From Teletext:

James Lloyd's debut in The Bill this week will be a particularly poignant one.

James, 25, who plays eager new PC Steve Hunter, already has strong links to the ITV1 soap, as the son of former star Kevin Lloyd.

Kevin played tough cop Tosh Lines in the series but died in 1998 after years battling alcoholism. "In the studio there are pictures of him everywhere so he is there somewhere," said James.

But acting was not Lloyd's first career choice. "I did do a degree in business and economics but when I finished I wasn't really interested in doing a 9 to 5 job. I felt TV was for me really," he told This Morning.

"I'd been working as a runner and in production when they asked me if I'd go for an interview. I thought it must be an April Fool but I had an audition and went from there."

He admits his father would not have approved of his decision to become an actor. "Dad said to me I should get a proper job," he said. "I saw him looking for work and him and mum were always worrying where the money was coming from."

He plays PC Steve Hunter, brother of DS Phil Hunter. "He's not the sharpest tool in the box. He thinks he's John Wayne and wants to solve things on day one."

Kevin Lloyd played popular character Detective Alfred "Tosh" Lines from 1988. Despite his success, the actor, who separated from James's mother in 1995 was dogged by the alcoholism.