Casualty star Derek Thompson has reflected on why he has been so popular in the BBC medical drama.
The actor is preparing to bow out as clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the show during its first series on September 6, 1986, making him the longest-serving star.
In a new Q&A ahead of his final episode, Derek talked about why he thinks Charlie resonated so much with viewers over the years.
He said: ‘Charlie is everyone. Charlie is a real person. He simply takes you into the show and plays the moral conscience of the audience. He is a representative of the audience.’
Speaking about his final scenes, Derek added: “I think my last two episodes are some of the best episodes of my career,” Thompson said of his exit storyline.
Casualty star Derek Thompson has reflected on why he has been so popular on the BBC medical drama
The actor prepares to bow out as clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the BBC medical drama during its first series on 6 September 1986
‘The way Michelle Lipton wrote these episodes, it seems like she’s written eight plays, taken from so many points of view. I don’t think there is another writer who could have done it.’
It comes after Derek – who starred in British gangster film The Long Good Friday and Channel 4 soap Brookside before stepping into the role – says it was initially described as a short-term job by show producers.
He said OK! Magazine: ‘I never imagined that I would live to be 38 years old. I originally signed up for three years, but it quickly became clear what a great character he was going to play.
‘Medicine and TV have both changed a lot since I started. But the basics are still there – the reception desk and the desk where people roll up still perform the same function as it did on my first day.’
Charlie’s life currently hangs in the balance after he was stabbed by a crazed patient, part of a new story which Thompson hopes will draw attention to the growing threat of violence facing NHS workers.
And he admits it remains to be seen whether the popular character will pull through, adding: ‘I don’t want to spoil it by saying whether he survives or not, but everything felt heightened when I was filming my final scenes.
‘It felt like one of those big emotional moments in your life, like the birth of a child or your wedding.
“This last story really creates a realism that will poke people in the eye and say, ‘This is really painful for these people, and yet they keep fighting.’
The actor confirmed his departure after the show’s episodes were dramatically reduced due to costs at the BBC.
The actor will 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 dark past
However, he won’t be absent from screens for long as he has already been snapped up by another BBC drama and is set to appear in the coming weeks.
Thompson will star in the second series of the BBC’s hit drama Blue Lights, returning to his home town of Belfast.
The new role is a massive shift for the actor, who has made limited appearances in shows outside of Casualty for the past 37 years.
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 lawyer Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) investigates a decades-old case set to destroy insight into the present, the pensioner is confronted with her dark past.
Thompson admitted 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, like most of my friends and colleagues, thought it was the best new series on TV 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 (multiple star jumps) to travel over to work on the show and delighted to report, after reading the scripts, that I’m sure the fans will love the second series as much as the first.
“I am very much looking forward to it myself, as I am one of them.”
Production company Two Cities added: “We are delighted to have Derek Thompson back to work with us in his native Belfast, it is an honor to have him as part of the Blue Lights family.”
Thompson’s Casualty exit was confirmed last May 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.
“Along with the writers and producers, I’ve tried to bring Charlie the compassion, kindness, heroism and good judgment that we all see and love in Pete, and I want to say thank you to Pete and everyone else over the years who have inspired me in bringing this character to life.’
Casualty is broadcast at 9.25pm on Saturday on BBC One. Casualty is a BBC Studios production.