Casualty star Derek Thompson has bagged his first gig since leaving his role as Charlie Fairhead after 37 years.
The actor, 75, who portrayed the emergency department nurse for nearly four decades, was the soap’s longest-running cast member.
But after the programme’s episodes were dramatically reduced due to costs at the BBC, the Casualty star confirmed his departure from the soap.
However, the actor 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.
Derek will be featured in the second series of the BBC’s hit drama Blue Lights, returning to his hometown of Belfast.
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
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.
Blue Lights will see Derek 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.
Derek confessed he was quick to sign on for the job following his departure from the long-running medical show.
Derek 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.’
Derek confessed he was quick to sign on for the job following his departure from the long-running medical show, as he ‘loved the first season’ of Blue Lights
Since appearing in the first series in 1986 (pictured then), the 75-year-old star announced he was leaving the Casualty after nearly 900 episodes last year
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.’
Derek’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, Derek said: ‘The time has come for me to hang up Charlie’s scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years.’
He continued: ‘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.’
Fans rushed to express their heartbreak on Twitter after he announced his departure from the show in May last year
As news of his exit spread, fans shared their heartbreak on Twitter.
One wrote: ‘Absolutely gutted. This is the end of an era. I’ve literally grown up with Charlie.’
Another said: ‘End of an era. Charlie will be greatly missed, but let’s enjoy all the episodes he’s in before his departure. Though, I honestly thought he was going to leave when Marty and David quit.’
A third added: ‘No he can’t leave it will not be the same without him he’s my favourite and I love his character no not our Charlie.’
