In a twist straight out of a crime drama, a familiar TV face turned into an actual crime-stopper on the streets of Southampton.
Jeff Stewart, best known for playing PC Reg Hollis in The Bill, found himself back in action—not on a set, but in a real-life foot chase.
The Scene Unfolds on a Quiet Afternoon
It all happened on Wednesday, July 23, outside a Co-op supermarket in Ocean Way, Southampton.
A 29-year-old man, later identified as Mohammed Diallo, tried to make a speedy getaway on a bicycle after allegedly shoplifting from the store.
Hampshire Police officers were quickly in pursuit, and that’s when things got interesting.
As Diallo pedaled off, two officers gave chase.
He didn’t get far—he crashed his bike and was tackled in a nearby car park while resisting arrest.
Enter Jeff Stewart, Sprinting into Action
Watching the chaos unfold was 69-year-old Jeff Stewart.
But rather than just stand by, the actor—who played PC Reg Hollis in more than 900 episodes of The Bill from 1984 until 2008—ran over and joined the takedown effort.
Stewart helped hold Diallo down by sitting on his legs so the officers could safely handcuff him.
His timing was impeccable, and his assistance left officers a bit starstruck.
A Surreal Encounter for the Officers
As the officers caught their breath, one turned to thank the man who’d just pitched in.
Stewart coolly replied, “Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years.”
That was enough to stun one officer, who responded with, “Amazing! Were you? Can we have a photo with you after?”
Hampshire Police Praise a Surprise Ally
After the incident, Hampshire Police had nothing but praise for their unexpected backup.
A spokesperson jokingly said, “Long-since retired from Sun Hill station – but he’s still got it!” They added, “In policing, you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn’t on The Bill for this week.”
The statement confirmed the details: Officers were responding to a shoplifting report from Co-op staff when Diallo tried to flee.
Thankfully, with a little help from “PC Hollis,” the arrest was quickly handled.
Witness Recalls Seeing the Wild Scene
Sam Holton, who happened to be working from home nearby, heard a commotion and looked out to see the chase.
“There was lots of screaming and shouting,” he said.
He watched as the suspect was chased by officers and a member of the public—who turned out to be Stewart.
“An older guy came up behind the police and helped them hold the man down,” Holton added.
Thief Admits to Multiple Thefts
Mohammed Diallo, who lives in Southampton, later admitted in court to five counts of theft totaling £284. His sentencing is scheduled for next week.
Stewart’s Long-Running Role in The Bill
Jeff Stewart became a household name playing PC Reg Hollis, starring in nearly a thousand episodes over 24 years.
Though he didn’t appear in the pilot, he was a regular from the very first full episode and was part of the core cast until the character was cut in 2008.
He worked alongside familiar names like Graham Cole (PC Tony Stamp) and Mark Wingett (DC Jim Carver), helping shape the long-running ITV police drama that aired for 26 years.
Behind the Scenes: A Difficult Goodbye
But leaving the show wasn’t easy for Stewart. In a 2011 interview, he revealed how devastated he was by the decision to write his character out.
After hearing the news, he returned to his dressing room feeling hopeless and attempted to take his own life.
As he lost consciousness, he had a change of heart and called the front desk for help.
He was quickly found and rushed to hospital from the studio in South West London.
A New Chapter and Continued Work
Thankfully, Stewart recovered and later reflected, “I have a choice—you can either stagnate or blossom.”
He didn’t seek counseling afterward and said he wasn’t worried about how it would impact his career.
Since leaving The Bill, Stewart has appeared in other shows like Crossroads, Doctor Who, and Hi-De-Hi!.
He’s also acted in indie films and even won Best Actor at the Manhattan Film Festival in 2011 for Under Jakob’s Ladder.
A Moment That Brought TV and Reality Together
For fans of The Bill, seeing Reg Hollis return to policing—even if just for a few seconds—was a wild full-circle moment.
For the police in Southampton, it was an unforgettable surprise.
And for Jeff Stewart, it proved that once a copper, always a copper—whether it’s fiction or real life.
