Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Baby girl in fight for life after attack
Tributes to The Bill legend Tony after he dies aged 74
A BABY girl injured during a domestic incident is fighting for her life.
Police said the sevenmonth-old was rushed to hospital after suffering “multiple injuries” .
A woman was also stabbed in the hand at the property in Tipton, West Midlands, shortly after midnight yesterday.
West Midlands Police confirmed it was a domestic incident.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told of how she had tried to negotiate through the letterbox with a man holding a baby.
The woman said: “I was telling him to give me the baby and we won’t say anything else.”
AS DS Ted Roach, his tough-talking, no-nonsense manner earned him millions of fans as the beating heart of The Bill in its 1980s heyday.
His explosive departure in 1993 – which saw him walk out of Sun Hill police station uttering the words “don’t bother with a party” – was one of the show’s most memorable moments.
His death at the age of 74 on Wednesday was confirmed by a friend, who posted a tribute on Facebook. The cause has not yet been announced.
Tony – who was also in Flash Gordon, Evil Never Dies and Waking The Dead – once admitted the popularity of The Bill drove him “mad”.
He spent nine years on the show from 1984 – until bosses, irritated by his off-screen behaviour, wrote him out.
He said: “I’d come from nothing to needing a bodyguard when I went out to clubs. It was the beginning of the end when I’d been given time off but was asked to come in for continuity scenes.
“They wouldn’t have taken long but I refused. I had a meeting with the producer and said I’d had enough. It was only later I realised how stupid I’d behaved in thinking I was special.”
A decade of partying and womanising left him bankrupt in 2002 and he admitted he handled fame badly. But he later told how he finally found “inner peace” after discovering Buddhism. Stars honouring him yesterday included Katy Manning, who was Doctor Who companion Jo Grant.
The 73-year-old said: “Another wonderful actor has gone on his awfully big adventure. He was a gentle soul I was lucky to work with on a film a few years ago. My heart goes out to his family.”
Tony was the son of Irish footballer Tommy Scannell, who played for Southend United.
He dreamed of being a professional golfer and grew up in County Cork before moving to England aged 14.
He had jobs including deckchair attendant and singing bingo caller before spending five years in the RAF as a photographic expert. Tony said: “I avoided guard duty byhelping out backstage in the theatre group.” After training at the E15 drama school in Stratford, East London, he struggled for work and did salvage diving to supplement his meagre income.
He said: “I thought I’d have to give up acting as I never had much work. But I landed a role in Flash Gordon in 1980, where I was an officer to the great Max von Sydow, who was Ming. Just standing next to him scared the pants off me.
“Then I got an audition for The Bill and played Ted. He looked after himself, old people and the young; the rest had better beware – that’s how I played him.”
Tony was only signed up for two episodes but producers kept him on. He returned for two episodes in 2000.
Tony said of being declared bankrupt in 2002, owing the Inland Revenue more than £42,000: “I didn’t have responsibilities then. I enjoyed myself every second of every day, especially those I can remember. We worked hard and played hard and I enjoyed every second of it.
“But I don’t miss it. There was a time I needed it, I wanted it. I loved every nightclub and every woman. I loved all the limousines they sent to collect me and the parties and the awards parties.
“It happened for me later in life and I wanted to enjoy it. But I couldn’t handle it. I lived and paid later, or rather I forgot about paying later. I could have gone out of my mind, thrown myself over a cliff.
“I had nothing. But what the hell, you can’t take it with you.”
Tony made his West End stage debut in 2003, in thriller Wait Until Dark. And he met his partner Agnes Lillis while appearing in the play An Evening With Gary Lineker in Jersey.
She introduced him to Buddhism – which he insisted changed his life.
Tony said: “It was very brave of her to take the risk when you look at my track record. I’m a lucky man and I know that.
“The Buddhism has helped me a lot, has seen me through the most difficult times. We chant together every day.
“That fulfils a demand within myself and gave me inner peace.”
Tony is survived by Agnes and three children.