Hollyoaks' Ali to star in The Bill

Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian is to join the cast of The Bill.

Ali - best known as jailed teacher Becca Dean in C4's teen soap - is set to play Sun Hill rookie Sally Armstrong.

The feisty Pc appears at the station in July. It's her first posting after passing her probationary period.

Ali said: "Sally certainly knows her own mind and what she wants out of life and I think there are going to be a few casualties along the way.

"I'm looking forward to getting started - one of my first jobs is to meet with Met Police to research the part. It's going to be really exciting - seeing how it's all done for real."

Ali is quitting Hollyoaks after six years of playing Becca. On Wednesday night fans of the show saw Becca fatally stabbed by her cellmate.

She was serving time in prison after being found guilty of underage sex with pupil Justin Burton, played by Chris Fountain.

In related news, ex-Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw is also set to guest star in The Bill. She has already filmed her scenes for an episode to be shown in June, in which she plays a car crash victim.

Her character Laura is cut from the driver's seat as Pcs Will Fletcher (Gary Lucy) and Diane Noble (Kaye Wragg) arrive on the scene.

But events take a bizarre turn when Laura later claims that she was not driving the vehicle.