Casualty fans left ‘sobbing’ as iconic character Charlie Fairhead bows out after being brutally stabbed – following 38-years and 900 episodes
Viewers were left in tears as iconic character Charlie Fairhead said goodbye to the BBC series on Saturday after 38 years and 900 episodes.
The senior nurse, played by Derek Thompson since the show’s inception in 1986, had his life hanging in the balance after he was brutally stabbed in last week’s cliffhanger.
As Charlie lay in a coma and his colleagues fought to save his life, a flashback was shown of his early career as he dealt with the tragic aftermath of a nail bomb in 1980s London.
It was also revealed that during his early days as an ambitious nurse, he saved the life of colleague Stevie Nash’s father when she was a young girl.
Inspired by the incident to become a doctor himself, Stevie (Elinor Lawless) performed life-saving surgery on Charlie, leaving fans at home ‘sobbing’.
Victim viewers were left in tears as iconic character Charlie Fairhead said goodbye to the BBC series on Saturday after 38 years and 900 episodes
The Senior Head Nurse, played by Derek Thompson since the show’s inception in 1986, found his life hanging in the balance after he was brutally stabbed in last week’s cliffhanger.
As Charlie lay in a coma and his colleagues fought to save his life, a flashback was shown of his early career as he dealt with the tragic aftermath of a nail bomb in London in the 1980s.
Charlie was mentored in his youth by gruff Matron Shirley, played by EastEnders’ Anette Badland, who was every bit the dedicated nurse he would become, before being left devastated when she died shortly before her retirement.
After coming to, Charlie was joined at his bedside by his best friend and paramedic Josh Griffiths (Ian Bleasdale), who left the show in 2007.
He told his friend he ‘deserved some rest’ before Charlie decided it was the right time to hang up his stethoscope and later left the hospital to the cheers of his colleagues.
Charlie and friend Josh then drove off in a yellow Beetle, along with cans attached to it and a sign in the rear window that read: “Just retired.”
About X, formerly Twitter, a viewer wrote: ‘I’m sobbing right now. I love this show so much.”
While a second added: ”Charlie Fairhead has withdrawn from Holby ED. the perfect exit for him! In any case, we know that he can go to the emergency room again in the future.’
And: Oh god, I’m crying right now.
Someone else asked, “What will the victim look like now without Charlie?”
It was then revealed that Charlie Inspired Stevie to become a doctor and she then performed life-saving surgery on him, leaving fans at home ‘sobbing’.
After coming to, Charlie was joined at his bedside by his best friend and paramedic Josh Griffiths (Ian Bleasdale), who left the show in 2007.
He told his friend he ‘deserved some rest’ before Charlie decided it was the right time to hang up his stethoscope and later left the hospital to the cheers of his colleagues.
Charlie choked back tears as he said goodbye to Holby City Hospital for the last time
Charlie and friend Josh then drove off in a yellow Beetle, along with cans attached to it and a sign in the rear window that read: ‘Just retired’
Emotional viewers took to social media following Charlie’s departure
Another gushed: ‘Incredibly good and moving episode. I’m glad Charlie is doing well.’
While another viewer agreed: ‘I’m so glad Charlie wasn’t killed.’
It comes after MailOnline’s Katie Hind reported that actor Derek Thompson’s fate was sealed because his salary – between £349,999 and £399,999 a year – was too high for BBC chiefs to justify after he left Casualty spin-off Holby City and Doctors had been abolished.
Now the BBC turned to the popular Barney Walsh to fill the void left by Charlie.
Bradley, the son of actor and presenter Bradley Walsh, joined the show last year and played hapless nurse Cameron ‘Cam’ Mickelthwaite.
Bosses think they can cash in on his high profile. He presents Gladiators on the BBC and has appeared with his father in ITV productions Breaking Dad and The Larkins. In Charlie’s absence, Cam would have bigger storylines and, executives hope, attract younger viewers. Walsh, 26, is also in talks to star in Strictly Come Dancing this year.
A BBC insider said: ‘Charlie was a bit of a rubbish nurse when he first arrived, as was Cam, which is why it’s all such a lovely idea from the bosses. They think it’s a good idea to turn Cam into the “face of the nurses” instead of Charlie. His popularity has skyrocketed since Gladiators, so it would mean he would get bigger storylines and be used more to prevent anyone else from grabbing him.”