Casualty's longest-serving cast member Derek Thompson quits after 37 years

Casualty's longest-serving cast member Derek Thompson will leave the show after almost four decades of playing Charlie Fairhead.

The BBC drama series follows the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital’s emergency department.

Thompson - who starred in nearly 900 episodes - said 'the time has come for me to hang up Charlie’s scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years'.

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The character played a 'central part in the show' as the 'lynchpin of the hospital’s emergency department', while remaining at the centre of 'countless major storylines which explored challenging and thought-provoking subjects'.

Thompson, 75, said: "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."

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The Charlie character went through quite a lot of near-death experiences, which included getting ran over by an ambulance on his wedding day, and suffering a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a gang siege.

He also witnessed the 'heart-breaking farewell' of his loving relationship with fellow nurse Duffy (Cathy Shipton).

Thompson was well-paid for his role and in 2017, the actor was the top earner in the scripted TV (drama and comedy) category.

That year, he earned between £350,000-£399,999, which was more than the likes of Danny Dyer and Peter Capaldi, according to figures from the BBC’s annual report.

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Jon Sen, executive producer of Casualty for BBC Studios, said: “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. 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.

“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.”

Fans will be relieved to know that Thompson's last show isn't for a while yet.

The BBC said Thompson will be filming until autumn, with his final scenes airing next year in the 'culmination of a gripping exit storyline which will see the character front and centre of the action'.