Casualty’s longest-serving cast member, Derek Thompson, to leave soap

Actor, who plays Charlie Fairhead, is only remaining cast member from first episode of BBC medical drama in 1986

Casualty’s longest-serving cast member, Derek Thompson, is to leave the soap after almost four decades playing Charlie Fairhead, the BBC has announced.

Thompson, the only remaining actor from the first episode in 1986, has appeared in nearly 900 episodes.