YOU'RE AXED SARGE .. I'VE JUST READ IT IN THE SCRIPT; Cryer going after 17yrs.
THE Bill's longest-serving star, Sergeant Bob Cryer, is being axed.And Eric Richard, who plays him, only found out when a colleague read a script describing his retirement party.
Eric, 60, will leave the ITV police drama after 17 years as old-school policeman Cryer.
A Bill spokesman admitted last night it was "unfortunate" that Eric had found out he was going from another member of the cast.
The spokesman said: "The character is ripe for retirement but we haven't set a date yet - it'll be 2001 at the earliest.
"We try to run the show like a real police station and certain characters do have to retire to make it authentic.
"We are looking at bringing in lots of great new characters - but it will be a gradual process of replacement."
Eric was told he was going by Joy Brook. Her character - WDC Kerry Holmes - is also being axed.
The sexy policewoman, who is infamous for a lesbian shower scene, will written out at the end of the year.
She joins seven other colleagues who are leaving after being caught up in a ring of corruption led by DS Don Beech, alias Billy Murray.
Others to go include Chief Superintendent Brownlow, played by Peter Ellis; DS John Boulton, Russell Boulter; DI Deakin, Sean Scott; DC Tom Proctor, Gregory Donaldson; Pc Gary McCann, Clive Wedderburn and Pc Dale Smith, Alex Walkinshaw.
Cryer's axing is the second time that Bill bosses have been embarrassed by the way cast members have learnt they are being axed. Peter Ellis, 63, was told in May by his scriptwriter son that his character was out after 16 years .
But it emerged yesterday that Sergeant Cryer will get some strong storylines in his final episodes.
He will get the chance later this summer to show what he does best - teaching young upstarts how the job should really be done.
In real life it is thought that Eric plans to concentrate on his TV documentary company, Watchman productions.
The other departures will come later this year in a storyline which exposes the dirty dealings of DS Beech.
Programme chiefs have been planning the clear-out for three years.
The show, which regularly pulls in audiences of 10 million, has a contract with ITV until 2002. It returns for a new run in the autumn.
Storylines include a steamy Sun Hill affair, a stalker and a rapist who traps his victims on the internet. New members of the team will be introduced and some old faces are due to make surprise returns.
Some Bill actors have been unhappy with ITV's policy of rescheduling the programme to make way for runs of smash-hit quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
WHO'LL COP IT AT SUN HILL
WDC Kerry Holmes
( Joy Brook)
Chief Supt Brownlow
(Peter Ellis)
DS John Boulton
(Russell
Boulter)
Det Insp Deakin
(Sean
Scott)
Det Con Proctor
(Gregory
Donaldson)
Pc Gary McCann
(Clive
Wedderburn)
nicola.methven@mirror.co.uk
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| Author: | Methven, Nicola |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Words: | 491 |
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