Rupert Hill quits Coronation Street for brush with football mob

Jun 22 2008 By Steve Hendry

When Rupert Hill was signed up to play a brutal criminal in The Bill he had no idea he would be thrown into the Lions' Den.

The former Coronation Street star's ability and bottle was tested to the limit when he secretly filmed scenes for the four-part special at Millwall Football Club's London ground.

The Lions - whose stadium is known as The Den - have some notoriously tough fans who did not take too kindly to having Rupert and co-star Alex Walkinshaw, who plays Sergeant Dale Smith, constantly interrupting their view during a match.

Rupert said: "We were in an actual match and being filmed secretly, so the fans didn't really clock we were there. A few got the hump because we had to keep getting up out of our seats to do another take.

"We were getting up, sitting down, getting up again. We got a few comments coming our way. After a while we said to the director, 'We're not doing this again!'

"I've never done anything like that before. You are forced to get into your character a little bit. I was playing a really aggressive guy, so you've got to give it back a little bit and make yourself look like you are not a walk-over.

"You can't say, 'I'm an actor I need security!' It was quite scary but it was good fun and really exciting. And the fans who did recognise us were actually really nice."

Playing gun-runner Kieron Wallace is the first time Rupert, 30, has been on TV screens since he left Coronation Street in February.

He was last seen as Jamie Baldwin, driving Violet Wilson and her baby son Dylan out of Weatherfield and leaving the tot's dad, gay barman Sean Tully (Antony Cotton), devastated.

Violet was played by Rupert's real-life girlfriend Jenny Platt and the couple are enjoying the quiet life away from Corrie.

He said: "We had a couple of weeks holiday in Mexico but it was literally a wind-down after three-and-a-half years of Corrie - a chance to chill out and read some books.

"We're just having a good time at the moment. It's all very easy and relaxed. There is no marriage or kids on the horizon."

The manner of the couple's departure leaves plenty of scope for a return - but while Rupert loved his time in Weatherfield, he is enjoying the challenge of finding new roles even more.

He said: "I don't know if I would go back. I hope not, to be honest. I enjoyed my time on Coronation Street but I'm looking forward to a future of unknown territory.

"But you never say never. I've got bills to pay, so I can't make any outlandish statements. I just hope I can continue to do interesting, different things.

"I would like to spread my wings with other genres of TV, film and theatre." Rupert expected to be out of work after leaving Corrie but landed his role in The Bill soon after returning from holiday.

His dangerous character Wallace is the subject of a major investigation which involves cop Smithy going undercover to infiltrate his gang.

Gentle ladies man Jamie Baldwin would run a mile if he came across him - which is exactly why Rupert wanted to play him.

He said: "I had to audition with a few others but he's a major departure from Jamie, so I thought, 'Yes, I want this.' It's The Bill doing what it does best - a four-part story with a beginning, middle and end and a really good character.

"He's incredibly intimidating, aggressive and violent but as the story goes on you discover a lot of it is bravado. That's true of a lot of those characters in real life. They have this front that says if you cross them, they will mess you up.

"But when Wallace comes closer to the undercover cop, Smithy, you a see a much more vulnerable and endearing side.

"Given the choice or the chance he would be completely fine - a normal human being.

It's bad luck he's in with this crowd."

When The Bill is shown next week, Rupert will be hard at work mastering the moves and sounds of Northern Soul for the musical play Once Upon A Time In Wigan.

He also fronts the band Yellow Dog, who are unsigned but have their own myspace website where fans can download songs for free. They are playing the Isle of Wight's Bestival in September and may tour later in the year.

Rupert said: "People are always going to think it's rubbish! They will always think I'm an actor who has suddenly decided to be in an indie band. That's not true. I've been in bands as long as I've been acting."

Gunrunner starts on ITV1 on July 5 at 8pm. You can hear Yellow Dog by logging on to www.myspace.com/theyellowdogband