SMITHY SHOOTS BACK (20/3/03)

This article appeared in The Daily Star. Smithy as a sergeant? I wouldn't have thought possible, but hey! 

Hot cop Dale 'Smithy' Smith is making a shock return to Sun Hill - 2 years after shooting Bob Cryer.

And he will be getting Cryer's old rank as a Sun Hill sergeant.

Smith, played by Alex Walkinshaw, takes over in the ITV show from Sgt Matt Boyden, who is leaving in 'tragic circumstances' in May.

Dale left 2 years ago to join the firearms unit, but returned to help at a siege. And he ended the career of Cryer by shooting him accidentally.

A source at The Bill said: 'When Smithy was promoted and the opportunity came to return to Sun Hill, he jumped at it.

Smithy's always been outspoken and he will certainly liven things up in the nick.'

There has been official confirmation of this. Apparently Smithy's return doesn't go down too well with the whole relief, especially Luke Ashton.

There are also reports of a new DC joining the cast, brunette Juliet Becker, played by TV-newcomer Rae Baker. She presumably is replacing DC Danny Glaze or Mickey Webb.