BBC Casualty have identified Charlie Fairhead’s replacement – and he is already on the cast. BBC bosses want Casualty to replace Charlie, played by Derek Thompson, with Gladiators host Barney Walsh, the son of ITV The Chase legend Bradley.

“Charlie was a bit of a rubbish nurse when he first arrived, as is Cam, which is why this makes it all such a lovely idea from the bosses. They think that turning Cam into the ‘face of the nurses’ in lieu of Charlie is a no-brainer,” an insider explained.

The source behind the scenes at the show went on: “His popularity has soared so much since Gladiators so it would mean he would be given bigger storylines and he would be used more, to stop anyone else from grabbing him.”

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Derek has admitted his departure from Casualty has marked the end of an era. The actor confessed he felt “heightened emotions” while filming his exit, as he revealed: “Charlie gets it wrong, and makes a mistake that he pays a dreadful price for.

“Last weekend, the patient was in a mess, and Charlie tried not to lose his temper, but he ended up getting on the wrong side of the man. As everyone saw, it ended with him being stabbed.” Ahead of his final scenes airing, he went on: “I don’t want to spoil it by saying whether or not he survives.

“But everything felt heightened when I filmed my last scenes.” And he added: “It felt like one of those big emotional moments in your life, like the birth of a child or your wedding.” He continued: “This final story really does create a realism, which will poke people in the eye and say, ‘This really is painful for these people, and yet they struggle on’”.