Lisa Maxwell departs 'The Bill'

Actress Lisa Maxwell has quit The Bill after seven years on the ITV police drama.

Maxwell, who played DI Sam Nixon, will depart the show in an "explosive storyline", reports The Sun.

"I've loved every minute of my seven years on The Bill but feel I have taken the character of Sam as far as I can," she said. "It is time to move on to new challenges.

"When people start referring to you as the longest-standing female cast member it is probably time to take the hint."

Earlier this month, ITV’s director of television Peter Fincham revealed that the long-running series' output was being reduced to just one episode a week. The relaunched show will air after 9pm and has been described as "grittier and more action-packed".