BBC Casualty viewers say ‘I’m not ready’ as show announces when legendary character is leaving

Viewers of BBC medical drama Casualty have been left “gutted” after the popular show announced when Charlie Fairhead, played by Derek Thompson, would be leaving. The character has appeared on the programme since it began in 1986 and last year it was announced that Derek would be leaving the series after 38 years.

Now Casualty has announced when Charlie’s final story will air. The official X account for the continuing drama has confirmed that the character’s final story, which is a two-parter, will begin this weekend on Saturday, March 9, at 9.20pm on BBC One.

A synopsis for the episode, which is called A History of Violence, has teased: “Charlie vows to prove there is good in the world – with disastrous consequences. Stevie is proven right but can it save her job?” Are you sad to see the character leave? Let us know in the comments.

Upon sharing photos of Derek’s time on Casualty viewers expressed their sadness that he’d be leaving the show. One person commented: “I’m not ready…,” sharing a gif with the words ‘please don’t go’.

A second wrote: “Omg I’m dreading it.” A third said: “please don’t kill him off if you do I want a funeral with people like josh & Baz returning.”

A fourth echoed: “No! Charlie is Casualty! He’s a legend!! I’m starting to cry now same.” And another said: “Gutted! Not ready to say goodbye to him.”

Earlier this week it was announced that Derek had landed another role away from Casualty. He is set to appear in the second series of Belfast police drama Blue Lights – read more about that here.

Derek, who will play retired police officer Robin Graham in the series, said of joining the show: “I loved the first series of Blue Lights and thought, as did the majority of my friends and colleagues, that it was the best new TV series of 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 {more star jumps} to travel over to work on the show and pleased to report, having read the scripts, that I’m sure the fans will love the second series every bit as much as the first. Greatly looking forward to it myself as I’m one of them.”

Viewers of BBC medical drama Casualty have been left “gutted” after the popular show announced when Charlie Fairhead, played by Derek Thompson, would be leaving. The character has appeared on the programme since it began in 1986 and last year it was announced that Derek would be leaving the series after 38 years. Now Casualty…