Sacked 'Bill' star recovering

The Bill actor Jeff Stewart today moved to reassure his fans, saying he was "progressively improving" after slashing his wrists on being told he was to be axed from the show.

In a statement, Stewart said: "I love being an actor. My work as an actor is very important to me - it's my life - and the thought of this suddenly changing had an extremely serious effect on me."

Stewart, 52, who has played PC Reg Hollis in the ITV1 police drama since it began, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after an ambulance was called to the set in Merton, south west London.