Casualty legend Derek Thompson has been reflecting on his

time playing Charlie Fairhead ahead of his exit.

This Saturday, Derek’s final scenes as Charlie will air after playing

the character since the very first episode.

Last week, fans were left in shock when Charlie was brutally stabbed by a patient, who was trying to steal medical supplies from the hospital.

While his friends and colleagues try and save his life, Charlie starts to slip in and out of consciousness. During this, viewers will be treated to flashback scenes from the beginning of Charlie’s career as a nurse.

Played by Jack Franklin, young Charlie is cocky and arrives for his shift completely hungover.

Sorry, this video isn’t available any more.

The day quickly turns into a nightmare as the emergency department fills up with serious casualties after a nail bomb explodes. Joined by Charge Nurse Shirley (EastEnders’ Annette Badland), it’s a stressful shift for Charlie and towards the end, he’s left questioning whether he really has what it takes to be an ED nurse.

Ahead of his departure, Derek has been pondering over his last storyline as Charlie and has called the final two instalments ‘some of the best episodes of [his] career’.

‘When I first read the script, I didn’t have to think about it at all, because it’s just great storytelling. How Michelle Lipton wrote these episodes, comes across like she’s written eight plays, taken from so many points of view’, he said.

‘I don’t think there’s another writer who could have done it. Charlie is everyone. Charlie is a real person. He simply takes you into the show and plays the moral conscience of the audience. He’s a representative of the audience.’

It’s been quite the journey for beloved nurse Charlie. For Derek, while thinking about everything his character has been through, a few storylines stood out for him as his favourites:

‘The one I felt most personally attached to as Charlie was the story of Duffy’s death through vascular dementia back in February 2020’, he said.

Sorry, this video isn’t available any more.

‘Another was the story was from series 34 in May 2020 of a young man whose son was in care, and he was being taken away by his mother to the States so decides to kidnap his son. After an accident , he ends up in A&E and decides to take the ED staff hostage ending in a big standoff.

‘It was played really beautifully. There was a long, tense sense that managed to bring all the regular characters together. Every regular actor thought they were in the spotlight like a leading actor would feel. It f felt like we were in a theatre play that was being filmed.

He added: ‘It took Charlie back to the place of when he lost Duffy, when Charlie thought he had nothing to lose, and was trying to help the man. He could end up dead, or find his way through to a better life. It’s a simple choice… you sign your own death warrant, or you do something to help your kid.’

‘It has to be the first episode’, Derek said, reflecting on more of his favourite moments from the show.

‘Charlie was in his little yellow Beetle coming over Bristol suspension bridge and winding through the streets of Bristol, ending up at the hospital. Charlie gets out of the car in his bomber jacket, hair all over the place…it was like “Noddy goes to hospital”! He looks up at the building, raises a cigarette to his lips and goes “let’s do this!”. It gave you the notion that these people have a good sense of humour about themselves.

‘It was the first time that everyone could see what was possible with the show. It’s an image that has stayed with me throughout my time on Casualty.’