‘The Bill’ actor Jeff Stewart, who plays PC Reg Hollis in the ITV drama, has been treated in hospital after an incident on set.
The incident happened after Stewart was told his contract would not be renewed, a spokeswoman for The Bill said in a statement.
Press reports suggested the 52-year-old cut his wrists on the set of the show.
The statement said: "We can confirm an incident occurred yesterday following a meeting with Jeff Stewart, when it was discussed that Jeff’s contract would not be renewed.
“Our primary concern is for Jeff Stewart’s welfare. We are doing everything we can to ensure Jeff is getting the help he needs, and would ask that his privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
That was the whole point Flano. He didn’t lose the plot because they actually wouldn’t show him the plot to begin with as they weren’t renewing his contract. So he went and slashed himself. It wouldn’t have happened in Bob Cryer’s day.
First appearance Funny Ol’ Business - Cops and Robbers (16/10/84)
Last appearance —
Call Sign 171
We all know someone like PC Reg Hollis. A bit of a nerd, a bit of a clown, not above creeping to his superiors on occasion. Reg’s whiney voice, silly jokes and odd ways make him the butt of much Sun Hill humour, but the older hands have a lot of respect for Reg. They know that in spite of everything he’s a good copper. Those who suggest he doesn’t always have the stomach for a rumble should remember that that more than once unarmed Reg had tackled a gunman. And Reg has more sympathy and understanding for crime victims than some of his more gung-ho colleagues.
Having said this, Reg is still one of life’s persistent moaners. He enjoys the gossip round the station, true or false, and is always ready to initiate alarm and despondency even where there is no justification. This tendency doesn’t make him a popular figure amongst the relief, although there is overall a strange fondness for his lack of guile. Reg is also a hypochondriac, suffering variously from headache, backache, and neckache; aside from an occasional stomachache, no doubt caused by food poisoning acquired in the nick’s canteen.
Reg began work at Sun Hill in 1984, as the station’s Collator. He was at one time the station’s ‘Federation’ man – Sun Hill’s representative to the Police Federation - initially because no one else wanted the job. But he, naturally, took the position very seriously and at times proved to be very useful in the role. It is perhaps for this reason that he retains some loyal friends amongst his colleagues, despite his moaning. Not surprisingly Hollis is a loner; neither well-liked nor married, but his unlikely friendship with Des Taviner gave him more social confidence. When pushed to the limits however, Reg is resourceful and strong willed - a side of him that is easily forgotten when he is moaning in someone’s ear or boring them with the details of his miniature rail track.
Reg lives life by a very strong moral code and hates dishonesty or injustice. He lives alone and has given up on the idea of ever finding love, particularly following the death of his beloved Marilyn. He is happily married to the job, and knows that he’s good at it; he has a genuine rapport with the vulnerable, the young and the elderly. He enjoys several eccentric hobbies – including a love of model railways and gardening. In fact, not so long ago, Hollis was made responsible for tending the station garden. His other ‘projects’ while at the station have included designing the station website and renovating an old caravan into a place where members of the community can come and liase with the police.
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