Another ex-'Ender joins 'The Bill'

Former EastEnders actress Lucy Speed has joined the cast of The Bill – following in the footsteps of a long line of ex-Walford stars.

The 31-year-old – who played Natalie Evans intermittently between 1994 and 2004 – has landed the role of feisty new CID officer D.C. Stevie Moss.

Speaking of her signing, Lucy said: "Stevie's such a great character. I'm really looking forward to my first scripts! Stevie's one of those people who you think is really open, but she's just very good at hiding her true feelings and what's going on in her life."

She added: "I think the really exciting part will be my ride-along days with the real police – it'll be great to see how it all happens."

Lucy begins filming at the end of the month and will first appear on screen in the New Year.

Other former Albert Square actors who have landed regular roles or guest appearances in the ITV police drama have included Louisa Lytton, Gillian Taylforth, Roberta Taylor Todd Carty, Hannah Waterman, Pooja Shah, Anita Dobson and Dean Gaffney.

In July, Scott Maslen – Sun Hill's Phil Hunter – became the first soap actor to be successfully poached by another show when EastEnders executives snapped him up at the end of his contract to play womaniser Jack Branning.