Stars who got a break on The Bill

ITV announced that it is to drop The Bill in the autumn after 27 years. Among those to appear on the show early in their careers was Denise Van Outen, who played Melanie Lehmann in 1998 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk James McAvoy played Gavin Donald in 1997 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk Michelle Collins, who was 23 when she appeared in the show in 1986 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk Keira Knightley in 1995, aged 10 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk Ray Winstone appeared as Jack McKenzie in 1995. He also guested as a different character in 1991 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk Les Dennis in The Bill in 2006. He plays Tom Walker, a man suspected of killing his father Photograph: Thames Photograph: guardian.co.uk Paul O'Grady (then Paul Savage) played drag queen Roxanne in three episodes between 1988 and 1990 Photograph: Rex Features/FremantleMedia Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk The Who's Roger Daltrey played Larry Moore, a reformed drug dealer finding life after prison much harder than he had anticipated Photograph: Thames Photograph: guardian.co.uk