The show where soap stars go to live again

IF you ever wondered what happens to soap stars when their characters are killed off all you have to do is tune into Merseybeat. It seems that whether you've been in Hollyoaks, Casualty, Brookside, Emmerdale or Corrie, there will always be a place free on the beat in Liverpool.

There were so many famous faces to place in last night's episode that it was hard to concentrate on the plot.

A teenage mum had died in the arms of one officer (that lass from Hollyoaks) after being shot by another policewoman.

Caught in the cross-fire was Josie D'Arby - yes, even former children's TV continuity announcers are found a role in this show.

The dead girl's family (who included a former Brookie star) decided to try to sue the police when they weren't trying to beat up officers, including that cute male nurse from Casualty.

Elsewhere another officer, who used to be in Emmerdale, announced she went for an abortion without telling her partner (who was also in Brookside).

The great thing about using well-known faces in a series is that you get a guaranteed audience of fans. But when you spend an hour trying to remember who was who in a past incarnation, it does distract from what is going on at the time.

With so many struggling actors out there, producers really should give new talent a chance rather than relying on household names.

Sadly, none of the famous people in Merseybeat were good enough to make us forget their soap roles and truly believe they were real bobbies on the beat.