Derek Thompson is departing Casualty after 37 years on the BBC soap, where he has played much-loved character Charlie Fairhead

Derek Thompson is departing Casualty after 37 years on the BBC soap, where he has played much-loved character Charlie Fairhead (Image: PA)

Derek Thompson is departing Casualty after 37 years on the BBC soap.

The BBC have confirmed that Derek – who is Casualty’s longest-serving cast member – will be leaving the soap after nearly four decades of playing the much-loved character, Charlie Fairhead.

Before he announced his sad exit from the show, Charlie had been the only remaining original character from the first episode of the soap, which was broadcasted back in September 1986.

Whilst he has taken short breaks from the show over the years, the exit will mark the end of an era for soap fans.

Speaking about 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.”

Derek has played Charlie on the BBC show for nearly four decades (Image: PA)

Derek has been playing Charlie Fairhead since the very first series of Casualty (Image: PA)

And paying tribute to Pete, as well as the show’s writers and producers, he added: “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.”

Executive Producer, Jon Sen, has promised Charlie’s final scenes will be “brilliant”.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

It’s the end of an era as Derek bids goodbye to Charlie (Image: Bristol Post)

He concluded: “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.”

After the news broke on social media, fans of the medical drama rushed to pay tribute to Derek for his portrayal of Charlie.

“I’ll be sorry to see him go. Casualty just won’t be the same without him,” one wrote, as a second added: “Will be sad to see Charlie/Derek go. When I wanted to go into nursing, Charlie was my role model – cool, calm, caring. I didn’t join up in the end, but I hope I followed those attributes. Will miss him but I think the series is in good hands.”

A third shared: “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. #Casualty.”

Throughout Charlie’s long time in the hospital’s emergency department, he has had some key storylines. He has also faced his own struggles himself, including being run over by an ambulance on his wedding day and suffering a cardiac arrest. His relationship – and tragic goodbye – with fellow nurse Duffy was a heartbreaking and emotional storyline for all.