Actress Kim Tiddy opens up about her famous roles amid rumours the police drama could be coming back.
It’s been over 15 years since The Bill was on our screens,with the series a firm favourite among TV fans. Many will remember Sun Hill resident PC Honey Harman, played by Kim Tiddy, who starred on the show for four years before leaving in 2007.
At the time Honey faced a dramatic exit, with actress Kim then going on to star in Hollyoaks as Heidi Costello.
Now, almost 25 years into her career, Kim opens up about life in the spotlight in an interview with online slots site Betway – from strange fan encounters and unforgettable moments on The Bill to the EastEnders roles that ‘weren’t meant to be’.
What was your favourite thing about working on the show?
Working with such a great cast and being part of such a well-known show. It really felt like an institution, and I was so proud to get the part. There was and still is such a strong fan base.
Do you think we’ll ever see The Bill come back? Would you like it to return?
I would love it to return, and I would be keen, as would other cast members. It was so well done. Even recently I’ve rewatched old clips and been proud of how amazing they were. So much effort was put into the whole show.
How would the show be different if it was still going in 2026?
I don’t think it would have to adapt too much. There’s been lots of police cuts in the UK, so maybe the show would have to reflect the new pressures that officers are under. But I think there’s still a real appetite for great police drama.
Can you remember your first day on set? Was there anything you weren’t expecting?
Yes, it was such a drama! I was living with my brother, and I didn’t have a car yet, so I borrowed someone’s, and I hate being late. It’s my thing. I’m never late. In fact, I’m often an hour early, sometimes more. But I got stuck in horrendous traffic and was so stressed. I was a young actor on my first day on set, and you’re taught all these things at drama school: don’t be late, people won’t put up with it. But everyone was lovely. I went through make-up, put my trousers on, and they were swinging around my ankles! I had these groovy shoes on, so it was fine. And my very first episode was actually filmed in Kingston, where I grew up, so that was quite funny.
Are you still in touch with any cast members from The Bill?
Yes, quite a lot of them actually. I’m good friends with Sally Rogers, who played Jo Masters. I’ve still kept in touch with Michelle Austin, who played Yvonne Hemingway, Scott Neal, who played Luke Aston, and Chris Simmons, who played Mickey Webb.
How did you feel when you left the show?
I made the decision to go. I was ready to leave after four years and spread my wings. The choice to give me this big murder storyline was really exciting too. And it made the whole thing very final. I couldn’t go back on my decision then!
Was it hard to film a scene where you were killed off?
I remember we filmed late at night and I think we filmed for a long time. I’m pretty sure we got the dramatic shooting scene in the first take. It was rehearsed, which was very rare for shows like The Bill. And the fight had to be choreographed by professionals. It was a big challenge, but I loved it. My dad found it hard. He said he couldn’t bring himself to watch the episode.
Do people still recognise you as your character?
Yes, it always shocks me too. It’s been almost 20 years, but people still recognise me when I’m out and about.
Did you have to deal with any fan incidents when you were on the show?
I remember filming on location for The Bill, and someone saw me in the uniform and asked me for directions. They seemed annoyed when I told them I wasn’t local to the area. I also used to get fan letters from people in prison. That was interesting…
You also had a dramatic exit from Hollyoaks. How did you feel about that?
It wasn’t my choice to leave, but I didn’t part on bad terms. I felt like the character was just getting started. But I did get to work with Jeff Rawle, who played my father Silas Blissett. He’s such a great actor, and he ended up being the one to murder me.
What did you think about your storylines?
I was really proud of the things we worked on. Hollyoaks has always really pushed the envelope with storylines. My character’s daughter Jasmine was trans and became Jason. That was so important. Before that, I wasn’t so aware of the transgender world, so I got to do a lot of research, and it was so educational for me.
Hollyoaks has faced criticism for a cast that focuses heavily on young, beautiful people. Was there pressure when you were on the show?
I didn’t feel it, and it was a lovely cast and crew. I did offer to be in the famous Hollyoaks calendar, but they didn’t want me. I was only in my early thirties, but I was playing a mum. I offered, and the press office was like, ‘No, we’ll leave it to the young ones.’
What is something people don’t realise about working on a soap?
It’s a lot of long days. It’s such a great thing to be a part of, but it’s very full on. You’re often shooting loads of scenes in a day, and scripts can be changed last minute. There’s not often time for rehearsals, so you’re just getting right into it.
Would you consider joining another soap like EastEnders?
I’ve auditioned for EastEnders a couple of times but haven’t got the parts. I went for Nicola Mitchell, which ended up going to Laura Doddington. She’s amazing, and the better actress got it. I also went for the part of her sister but didn’t get that either. It just wasn’t meant to be.
Tell us about your role on Slow Horses.
It was amazing. I was so pleased to bag a little part in it. The audition process was harder than actually filming it! I had to improvise the whole thing for the self-tape, but thankfully I got it. The show is so well run. It’s incredibly slick and professional, with cameras from every angle.
Who did you get to work with?
I was working with Jack Lowden, who plays River Cartwright, and we did three or four takes. He was exactly the same every time. It was brilliant, an excellent show to work on.
Did you get to meet Gary Oldman?
Sadly no.
What can we expect to see you in next?
I’ve auditioned for quite a lot of exciting things recently, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
