This article is from today's Sun about The Bill's latest recruit, PC Gabriel Kent.

TELLY favourite Todd Carty is battling pneumonia in hospital, it was revealed last night.

The dad of two, 39, was struck down by the illness soon after starting work on his new role as a dodgy copper in police drama The Bill.

The former EastEnder was so sick he had to be admitted to hospital so he could receive treatment around the clock.

A Bill source said: “Todd has already done three weeks filming for us. But we heard after the Easter break he was in hospital after contracting pneumonia. We have signed him off so that he can recuperate.”

Todd is pictured above for the first time in his new ITV1 role.

But he will not be Mr Nice Guy at the Sun Hill nick as he was for Albert Square fans.

A Bill source said: “He plays PC Gabriel Kent, who has a dark side. He is not the good bloke he was in EastEnders.

“At the beginning, everyone is going to think the sun shines out of his backside.

“But it will soon become clear that this is not the case.”

Todd — who is married to Dina Clarkin, 29, and has two sons James, five, and two-year-old Thomas — became a pin-up at 13 playing Tucker Jenkins in Grange Hill.

He found more fame as market trader Mark Fowler in EastEnders but left in February after 12 years.

Mark was last seen riding off on a motorbike after telling his family he was dying of Aids.

A spokesman for The Bill said last night: “Everyone at The Bill wishes Todd a speedy recovery and hopes that he will be back on the set soon.”

He will first be seen on screen in his new role at the end of June.