CAST DEPARTURES (9/9/01)

Colin Tarrant (Inspector Monroe) has apparently not had his contract renewed for The Bill and will be leaving the series in early 2002. Tarrant joined the show in January 1990, in the episode I'd Thought You'd Gone, replacing Inspector Frazer. He is known for being a stern and no-nonsense Inspector, but one who is always supportive of his officers. Throughout his time at Sun Hill he is probably most remembered for his altercations with DS Roach (Tony Scannel). In fact, Roach resigned from his job after punching Monroe in a heated argument!

Unfortunately, Monroe has had next-to-no storylines in recent months and it seems as though his character has been badly neglected by writers.

Tarrant is one in a long line of old actors to leave the Bill in recent months. He joins the likes of Eric Richard (Sergeant Cryer) and Peter Ellis (Ch. Supt. Brownlow), who left last year. Let's hope that he gets plenty of good storylines before he leaves!

Other characters leaving the show include PC Roz Clarke (Holly Davison), who joined the show in New Impressions in September 2000. Apparently she leaves after witnessing the rape of one of her fellow-WPC's and realises that she cannot handle the job any longer. The identity of the policewoman who is raped is still unknown, but there are rumours that it is PC Vicky Hagen (Samantha Robson), who is also set to leave the show.