Derek Thompson, who played senior charge nurse Charlie Fairhead on BBC's Casualty for 38 years, is reportedly returning to the series just months after his character's emotional exit. The 77-year-old actor, who appeared in nearly 900 episodes, allegedly began filming again for a temporary stint.
Thompson's character was never killed off, leaving the door open for a comeback. A source told The Sun: 'Fans will be delighted to see Charlie. The character was never killed off and the door was left open for a return. Viewers will have to wait to see how Charlie's storyline pans out.' The BBC has been contacted for comment.
Thompson's departure in 2024 saw Charlie stabbed by a drug-dealing patient and left in a coma, but he survived. His final scenes included a nostalgic flashback and an emotional farewell. At the time, the BBC called Charlie the 'lynchpin of the hospital's emergency department.'
Thompson previously credited real-life nurse Pete Salt as the inspiration for his character, saying he aimed to bring 'compassion, kindness, heroism and sound judgment' to the role. During his tenure, Charlie was run over by an ambulance on his wedding day and suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest.
Thompson's possible return follows a trend of soap stars revisiting iconic roles, such as Ross Kemp returning to EastEnders as Grant Mitchell and Patsy Kensit reprising her role as Sadie King on Emmerdale.
