Fictional character from the BBC medical dramas Casualty and Holby City
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Fictional character
Charlie Fairhead
Casualty character
Derek Thompson as Charlie Fairhead
First appearance
"Gas" 6 September 1986 (1986-09-06)
Last appearance
"Charlie" 16 March 2024 (2024-03-16)
Created by
Jeremy Brock Paul Unwin
Portrayed by
Derek Thompson
Baxter Westby (flashback)[1]
Ryan Owen (flashback)[1]
Jack Franklin (flashback)[2]
Spin-off(s)
Holby City (1999, 2005, 2010, 2012) HolbyBlue (2007)
Duration
1986–2024
In-universe information
Occupation
Senior charge nurse,
Emergency nurse practitioner,
(prev.
Clinical nurse manager
Charge nurse
Clinical nurse specialist
Retired (2024-present)
Family
Elizabeth Fairhead (stepmother)
Spouse
Baz Hayes (1998–2001) Lisa Duffin (2017–2020)
Children
Louis Fairhead (Son)
Relatives
Megan Wark (granddaughter)
Nationality
British English
Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) is a fictional character from the BBC British medical drama Casualty. The longest-serving character on the show, his tenure spanned over three decades from the series’ inception in 1986 until his departure in 2024.
Thompson took a nine-month break from Series 18, returning on the 1st January 2005 in Series 19. After a further four months off-screen, he returned in the series 20 Christmas crossover with Holby City, airing on the 24th December 2005.
Thompson regularly took breaks every year and by May 2023 he confirmed he had chosen to leave his role as Charlie, after 38 years on-screen. Thompson filmed his final scenes in 2023, which were broadcast on 16 March 2024.[3]
Thompson made four appearances as Charlie in Casualty's sister show, Holby City, including the February 2010 episode when Charlie has a heart attack; his final appearance in Holby City was in October 2012 when he interviewed Chantelle Lane (Lauren Drummond) for a full-time nursing position. Thompson also made an appearance in a Holby City spin-off police drama, HolbyBlue in its first episode, May 2007.
^ abWriter and Director: Paul Unwin; Producer: Erika Hossington (29 August 2015). "A Child's Heart – Part One". Casualty. BBC. BBC One.
^"BBC One - Casualty, 4: A History of Violence, Charlie".
^Dainty, Sophie (30 May 2023). "Casualty confirms exit for Charlie Fairhead after 38 years". Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 30 May 2023.
CharlieFairhead (Derek Thompson) is a fictional character from the BBC British medical drama Casualty. The longest-serving character on the show, his...
characters in its first series, including the longest-serving character CharlieFairhead (played by Derek Thompson). They have all since left the series. Many...
also features the departure of the show's longest-serving character, CharlieFairhead (Derek Thompson). The series commenced in the United Kingdom on 30...
in the 1948 Summer Olympics Rona Fairhead, Chair of the BBC Trust CharlieFairhead, character from the UK TV series Casualty, played by Derek Thompson...
It began with ten main characters in its first series, with nurse CharlieFairhead, portrayed by Derek Thompson, appearing until 2024 and becoming the...
"grumpy patient" Sally Hodge that "makes life hell" for charge nurse CharlieFairhead (Derek Thompson) because she is "distrustful" of him. She reprised...
March 2024. Nanji, Noor (16 March 2024). "Derek Thompson: Casualty's CharlieFairhead exits after 38 years". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2024. Youngs...
show's 20-year history, bettered only by Derek Thompson's character CharlieFairhead. He returned to the role in 2016, making several guest stints between...
the NHS. Writers used the characters of Dylan Keogh (William Beck), CharlieFairhead (Derek Thompson), Sah Brockner (Arin Smethurst) and Teddy Gowan (Milo...
episodes, with Megan attending the wedding of her former colleagues CharlieFairhead and Barbara 'Baz' Samuels. In 2007, she returned for a single episode...
Tess Bateman James Redmond as John "Abs" Denham Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead (episodes 18−48) Will Thorp as Woody Joyner (from episode 14) Matthew...
City Hospital's emergency department staff. Since the departure of CharlieFairhead in 2024, Dylan has been the longest serving character on the show....
Smethurst as Sah Brockner Michael Stevenson as Iain Dean Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Charles Venn as Jacob Masters Barney Walsh as Cameron Mickelthwaite...
(from episode 16) James Redmond as John "Abs" Denham Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Will Thorp as Woody Joyner (until episode 18) Matthew Wait as Luke...
Smethurst as Sah Brockner Michael Stevenson as Iain Dean Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Charles Venn as Jacob Masters Sheena Bhattessa as DCI Supriya Vadra...
series. Original cast member Derek Thompson continues his role as CharlieFairhead, a clinical nurse specialist. Having joined in the fourth series, Ian...
Smethurst as Sah Brockner Michael Stevenson as Iain Dean Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Charles Venn as Jacob Masters Barney Walsh as Cameron Mickelthwaite...
Richard McCaig. Derek Thompson continued his role as charge nurse CharlieFairhead while Sorcha Cusack portrayed sister Kate Wilson. Jonathan Kerrigan...
"George" Woodman. Derek Thompson continued his role as charge nurse CharlieFairhead and Barbara Marten portrayed sister Eve Montgomery. Paterson Joseph...
episode 31) Christine Stephen-Daly as Lara Stone Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Matthew Wait as Luke Warren (from episode 32) Lee Warburton as Tony...
Sarker reprised the role again in 2023 for two episodes linked to CharlieFairhead's (Derek Thompson) exit; they feature in series 38 and aired on the...
Georgia Taylor as Ruth Winters (from episode 1) Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead (until episode 17, from episode 28) Robyn Addison as Joanne Coldwell...
officer Beth Ramanee. Derek Thompson continues his role as charge nurse CharlieFairhead, and Cathy Shipton stars as sister Lisa "Duffy" Duffin. Patrick Robinson...
Kuba Trzcinski Cathy Shipton as Lisa "Duffy" Duffin Derek Thompson as CharlieFairhead Julia Watson as Barbara "Baz" Samuels The idea of Casualty came together...
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