PATRICK Robinson's dignified stage performances have been likened to those of a young James Earl Jones, resonating with controlled passion and gravitas.

Co-stars joke that he had to take so many bows during one standing ovation that he risked permanent curvature of the spine.

He was the first black man to play Romeo in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet, and performed the role with such aplomb that most reviewers forgot to mention the colour of his skin.

On screen, he's traded blows with Steven Seagal and took the role of black icon Thomas Peters in slavery epic Rough Crossings.

Why then, with such a varied CV, do people still think "that's Ash from Casualty" when they spot Patrick in the street?

Perhaps it's a measure of the esteem in which the Casualty character is held, even if 13 years have passed since he last wore the nurse's uniform in the BBC1 medical drama.

"Thankfully, the people who remember me playing Ash tend to be in their thirties now so they're a bit busy with kids and real lives to shout 'hi Ash' and run away giggling," laughs Robinson.

"But I do get the odd 'hello' from people and then hear the word 'Ash' when they're whispering. I don't mind. I've got a lot of love for the character."

These days, 46-year-old Robinson is best known to a new generation of viewers as the likeable DC Jacob "Banksy" Banks in The Bill.

And he's delighted to be a part of the cast at such a seminal time in the show's long history.

The show has moved to a new weekly 9pm time slot at the heart of the ITV1 schedule, finding itself repositioned as a post-watershed drama for the first time since it began 25 years ago.

"It's an exciting time," says Robinson. "Some people see these kind of moves as a licence to swear and show some nudity, but that's not it at all.

"We're not reinventing The Bill. We're not wiping out all that was good before. We're just being given that little bit more freedom and as an actor, that's tremendously challenging.

"It's a tried and tested show and still has millions of fans so we have to be wary of suddenly altering everything. It's more a change of tone. Sure, on-set it does feel a bit like being part of a new show, but that's more because of the excitement in the air and the fact that everybody's so keen for this to do well."

Show executive producer Johnathan Young agrees. "We're digging deeper into characters to tell stronger and more challenging stories which really examine the true causes and effects of crime.

"The later time slot allows us to produce darker, grittier and more hard-hitting drama, through the eyes of our existing characters. The heart of the show will remain the same, but it will look very fresh."

Robinson is clearly relishing the chance to once again play a regular role and takes the craft of character development very seriously. He is enjoying peeling back the layers of Banksy each week.

"That's the thing about the post-watershed move," he says. "We'll just get a bit more freedom to flesh the characters out. To be a bit more real, I suppose. It won't be full on, but it will have a bit more oomph, and the chance to play a character close to my heart in slightly grittier storylines, and still stay true to what has gone before, is a wonderful challenge for an actor."

But does he think he could do the job for real? "Not a chance," he laughs.

"Banksy's a great guy and if I was to be a police officer, I would hope to be one like him, but if I hear a gunshot or a scream I think I would do the sensible thing and run away from it. A police officer is somebody who goes towards it. That's an instinctive thing."

As a popular and recognisable talent, Robinson would seem an obvious choice for a role in a reality show, but admits he doesn't find the prospect attractive.

"I probably wouldn't say no to Strictly Come Dancing, but I'm not very keen on having a camera on me all the time. The dancing would be great fun to learn, but the cameras are intrusive. I'm quite a shy person really and that would be a hard thing for me to deal with.

"As for the others, it's just not me. I don't really want to be in a jungle eating monkey testicles, thank you. Some people might jump at the chance, but I'd give that a miss."

Viewers did at least get to see him showcase his dance moves when he took part in Let's Dance For Comic Relief, performing a brilliant Riverdance with former Bill colleague Lisa Maxwell.

So, given that he's a recognised acting talent with a string of rave reviews on his CV, what on earth is he doing in The Bill? And what's more, how long will he stay?

"There have obviously been a few cuts over the past few months and some talented people have been let go, and that's a very sad thing, but in the current economic climate, nothing is certain any more. I'm grateful to have a paying job, and it happens to be one in a show that has a great following, lots of ambition and major potential.

"I consider myself very fortunate. I still adore the stage work but playing Banksy is great fun too, and I'm fortunate to be involved at such an important time.

"Before this, I was on tour in a stage play for next to nothing. There are no guarantees in this business.

"My old mate Huw Higginson used to play the legendary PC Garfield and when I used to tune in to watch him I was always impressed by the subtle little things that made it that cut above.

"And the year I joined, The Bill won a Bafta, so we must be doing something right.

"What's more, I'm probably one of the few people who long-time viewers don't remember playing a cameo part as a criminal when I was a youngster!

"Long term, I would love to be able to say what I see myself doing five, 10 and 20 years from now, but you quickly learn in this business that it doesn't really work out that way. I love being a part of The Bill, and that's my day job for as long as they want me."