Derek Thompson will be leaving BBC drama Casualty after starring in it for more than 30 years as Charlie Fairhead, it has been announced.
Thompson, who is Casualty’s longest-serving cast member, said: “The time has come for me to hang up Charlie’s scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years.
“Charlie Fairhead was inspired by a real nurse – Pete Salt.
“Together with the writers and producers, I have tried to bring to Charlie the compassion, kindness, heroism and sound judgment that we all see and love in Pete, and I want to say thanks to Pete and everyone else over that time who has inspired me in bringing this character to life.”
Jon Sen, executive producer of Casualty for BBC Studios, said: “Derek and I would often joke that, after such a long and dramatic career in the NHS, there was almost nothing that Charlie hadn’t seen.
“So it was an amazing surprise to me when Derek arrived with a brilliant idea for Charlie’s exit as part of an upcoming storyline, which was too good to pass up. We will all miss Derek enormously.
“Over nearly four decades, Derek has crafted an iconic character who is woven into the fabric of British TV history.
“We will miss his craft, his humour and his on-screen presence. We’re also going to miss a friend, so for the next few months we’re going to have a ball filming Charlie’s final chapter.”
During his time on the show, his character was run over by an ambulance on his wedding day, suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a gang siege, and saw the “heart-breaking farewell” of his loving relationship with fellow nurse Duffy (Cathy Shipton).
In 2017, the actor was the top earner in the scripted TV (drama and comedy) category, earning between £350,000-£399,999 and ranking above stars such as Danny Dyer and Peter Capaldi, according to figures from the BBC’s annual report.
The BBC said details of Thompson’s final Casualty storyline will be revealed “in due course”.
Thompson has been a part of the show since its inception in 1986, making him the longest-serving cast member in the history of the series. He has become an iconic figure on British television due to his portrayal of the caring and dedicated emergency department nurse.
Casualty is a popular British medical drama series that first aired in 1986. It follows the lives of the staff working in the fictional Holby City Hospital's emergency department, as they deal with various medical cases and personal challenges. The show focuses on the professional and personal lives of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical professionals, providing a realistic portrayal of the healthcare system in the United Kingdom. Casualty has gained a dedicated fan base over the years and remains one of the longest-running and most-watched dramas on British television.
While the majority of the filming takes place at Roath Lock studios in Cardiff, the series often incorporates external shots and scenes filmed in Bristol to depict the hospital's exterior and other locations. The production team of Casualty takes advantage of Bristol's urban landscape to capture authentic visuals of the hospital and its surroundings.
The studios are owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales and have been the production base for Casualty since 2011. The Roath Lock studios provide the necessary facilities and sets to create the fictional hospital environment where the series is set.
In addition to the studio filming, Casualty also incorporates on-location shoots in and around Cardiff and other parts of Wales.
