 "Burnside" ran for one series of six episodes, structured as three two-part stories.In 2019 Chris Ellison discussed the series during an in-depth interview for The Bill Podcast

The lead character of the series was Detective Chief Inspector Frank Burnside, who had appeared in "The Bill" almost from its inception as a tough, no-nonsense antagonist to the station staff.Burnside disappeared in mysterious circumstances in 1993 and returned briefly five years later, when it was revealed that he had been working undercover.