He’s set to leave Casualty as its longest serving star, but Derek Thompson admits his beloved character was supposed to leave the show decades ago.
The actor is preparing to bow out as clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the BBC medical drama during its first series on September 6 1986.
Now 75-years old, Thompson – who appeared in British gangster film The Long Good Friday and Channel 4 soap Brookside before stepping into the role – says it was originally outlined as a short-term job by show producers.
He told OK!: ‘I never envisaged I’d stay 38 years. I originally signed up for three years, but it soon became apparent what a great character he was to play.
‘Medicine and television have both changed a lot since I started. But the basics are still there – the reception area and desk where people roll up is still performing the same function it did on my first day.’
He’s set to leave Casualty as its longest serving star, but Derek Thompson admits his beloved character was supposed to leave the show decades ago
The actor is preparing to bow out as clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the BBC medical drama during its first series on September 6 1986
Charlie’s life currently hangs in the balance after he was stabbed by a crazed patient, part of a new storyline that Thompson hopes will draw attention to the increasing threat of violence faced by NHS workers.
And he admits it remains to be seen if the popular character will pull through, adding: ‘I don’t want to spoil it by saying whether or not he survives, but everything felt heightened when I filmed my last scenes.
‘It felt like one of those big emotional moments in your life, like the birth of a child or your wedding.
‘This final story really does create a realism, which will poke people in the eye and say, “This really is painful for these people, and yet they struggle on.”‘
The actor confirmed his departure after the programme’s episodes were dramatically reduced due to costs at the BBC.
However, he won’t be absent from screens for long because he has already been snapped up by another BBC drama and is set to appear in upcoming weeks.
Thompson will be featured in the second series of the BBC’s hit drama Blue Lights, returning to his hometown of Belfast.
The new role is a massive shift for the actor who has only made limited appearances in other shows outside of Casualty in the last 37 years.
Casualty star Derek Thompson has bagged his first gig after leaving his role as Charlie Fairhead (pictured) after 37 years
The actor, 75, is set to return to his hometown of Belfast to take on the role of retired police officer Robin Graham (pictured in character) who is confronted with his murky past
Blue Lights will see Thompson take on the role of retired police officer Robin Graham over the course of five episodes this season.
As trainee solicitor Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) investigates a decades old case that is set to insight havoc in the present day, the pensioner is confronted with his murky past.
Thompson confessed he was quick to sign on for the job following his departure from the long-running medical show.
He said: ‘I loved the first series of Blue Lights and thought, as did the majority of my friends and colleagues, that it was the best new TV series of last year.
‘I was thrilled and excited (star jumps in the living room) when I got the invitation to take part in series two.
‘I was born in Belfast and was equally excited (more star jumps) to travel over to work on the show and pleased to report, having read the scripts, that I’m sure the fans will love the second series every bit as much as the first.
‘Greatly looking forward to it myself as I’m one of them.’
Production company, Two Cities, added: ‘We are delighted to have Derek Thompson back working with us in his native Belfast, it is an honour to have him as part of the Blue Lights family.’
Thompson’s Casualty exit was confirmed in May of last year after the actor revealed that ‘the time (had) come’ after nearly four decades on the soap.
Discussing his departure, he 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.’
