BBC star leaves soap after a whopping 37 years as they pay emotional tribute to show
A BBC star has left one of the broadcaster’s soaps after a whopping 37 years on screen.
Casualty actor Derek Thompson will depart his role as Charlie Fairhead on the medical drama.
The 75-year-old has announced he has quit after 37 years and appearing on screen in nearly 900 episodes.
Speaking about his decision to leave, the soap star 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 judgement 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.”
The BBC has yet to reveal how Derek’s character will leave the soap.
However, teasing his departure, the Beeb has said he will be part of a “gripping exit storyline” that will see him “front and centre of the action”.
Paying tribute to the star, 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.”
Derek has played a central part of the BBC One soap since its launch in 1986.
He will continue to film on the show until the autumn, with his exit airing next year.
Fans have been left devastated by the news and took to social media to pay tribute to Derek.
One said: “End of an era. Charlie will be greatly missed, but let’s enjoy all the episodes he’s in before his departure.”
A second wrote: “No this cannot be allowed to happen. The department will fall apart without Charlie.”
“Will be sad to see Charlie/Derek go. When I wanted to go into nursing, Charlie was my role model – cool, calm, caring,” said a third.
While a fourth commented: “Such a sad loss hopefully the ending will be amazing.”
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