And who said Paul Marquess didn't have his own 'gay agenda'? This is from today's teletext:

Fans of The Bill are to be shocked by yet another gay plot.

New bisexual biker DC Juliet Becker played by Rae Baker will pucker up to DS Debbie McAllister (Natalie Roles) in an explosive storyline shortly.

Rae, 28, told TV Plus: "Juliet and Debbie are going to cop off. There's a dramatic plot in which Juliet is handcuffed and threatened with rape. The two women bond and start kissing as Debbie has been through her own rape ordeal."

Baker says she enjoyed her gay kissing scenes with Natalie Roles. She laughed: "Womens' lips are really soft so it's nicer kissing women than men. But I didn't get anything out of kissing Natalie, it was just a job. I still prefer men."

"It was weird doing the scenes at 7am and there was a lot of giggling. The whole crew came and watched us doing the filming."

Last year ITV1 received over 300 complaints when Sgt Craig Gilmore (Hywel Simons) and PC Luke Ashton (Scott Neal) snogged. Jane Danson also played lesbian PC Gemma Osbourne earlier this year.

Baker added: "Bisexuality is an important subject. It's not talked about that much."

AND FROM TODAY'S SUN (10/6/03)

Go on! Peck her, Becker

Lez be friends ... Rae (left) and Natalie poised for their kiss in The Bill

Right on the Bill ... Rae and Natalie's snog will shock fans of the cop soap

Rae Baker, 28, who plays Juliet, said yesterday: “Juliet and Debbie are going to cop off. Two women start kissing.”

And Rae admitted she ENJOYED filming the scene – set to be shown in August – with Natalie Roles (Debbie).

Cop off ... Natalie, left, and Rae

She said: “Women’s lips are soft so it’s nicer kissing women.”

But she added: “It was just a job. I prefer men.”