New Tricks: Dennis Waterman to leave drama after a decade of crime-solving

The London-born actor best known for his hard-man roles decided to leave because the chemistry had changed on set

'New Tricks' star Dennis Waterman is departing from the show after he completes filming on two more episodes (Getty Images)

Actor Dennis Waterman is leaving crime drama New Tricks after working on the show for over a decade because he "misses the original line-up".

The 66-year-old star has been on the show since it began in 2003 and is the last remaining member of the original cast.

Waterman’s agent, Derek Webster said, "Dennis misses the old crew, the original line-up. The chemistry between them on the set was remarkable".

"I'm not saying there has been a big falling out or anything but the original team worked together for 10 years, so it was always going to be a bit strange when people started leaving,” Webster told The Mirror.

He added that the actor had decided “it was his time to go”.

Filming on series 12 of New Tricks will be starting in November but Waterman will only be starring in the first two episodes, which will be aired next year.

Waterman plays the former detective sergeant Gerry Standing, who is known for his unorthodox policing methods.

The show was originally fronted by Alun Armstrong, Amanda Redman, James Bolam and Waterman, who starred as retired police officers investigating unsolved crimes.

Both Armstrong and Redman left last year after 10 years on the show, while Bolam departed in 2012 and made a one-off appearance in 2013.

The new series features Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst, ex-EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite and Denis Lawson.