THREE of The Bill's star characters are to be
killed off when fire ravages Sun Hill nick. Bosses of the ITV1 cop drama are
dumping a total of EIGHT characters in three separate storylines.They think the inferno will be a fitting end for the trio - and boost flagging ratings. New producer Paul Marquess, dubbed 'The Axeman' over his cast cuts, said last night: "Not even the actors know how they are going yet."
But a Bill source revealed: "A fire breaks out and guts Sun Hill."
The source said the cull was ordered by bosses "keen to get actors who look more believable as police officers than pretty boys and girls".
The axed eight are Ben Roberts (Chief Insp Conway), Matthew Crompton (PC Harker), Tania Emery (DC Spears), Ben Peyton (PC Hayward), Jane Wall (WPC Worrell), Gary Grant (DC Riley), Raji James (DS Singh) and Colin Tarrant (Insp Monroe).
It is not known who will die in the fire, which will be shown at the end of February. Eight stars have already been dropped this year.