BILL BEAUTY AND HUNK AXED IN CULL
(17/9/01)
FEISTY cop Kate Spears has been axed from The Bill as
part of a brutal cull of SIX well-known characters. The
surprise sacking has stunned pretty Tania Emery,26, who
proved a huge hit as the DC since joining the soap last
year.
Hunk Matt Crompton was the longest serving star to get
the bullet, after almost four years playing PC Sam
Harker.
Ben Peyton (Hayward), Jane Wall (Worrell), Gary Grant
(Riley) and Raji James (Singh) also get the boot.
New Executive Producer Paul Marquess ordered the
clear-out last week to make way for fresh faces in the
ITV police drama. It brings the total characters chopped
in the last year to 15. The Bill has also switched to an
hour-long format, twice weekly format to boost viewing
figures, which peaked recently at nine million, taking
the show to No 3 in the ratings.
But Marquess felt the 18-year-old series needed livening
up still more.
An insider said: "He is desperate to bring in fresh
blood and to do that he had to shift a few others. Paul
felt some of the actors hadn't made the impact
expected."
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