The Bill star, 69, unrecognisable 16 years after leaving hit show

WITH his large yellowish trilby hat, heavy rimmed glasses and stubbly face, you'd find it hard to spot who this erstwhile The Bill prima is.

Well down the spectacles and immense winter overgarment is nary different than histrion Jeff Stewart who played the overmuch loved PC Reg Hollis.

The actor, present 69, was spotted looking dapper arsenic helium took a stroll astir London.

Over the past fewer years, the TV prima - who connected The Bill was known for his caller look and abbreviated backmost and sides haircut - had previously sported a immense bushy beard and large curly hair.

But Jeff has shaved the beard disconnected and gone for a much trendy look, arsenic helium took a locomotion successful the capital.

He was seen wearing a stylish agelong coat, to support lukewarm successful the acold air.

Jeff was 1 of the longest lasting actors connected The Bill, appearing from 1984 to 2008.

He appeared alongside Graham Cole's PC Tony Stamp and Mark Wingett's quality DC Jim Carver.

Following his departure from the show, Jeff starred successful 2009's Dead Man Running, 2010's Tomorrow and Under Jakob's Ladder successful 2011 - wherever helium managed to container himself Best Actor astatine the Manhattan Film Festival.

Speaking astir leaving the drama, helium antecedently said: "I didn’t spot a counsellor, it was evident I was OK and I ne'er disquieted however it would impact my career.

“I thought, ‘I person a choice, you tin either stagnate oregon blossom.”

The Bill launched connected ITV successful 1983 but was axed successful 2010, aft moving for an unthinkable 26 series.

The show, acceptable successful the fictional Sun Hill successful London, became the longest-running police procedural play successful Britain.

It helped motorboat the careers of Keira Knightley, David Tennant, James Mcavoy, Sean Bean and David Walliams.

Last twelvemonth marked 40 years since The Bill's debut episode.

To observe this histrion Mark Wingett - who played Jim Carver - opened up astir what it was similar to beryllium portion of the show.

The prima played the probationer-turned-DC for 21 years, and during that clip lone saw The Bill prime up a mates of awards.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, helium admitted helium felt it deserved galore much considering it's longevity connected screen.

He said: "Other shows won awards, not that I'm bitter astir that due to the fact that I deliberation awards are ridiculous anyway, but The Bill was benignant of overlooked.

"The amusement didn't get the designation it astir apt deserved."

He pondered whether snobbery was astatine play, and said: "Maybe, I deliberation it fell betwixt 2 stools.

"It was ne'er truly taken arsenic a existent drama, and it was ne'er truly taken arsenic a soap opera until towards the extremity of the show, truthful it was successful a class of its own."