The episode documents PC Jim Carver's first day at Sun Hill Police Station, during which he is partnered with experienced WPC June Ackland.

Later, whilst on patrol, Jim encounters a rude youngster (Gary Hailes) and, influenced by comments made by older officers at the station, decides to clip him round the ear.

June Ackland and Dave Litten have been in an on-again off-again relationship and, whenever they cross paths, both tend to go silent, making other members of their relief uncomfortable.

Woodentop stood out from run of the mill police dramas of the time for a number of reasons including the use of hand-held cameras and natural lighting as well as the use of realistic-sounding dialogue.

Deeping does gain one mention in Series One, in the episode "It's Not Such a Bad Job After All", where Ackland is informed that he is coming to meet her on the scene of a suicide – a later radio transmission, however, reports that Sgt.

In the first episode of Series One, "Funny Ol' Business – Cops and Robbers", Galloway and Cryer make apparent reference to the events of Woodentop in regards to Jim Carver.

Only four of the cast of "Woodentop" would go on to be regulars in the main series of The Bill: Mark Wingett, Trudie Goodwin, Gary Olsen and Colin Blumenau, while a number of characters were re-cast, including Roy Galloway.