Casualty - Charlie Fairhead faces death in early iPlayer release
Casualty spoilers follow from Saturday's episode (March 9) which is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. This article contains storyline details that some viewers may prefer to avoid, as this episode hasn't yet aired on TV.
The ED will change forever next week, when Casualty stalwart Charlie Fairhead bows out for good.
Fans have known Charlie's days were numbered since last year, when it was confirmed that Derek Thompson had decided to leave the role after 38 years.
While the exact nature of Charlie's exit story is being kept a closely guarded secret, it's currently not looking too promising following today's shocking cliffhanger.
The episode, which is already available to watch on BBC iPlayer, saw Charlie suffer a devastating injury, which will pave the way for his final chapter.
But will the show really do the unthinkable and kill off Charlie?
Unfortunately, viewers will have to wait until next week to find out, but here's what we know so far…
Is Charlie being killed off?
Casualty bosses are staying tight-lipped about whether Charlie will meet a tragic fate next week, but we do know that his life will be left hanging in the balance after being stabbed by troubled patient Kyle.
In a special episode, titled 'Charlie', which will air on Saturday, March 16, the team will battle to save Charlie – who is in a perilous condition.
As he drifts in and out of consciousness, Charlie flashes back to a definitive day at the start of his career, before he came to Holby.
Sunetra Sarker has reprised her role as Zoe for Charlie's final episodes, and she won't be the only return either. That is because Charlie's old friend Josh will be back as well for the unmissable scenes.
Addressing fan fears that Charlie could die, Sunetra told What To Watch: "It’s a really great story focusing on the violence in hospital workplaces and how it can be dangerous for the Charlies of the world.
"After he gets injured, you see everyone working to save him and not let this be a sad ending
"You’ll see Charlie on day one [in flashbacks with younger Charlie played by Jack Franklin], but how does he exit? Does he live or die? I don’t want to spoil it for the fans! I’m just pleased and proud to be part of his emotional end story."
Why is Charlie leaving after 38 years?
Derek decided to leave the show after three decades of playing stalwart Charlie last year.
Digital Spy understands that he pitched the idea for Charlie's exit himself, after deciding his alter-ego's journey should come to an end.
Explaining the reasons behind this, Derek said: "The time has come for me to hang up Charlie's scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years. Charlie Fairhead was inspired by a real nurse – Pete Salt.
"Together with the writers and producers, I have tried to bring to Charlie the compassion, kindness, heroism and sound judgement that we all see and love in Pete and I want to say thanks to Pete and everyone else over that time who has inspired me in bringing this character to life."
Jon Sen – who was Casualty's executive producer at the time – added: "Derek and I would often joke that, after such a long and dramatic career in the NHS, there was almost nothing that Charlie hadn't seen.
"So it was an amazing surprise to me when Derek arrived with a brilliant idea for Charlie's exit as part of an upcoming storyline, which was too good to pass up.
"We will all miss Derek enormously. Over nearly four decades, Derek has crafted an iconic character who is woven into the fabric of British TV history. We will miss his craft, his humour and his on-screen presence.
"We're also going to miss a friend, so for the next few months we're going to have a ball filming Charlie's final chapter."
Charlie's exit follows that of Ryan, Sah, Paige and Max, who have all bowed out of the show since the start of the year.
Casualty airs on Saturday nights on BBC One. The show is now releasing episodes early on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the day of transmission.
Read more Casualty spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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