Sarah Manners Join 'The Bill'

Sarah Manners has joined 'The Bill'.

The former 'Casualty' actress and 'Strictly Come Dancing' star has signed up to play new area car driver character Kirsty Knight in the series.

Show producer Tim Key said: "Kirsty is a lively addition to the team. She has an irreverent sense of humour and a love of the adrenaline-fuelled side of the job."

Her entrance to the show will see her caught up in the action straight away as she intervenes when Sgt Callum Stone (Sam Callis) gets caught up in a fight.

Sara reportedly undertook research for her role by shadowing real-life officers on the beat.

Playing a police officer promises to be more adventure-packed role than Kirsty's last two parts, where she portrayed receptionists - starring as Jonna Helm in 'Doctors' and snobby Bex Reynolds in 'Casualty'.

Kirsty is the first new character to be added to the show since it moved to a later time slot and was condensed to one episode a week.