List of Heartbeat Characters - Police - Other Ashfordly Police

Other Ashfordly Police

In one of the very first episodes, Sergeant Blaketon states that the Ashfordly police force comprises 12 officers, but storylines have never built on this fact, and only four (or at times five) officers ever feature in the show. These are the Ashfordly sergeant, the Aidensfield village constable of the day, plus Bellamy (now replaced by Wetherby), Ventress (now in a civilian capacity), and, from time to time, another rookie PC. Occasionally other anonymous police officers are seen in the background (for example when the force is required to police a large demonstration or undertake a search of the moors), but they are never given names or any dialogue. Otherwise, the small contingent of regulars appears able to provide a continuous 24-hour service for the whole area, with someone always available to respond to any call-out at any time of the day or night.

• William Simons as PC Alfred "Alf" Ventress (1992–2010). Phlegmatic, long-serving policeman who had never risen beyond the rank of constable. Famed for his encyclopedic local knowledge, his smoking habit, and his occasional lapses (sleeping on the job) and eccentricities (penchant for hard-boiled eggs). Portrayed as lacking ambition, motivation and fitness, his insights nevertheless often proved invaluable to the station's crime-solving efforts, and in Episode 155 it is revealed (to general disbelief and astonishment) that the lethargic Ventress had in fact served as a Commando in the war, taking part in daring raids behind enemy lines. In his younger years Ventress had a gambling problem that occasionally compromised his position as a police officer. He is now retired from active police duty, but remains working in a civilian capacity at Ashfordly police station. His wife, "Mrs Ventress", is regularly referred to by name but has never appeared in person. However, the episode "Windows of Opportunity" included a number of shots of a ladies' keep fit group which Mrs Ventress was said to have attended, so she may have appeared on screen, albeit unidentified. He has at least one child – a daughter, Gail, who was mentioned as living in Cardiff in episode 6.8. In Series 13 Ventress was forced to retire as he had reached the statutory retirement age but he returned to Ashfordly police station almost immediately as a civilian administrator.

• Mark Jordon as PC Philip "Phil" Montgomery Bellamy (1992–2007). Phil was a pleasant, laid-back and somewhat goofy bloke with a good heart and a great sense of humour. His police number was 426 and he was said to be the eldest of seven children. He had been attracted to local pub landlady Gina Ward ever since she arrived in Aidensfield, but she rejected his advances for years before finally warming up to him. He left the force briefly, to become a double-glazing salesman, when he hoped Gina would accept his marriage proposal (since it was forbidden for a police officer to marry to a pub licensee). When the proposal fell through, he returned to his former job. Later, Phil and Gina were again planning to marry, but when their baby died Gina called off the engagement and Phil was left alone again. In series 11 Phil dated pharmacist Jenny Latimer. Some years later, in the 2006 series, he married Debbie Black, an apparently single mother of three children whom he met while investigating a burglary at her house. It was subsequently discovered that Debbie was in fact still legally married to her first husband, so her marriage to Phil was invalid. The two split up, and Debbie left for South Africa with her real husband. In Series 16 Phil's romance with Gina was restarted, but it suffered a further setback when Phil feared that he was suffering from heart disease (a condition that had killed his father and grandfather). This proved to be merely an ulcer, and after a successful operation Gina proposed to him in his hospital bed. The two were finally married in the Series 16 episode "The Dreams That You Dream" (broadcast June 2007). During the marriage ceremony it was revealed that Bellamy's middle name is Montgomery. In episode 17.6 ("Touch And Go", broadcast 23 December 2007), Bellamy became involved in a confrontation with a shotgun-wielding man intent on abducting his son from his ex-wife's custody. As he tried to disarm the man he was shot dead. He was laid to rest with 'Hero' on his coffin, leaving the village, and his widow Gina, distraught. A one-off special, Heartbeat: Farewell to Phil, reliving his time on the series with contributions from Jordon and fellow actors, was broadcast on ITV on 24 December 2007.

• Ryan Early as PC Thomas "Tom" Nicholson (2001–2002). Nicholson arrives in Ashfordly from Scarborough on probation, his move possibly hastened by a seaside incident that resulted in a photograph of a donkey wearing his helmet appearing in the local press. He is keen and well-intentioned, but frequently get things wrong and is initially the butt of the other policemen's jokes. Despite his gauche manner with women he briefly dates Gina Ward and then Jenny Latimer. On Sgt. Craddock's orders, he moves into the Aidensfield Police House with Bradley. On his 21st birthday, the villagers, pretending to ignore the event, have actually arranged a surprise party in the pub in the evening. However, during the day Nicholson becomes involved in a hunt for two thieves who are attempting to flee the country in a private plane, and volunteers himself as a hostage in exchange for a seriously injured PC Bellamy. At the airfield, Nicholson is shot dead in a scuffle. At his funeral, Merton gives a moving eulogy and, as a reflection of his love of brass bands, "Amazing Grace" is played.

• Steven Blakeley as PC Geoffrey "Geoff" Younger (2004–2010). Newly recruited cop, keen to learn but often makes comical mistakes. Although used as a slightly comical character he does have a heart of gold. He had a fondness for Rosie Cartwright that was not reciprocated in the way he would like (there were signs at the end of the first part of Series 16 that this might change, but Rosie's departure ended this storyline). His parents (Sid and Mary, played by Graham Fellows and Karen Henthorn) appeared in the Series 16 episode "The Medium is the Message", in which his father was hospitalised for incurable alcoholism-related dementia.

• Clare Wille as Detective Sgt Rachel Dawson (2006–2010). A strict CID sergeant who transferred to the area from Middlesbrough, where some years previously she had had an affair with PC Rob Walker (which continued to cause some degree of tension between the two). Unlike the other regulars, she is not actually based in Ashfordly, though she appears to live nearby, but becomes involved from time to time (and with increasing frequency in series 17 and 18, in which Clare Wille is credited as a main cast member) in particularly serious cases that the Ashfordly police are dealing with, or when the officers are themselves being investigated for alleged misconduct. Originally she was sometimes portrayed as a slightly interfering character, dismissing theories put forward by her juniors that later prove to be correct, but is now presented more as a respected colleague. In Series 18 she began an affair with PC Joe Mason immediately after Mason split up with girlfriend Nurse Cassidy. She has been confirmed as being the only female sergeant in the North Riding CID, though to date her gender has not been seen as an issue and she seems to be generally accepted in her role by both CID and uniformed officers.

• Rupert Ward-Lewis as PC Don Wetherby (2007–2010). Wetherby arrived from Northallerton, originally to replace PC Joe Mason, the temporary Aidensfield village bobby. Soon after his arrival, Wetherby, PC Mason and PC Bellamy became involved in a confrontation with a man armed with a shotgun, during which Bellamy was shot dead. After initial guilt-ridden misgivings, Wetherby accepted a post to replace Bellamy at Ashfordly police station, allowing Joe Mason to keep his village job. In episode 17.8 ("Only Make Believe") it was revealed that Wetherby, a married man, had requested a transfer from Northallerton to escape harassment by a mentally ill woman (Lesley Ashton, played by Emma Atkins) who had become obsessed with him. He later separated from his wife, Sandy, after suspecting her of infidelity. He has at least one son. He was romantically linked with Gina Ward, whom he visits regularly on business related to the Police Widows' Fund, but Gina put a stop to the further development of their relationship on the grounds that it would not "look right" following so soon after the death of her former husband Bellamy.