Ex-EastEnders
star Todd Carty takes on a new role in two weeks time as he stars as PC Gabriel
Kent arriving for his first day at Sun Hill. Gabriel, although older than most
new probationers, soon shows his puppy-walker PC Tony Stamp (Graham Cole) that
he is no pushover.Until now Gabriel has had a successful career in the Navy but is now starting a new life in the police. Todd is delighted to have joined THE BILL and says: “It’s like a dream come true, I’ve always watched The Bill so it’s great now being part of this fantastic series – and the uniform’s good fun too.”
“I have been confused as a copper – twice in the space of about five minutes. We were filming in Croydon and a sweet old dear started telling me how great the police are for fighting crime. She even offered me a cup of tea if I ever wanted to call in for one. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I was just an actor. Later, a young guy approached wanting directions for Croydon Town Hall. I came a bit unstuck as I’m from North of the river. I think I told him to follow his nose.
“Now I wear a police uniform I have noticed it takes people a little longer to recognise me. They look at you and then do a double take at the uniform. Suddenly you see a sort of mist clearing as they realise who you are.”
Adds Todd: “I have found there are a lot of very familiar faces behind the scenes at The Bill. So I am working with people I used to work with at EastEnders and that makes settling into a new job much easier. Lisa Geoghan (Polly Page) used to play my girlfriend in Tuckers Luck and although we haven’t had any scenes together yet on The Bill, I’m looking forward to working with her.”