BILL STAR No9 AXED; Insp Monroe latest victim of boss's cull.
Byline: EVA SIMPSONONE of The Bill's oldest characters has been axed - the ninth star to be sacked under the current boss.
Colin Tarrant, who plays Inspector Andrew Monroe, will leave after 12 years on the hit ITV series.
An insider said Tarrant's colleagues were shocked.
They are now frightened they could be next in line in a series of sackings by executive producer Richard Hanford, known as the "axeman of Sun Hill".
Even the show's oldest member Eric Richard, Sergeant Bob Cryer, was given the push.
Tarrant, 46, was called into Hanford's office and told his pounds 80,000 a year contract, due to run out in February, was not being renewed. Hanford, who has himself been axed, agreed the sacking would remain secret until Tarrant had told everyone personally.
But the next day, the studios in Merton Park, South London, were buzzing with the news.
The insider said: "Monroe is a good support character but he is also pedestrian and has been running out of steam.
"The show does need fresh blood at Monroe's level, but the cast was shocked Hanford chose to chop Colin when he himself has only got a couple of weeks to go in the show."
Tarrant could make his last appearance as early as November.
CAPTION(S):
OUT: Tarrant as Monroe
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| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Aug 20, 2001 |
| Words: | 218 |
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