We spoke to Casualty’s longest-running star ahead of his final show on Saturday, and his plans for the future
WORDS: CHRISTINE SMITH
● After accepting the role to play Charlie Fairhead 38 years ago, I never envisaged I would stay so long! I was originally signed up for three years but it soon became apparent what a great character he was to play. Charlie is nobody’s fool and everyone’s friend.
A lot of people have told me I am Casualty, but Charlie represents the audience and comments on what is happening.
● Whilst I can’t say too much about the final scenes, I can reveal Charlie is stabbed. He makes a mistake and he pays a dreadful price for it. Filming my last scenes felt like those big emotional moments in your life like the birth of a child or your wedding day.
● My final storyline focuses on the subject of violence against staff in hospitals. Working on Casualty has made me have the utmost respect for those who work in the NHS. My scenes will hopefully make people realise that it is painful at times for the staff yet they struggle on.
● I am going to miss the cast on Casualty and the challenge of all the scripts. I don’t ever regard myself as a “TV legend”, though. I see myself more as a long-distance runner who has the spirit to keep on going!
● I may be leaving Casualty but I am definitely not retiring. I’ve got a new BBC drama, Blue Lights, in the pipeline and some musical projects. If anything, I am busier now.
Blessed
Medicine and TV has changed since I started but the basics of Casualty are still there – the reception desk and people rolling up.
I feel blessed to have landed a role that ha
