Stephen Clements in 1995

6. Sean Bean played robber Horace Clark in a 1984 episode of The Bill entitled Long Odds

7. Omid Djalili: The British/Iranian actor and comedian, who has completed several headline tours and starred in films such as The Infidel, made a guest appearance in the episode Chasing Shadows

8. Keira Knightley: The Hollywood star kicked off her early acting career playing ten-year-old troublemaker Sheena Rose in 1995 episode Swan Song

9. Hugh Laurie: The comedian, actor and national treasure made a guest appearance playing defense counsel Harp in 1998 episode Good Faith: Part 1

10. Meera Syal: The comedian, writer and producer who rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me made an appearance as a solicitor in a season seven episode of The Bill.  

James McAvoy had a small part in The Bill before becoming an in demand Hollywood actor with roles in The Last King Of Scotland and The X Men franchise