poor reg hollis :(
Jackie Brown
Jeff Stewart had a meeting with producers on Tuesday
Actor Jeff Stewart, who plays PC Reg Hollis in ITV drama The Bill, has been
treated in hospital after being told he was sacked.
Press reports suggested the 52-year-old cut his wrists after being informed.
A show spokeswoman said "an incident" occurred after Stewart was told his
contract would not be renewed.
But she refused to confirm details of what happened, saying it was a private
matter. "Our primary concern is for Jeff Stewart's welfare," she said.
Stewart has been in the show since it began in 1984.
The spokeswoman 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.
"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. All our
best wishes are with Jeff."
Ambulance called
Stewart was taken to hospital on Tuesday after an ambulance was called to
the studios in Merton, south-west London.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We got a call at 5.50pm last
night to an address at Deer Park Road, SW19.
"We sent an ambulance and our staff treated an adult male and took him to
hospital."
The Bill has been on air for almost 25 years
Reg is one of the best-loved characters in the long-running show, and is
described on The Bill's official website as "a bit of a loner, resourceful
and strong willed".
His character also "lives life by a very strong moral code and hates
dishonesty or injustice", it says.
Reg is single in the show and has "given up on the idea of ever finding
love" as he is "married to the job", according to the site.
Stewart, from Aberdeen, Scotland, has also had minor roles in Crossroads,
Doctor Who, Hi De Hi and Minder.
In 1998, actor Kevin Lloyd - who played Detective Tosh Lines in The Bill -
died days after being sacked from the show because of his heavy drinking.