He has since been seen out with TV presenter Kate Charman. There were reports he would quit Heartbeat this year. But a spokesman said he had been happy to sign up for the next series.

Take That star Gary Barlow managed to pop up in an episode of the ITV drama - and every time he manages to collect another 78p.

It has been more than two decades since Heartbeat first aired on our television screens. The ITV period drama series, set in the 1960s North Yorkshire, centred around the lives of police officers ...