The Bill’s Jeff Stewart Unrecognisable with Wild New Look: ‘I Have to Look as Different as Possible’
Jeff Stewart, famously known for his 24-year role as PC Reg Hollis on ITV’s The Bill, stunned fans with his dramatically different appearance during a rare outing in London. According to OK! Magazine, Stewart was barely recognizable, sporting long, flyaway grey hair and a bushy beard, a stark contrast from the clean-cut look that fans remember from his days on the show. Stewart’s transformation has been a deliberate choice, as he revealed that his new look is meant to distance himself from his iconic character.
During his recent London appearance, Stewart turned heads with his eclectic style, pairing a bright yellow T-shirt with grey sweatpants, a checkered brown coat, and tinted glasses. As he walked through the rain, he carried a colorful patterned umbrella, adding even more personality to his unique ensemble.
Stewart’s transformation wasn’t just a random decision. After a long tenure of 872 episodes, he was abruptly axed from The Bill in 2008, a move that left him devastated. In a candid interview with The Sun in 2011, Stewart opened up about how the unexpected end to his role pushed him to a breaking point. “I felt I had been badly let down,” he admitted. Struggling with the news, he attempted to take his own life in his dressing room but changed his mind at the last moment and called for help. He was immediately taken to a hospital, where he later found the strength to move forward, telling The Sun, “I thought, ‘I have a choice, you can either stagnate or blossom.'”
Despite his years as PC Reg, Stewart has always been versatile, having appeared in popular shows like Doctor Who and Crossroads, along with the film Lake Placid: The Final Chapter. He even earned the Best Actor award at the Manhattan Film Festival for his role in the independent film Under Jakob’s Ladder, proving that his talent goes far beyond one role.
When fans first saw Stewart’s transformation into his more rugged, unkempt look, there was speculation that he might be struggling with depression. However, Stewart later clarified that his look was a “well-thought-out” decision. “I have to look as different as possible,” he explained, sharing that he hadn’t cut his hair for three years to help distance himself from the role that defined much of his career. Stewart embraced this transformation as part of his journey to move past his former TV identity and explore new creative roles.
For fans who remember him as PC Reg Hollis, seeing Stewart with his dramatic new style is a reminder of how much he has changed since his days on The Bill. While he may no longer look like the character who once patrolled the fictional streets of London, Jeff Stewart continues to forge his own path, both as an actor and as a person.