IT'S going to be a sad day for millions of fans of the Bolton teen heart-throb, Paul Nicholls.

The BBC has now confirmed that the former EastEnders star will be killed off in the first episode of the new series of BBC1's cop drama, City Central, due for screening on Saturday, February 27.

Or as a BBC publicist puts it: "He leaves in a dramatic storyline. And we can confirm that he's no longer with the show."

His legions of female fans are set for a grisly shock when the former EastEnders hunk is gunned down in the opening show. Sources say the blood-drenched departure of his character, Pc Terry Sydenham, will prove a real tear jerker for his army of teenage followers.

Paul's hasty departure from the show leaves him clear to launch a movie career.

A friend of the star, whose name has been linked with actress Rebecca Callard who stars in the BBC drama Sunburn, said: "He's young, good looking and very talented. "He'll put his heart and soul into making it big in Hollywood, even if it means living out there."

Paul, whose family still lives in Smithills, has already filmed two British movies, The Clandestine Marriage, alongside Nigel Hawthorne, Joan Collins and Timothy Spall, and the First World War blockbuster, The Somme.

It's believed that Paul will join the entourage of stars at the Cannes Film Festival, where both his films will be premiered.

And at Easter you can catch him in a controversial three-part series for the BBC, The Passion.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.