Casualty legend Derek Thompson, who played Charlie Fairhead for 38 years, was a guest on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain.

Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid opened up on her teenage acting past as she welcomed Casualty legend Derek Thompson to the show on Tuesday (May 14). However, ITV viewers have slammed the interview as “awkward”.

The veteran actor, who rarely gives inerviews, was on the show to discuss his current role in the Northern Ireland set BBC drama Blue Lights. However Susanna used the chat as an opportunity to open up about her teenage acting past when she appeared opposite him in The Price.

Viewers found the reunion a difficult watch, as the host gushed about working with Derek while they broadcast a clip of her in the role at just 13-years-old. They took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts.

@RussC2023 commented: “That seemed a bit awkward and uncomfortable #gmb.” @domain_harry chimed in: “watching an interview with derek is like trying to work on your pc when it keeps freezing #gmb.”

@WarrenPeace_75 asked: “#GMB What the f*** was that Derek Thompson interview all about?? Why is Ed Balls so awkward and weird?” @fraserwebster12 oberved: “This guy is either a dry comedy genius or incredibly awkward. #gmb.”

Susanna Reid opened up on her acting past on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)

@Chestikov69 agreed with the general consensus writing: “That interview was absolutely d*** right bizarre wtaf was that #ģmb.”

Meanwhile @Gm4nHere wrote: “Ed Balls is so weird at times. His eyes then looking at Derek – looked like he was staring into his soul. #gmb.”

Although Derek was there to chat about his time on Casualty and his new role, Susanna turned the conversation to her acting debut in The Price when she was a teenager revealing that Derek’s character had kidnapped her character.

The Price was a 1985 BBC mini series that focused on an IRA kidnapping of a man called Geoffrey Carr’s wife and step-daughter.

“It was honestly a privilege to work with you,” she enthused. Asked if she enjoyed it Susanna intimated: “I really did. But it meant that I never acted again. You were here, you continued your career rather than more successfully.”

Derek Thompson recalled acting with Susanna Reid almost 40 years ago (Image: ITV)

For his part, Derek was nothing but complimentary in his memories of the teenage Susanna remembering her as “studious”

“You were obviously passionate. I think we were initially, obviously, very cautious around you because actors can be badly behaved,” he joked. “It didn’t take long for us to recognise that you were passionate about it and that you were watching us all closely… and you were picking up some bad habits.

“She was also studious,” he recalled, “because she was studying very hard. But…we saw the passion and we saw how you were learning all the time.”

Derek later returned to the studio and presented Susanna with a copy of the book the series was based on, which featured her on the cover.