Casualty casts EastEnders legend to send off Charlie Fairhead in final episode

15 March 2024 , 23:12

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Derek Thompson is bowing out of Casualty after playing Charlie Fairhead for 38 years (Image: BBC)

An EastEnders icon turned Ted Lasso star is joining the cast of Casualty for special scenes celebrating Derek Thompson’s exit as Charlie Fairhead.

The BBC’s long-running medical drama has been on the air since 1986 - with 75-year-old Derek playing Charlie since the very first episode. This year, however, the actor will bow out after 38 years of service - and the show writers have big plans to make the exit of his character.

To boost scenes, 73-year-old actress Annette Badland will be joining the cast in order to play Charge Nurse Shirley in flashback scenes set in the 1980s. Annette is known to millions as Babe Smith on EastEnders - a role she played from 2014 until 2017. Millions more will know Annette for playing Mrs Fitzgibbons on time travel period drama Outlander from 2014 until 2015 and for playing Mae the Landlady on Apple TV+’s smash hit show Ted Lasso from 2020 until 2023.

Derek is exiting Casualty this weekend - with his last ever scenes as Charlie set to air on Saturday night. Annette will join his character in flashback to her nurse character’s retirement party. Charlie will be seen attending the party with a hangover while Annette’s nurse Shirley will give him some important advice.

Annette Badland is joining the cast to appear in flashback scenes (BBC)

It is unclear if Charlie’s character will be killed off - and the BBC is taking steps to prevent his exit being spoiled. The Corporation traditionally airs episodes of Casualty from 6am on the day it is due to air - but this weekend, viewers will need to wait until the episode airs at 9:25pm to find out what happens. However, what is clear, is that Charlie’s life will hang in the balance after he was stabbed by a criminal trying to steal medical supplies from the hospital.

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A source told The Sun: "The episode would not be shown early on BBC iPlayer in an effort to prevent spoilers leaking. Casualty joined EastEnders in uploading their latest episodes at 6am back in December. Charlie will slip in and out of consciousness as colleagues work to save his life, taking viewers to the 1980s flashbacks featuring Annette."

Casualty fans have braced themselves not just for the exit of Charlie - but for Casualty itself to be killed off in the coming years. There are fears the iconic weekend drama will be axed by the BBC - who have been cancelling shows in an effort to save money.

Reports earlier this month claimed those working on the show expect the series to get cancelled in the next two years. A source said earlier this month: “[Series 38] will end in July, then, all being well, the new episodes will continue to air from there. But the general word to everyone was ‘two more years then bye’ and ‘we’ve got two more years’. The contracts are rolling, so don’t have an expiry date on them, so you never know, things could be extended again.”

Seamus Duff