Fans of The Bill might be divided over the long-running police drama's new look, but for Alex Walkinshaw - aka Smithy - it's all part of growing up.
Gone are the show's famous theme tune and some of Sun Hill's favourite characters.
Soapy story lines have been replaced with grittier - and in some cases more violent - scripts and the number of weekly episodes has been cut from two to one.
The changes haven't pleased all the show's fans, with thousands from Australia and Britain having flocked to online blogs to vent their disappointment.
In Britain, the show's ratings have tumbled since the "new look" Bill made its UK debut in July as many long-standing fans of the 25-year-old drama decided to switch off for good.
Scottish broadcaster STV even dropped the show from its schedule within months of the show's re-launch.
But for Walkinshaw, who has played Dale Smith for a decade, the changes mark The Bill's coming of age.
"It feels like everyone has grown up a bit because we can be slightly more honest about how we feel about each other and crime and how we deal with and treat people," an upbeat Walkinshaw says in a telephone interview during a break from filming on a bleak winter's day in London.
"It's been interesting because we're asking everyone to do different things - from our set design down to hair and makeup.
"The sets have to be put under the microscope because of HD (high definition broadcasts), so they have to be tip-top. The same with hair and makeup." After walking into the Sun Hill "nick" for the first time a decade ago as the lovable Smithy, Walkinshaw's character has undergone plenty of changes of his own.
Smithy's been promoted up the ranks from a humble police constable to sergeant and more recently reached the lofty heights of inspector as a replacement for Gina Gold.
"He's older and wiser now - and more handsome," Walkinshaw says with a cheeky laugh.
"He's grown up and matured. When he was a PC he'd just get on with it. Being a sergeant and inspector he's trying to do what Gina did effortlessly but struggling.
"He still has his moments of brilliance though." Leading a major raid on the Manley Road Estate, Smithy rallies his uniformed officers as they attempt to rid the council flats of prostitution, drugs and thieves.
Their main target is a drug dealer known as David Clayton.
But when the officers reach his flat to search for a large quantity of cocaine, it's missing and Clayton walks free.
What Smithy and his fellow officers have to do is work out how to get other drug dealers they have managed to arrest to spill the beans on Clayton.
Amid all the drama, there's also a surprise confession from PC Tony Stamp (Graham Cole) who tells Smithy he's about to move on from Sun Hill.
Cole, whose departure will be seen in Australia in February, was The Bill's longest-serving cast member with 1,217 episodes under his belt.
His sadness at the shock decision to axe his character was evident when the news broke in June.
"I cannot tell you how disappointed and disregarded I feel," he said at the time.
"Tony has been a wonderful character to play. They say he doesn't fit the new 'dynamic'..." Cole filmed his last scenes alongside Walkinshaw, who counts The Bill veteran as one of his closest mates.
"It was emotional," Walkinshaw recalls of their last day on set together.
"I've known him a long time. He's a good mate of mine and we're quite close. We had a little party for him and some speeches and went to the pub and had a knees up.
"Graham's a wonderful man and Tony Stamp is a legend.
"Everyone has grown up with him. My first episode watching as a kid was watching Tony Stamp. It was sad to see him go.
"Unfortunately it's part of the nature of the game we're in and he's got a book out and all that and is doing well." Walkinshaw says he has no immediate plans to leave Sun Hill and is looking forward to some juicy storylines coming up in 2010.
"We've got some really difficult stuff coming up with a vulnerable child," he says.
"It's about a young family and the abuse that goes on inside the family unit. It's happening to an 18-month-old girl and it's affecting everyone on the relief and how they put that right and how they approach the mother and child.
"It's difficult for Smithy because he has to manage his team and get a result and not knowing how he is going to do it.
"Much later on, there's a potential shooting of officers and one police officer being targeted by a gunman.
"And there's a test of Smithy's leadership and suspicions there's been a loss of faith from uniform in the inspector and how Smithy copes with that.
"Does he get it back, is it time for Smithy to move on?" But is there any romance on the cards for Smithy? In the past Smithy has had a run of bad luck when it comes to the girls.
Before his recent undercover dalliance with DC Stevie Moss, his main love interests were PC Kerry Young (died in Smithy's arms after being shot), gangster moll Louise Larson (killed in a hit-and-run) and DC Kezia Walker (who only wanted "a bit of fun").
"Smithy's track record isn't great with women. So maybe Smithy should walk the world alone," Walkinshaw says with a laugh.
"They say that Elton John has a huge flower bill. But Smithy has to take a part-time job driving taxis to pay for all the flowers he needs for his girlfriends' funerals.
"But there is a possibility of a bit more romance. I heard a whisper in a corridor that maybe there's something but they haven't told me. So I don't know."
Romance aside, Smithy and the Sun Hill team are set for a busy 2010.
