Sad news today from the Sun is that Colin Tarrant, who played the role of Inspector Andrew Monroe in The Bill, is believed to have committed suicide. He was 59 years old.

Colin, who starred in around 600 episodes of the now defunct soap, was found collapsed in the bathroom of his home in Bristol.

He was rushed to the city’s hospital, but attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead.

He’s survived by his partner Sabrina and their two sons, Louis, six months, and Juma, 24.

Colin starred in The Bill from 1990 until 2002 and also starred in Heartbeat, Holby City, Casualty and Midsomer Murders…

Colin also played the role of Brian Clough in theatre production, The Spirit Of The Man and more recently, he played John in a stage adaptation of Calendar Girls.

West End theatre producer David Pugh told the paper, “Colin was a lovely man.”

A family statement read, “Colin was best known in The Bill, a part he played very happily for many years.”

Colin’s sad death is one of several tragedies that have befallen the former cast of the show. In 2008, Jeff Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis, attempted to kill himself on set in his dressing room after his character was axed from the show.

And in 1998 Kevin Lloyd, who played Tosh Lines, died just a week after being sacked for arriving at work drunk, and not learning his lines.

How very, very sad. Our condolences to Colin’s family and friends.