Did he really quit? Casualty legend Derek Thompson seems to have suggested Charlie was axed after 38 years

Casualty legend Derek Thompson has dropped an intriguing hint as to why he really left the medical drama.

Back in March, Derek’s character Charlie Fairhead left Holby ED after 38 years.

In an exit storyline that spanned over two episodes, Charlie’s life was put in jeopardy after being stabbed by a patient.

As Charlie’s friends looked after him in resus, we were treated to flashback scenes of the beloved character working as a nurse early on in his career.

Back in the hospital, after Charlie recovered, he told Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) that he was going to retire.

Joined by old friend Josh (Ian Bleasdale), Charlie got into a brand new yellow beetle and left the hospital, ready to travel to Cyprus to find his son Louis.

Opening up about working on the show for such a long time, actor Derek Thompson recently told Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls:

‘It had a momentum, a theatrical momentum that kept it alive. Rather like your old job in parliament. There are no two days alike. There is never a dull day. You never know what’s going to happen. The regulars were invited into viewers’ home as friends. You can make minor adjustments, but the actor has to police the characters.’

When pressed about why he left Casualty, Derek gave a somewhat mysterious answer:

‘That’s all rather confused. It’s confused in that there is a truth, and the truth is garnished.’

‘I can’t really comment on that. I’m writing a memoir’, he responded, after being asked if it was his decision to say goodbye to Charlie.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Casualty for a comment.

Derek can now be seen in the next series of crime drama Blue Lights, on BBC One.

He plays the role of retired officer Robin Graham, whose past and conscience will catch up with him when trainee solicitor Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) investigates an old case, which is guaranteed to have dangerous implications for the present.

Discussing the role, Derek said at the time: ‘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 when I got the invitation to take part in series two.

‘I was born in Belfast and was equally excited 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.’

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