Accident spoilers follow.
Accident star Elinor Lawless has spoken out about Charlie Fairhead's departure.
In Saturday's (March 16) episode, Charlie rode off into the sunset, ending weeks of speculation that he would meet his maker.
Charlie was stabbed during last weekend's cliffhanger, leaving fans anxiously waiting to see if he would survive.
Sure enough, Charlie survived at the eleventh hour when Stevie regained her confidence and realized that she had internal bleeding that had been missed during the previous examination.
Although Charlie survived relatively unscathed, ultimately the experience made him think about his future in the emergency department and he decided to retire.
I only talk to Digital spyElinor – who plays Stevie – said: “I think he turned out well.
“I think what's amazing is that it not only captures the story of Charlie's origins and where he's gone, but also captures the time in which Accidentan uprising occurred.
“It really gives you the full story of Charlie, and I think it was beautifully done. I talked to Derek [Thompson, who plays Charlie] also and he was very, very happy with it.
“This is something that Derek really wanted to show throughout the story that we just saw. He really wanted to show how Charlie's job had changed for him and how the nature of the workplace had changed for him.
“He's under pressure. Confrontation is more difficult for him. I think you have an idea for a natural retirement for someone who is ready. I'm really glad he achieved that.”
Elinor also told us what it was like to say goodbye to Derek, who left the show after 38 years in the role.
“It was really heartbreaking,” she said. “Will Becka [who plays Dylan] I gave him a speech and we gathered everyone together, the whole crew and cast.
“Will was really touched and Derek was really touched. It was a really emotional time. This week in particular was really difficult. You're very aware that you're part of something historic.”
She continued: “When I first joined the show, the first question anyone asked me was, 'What's Charlie like?' And the beautiful thing about it is that Derek is an ordinary person. He loves people. He loves the crew.
“For example, when the show moved from Bristol to Cardiff, it was Derek and Sunetra who fought to get our core support teams and artists onto the show. It's great that someone worked so long and wasn't a dick. It sets the tone for the floor, sets the tone for the studio, and sets the tone for us.
“There's always a feeling of, 'Derek wouldn't do that, Derek wouldn't behave that way.' He has a lot of heart and it was really, really sad to say goodbye to him.”
Discussing what the show will look like in a post-Charlie world, Elinor said: “I think the character of Charlie infused that word with something that will stick. When Accident started out, it was largely from Charlie's point of view and that's what the show followed.
“The NHS is at the heart of the show and we have a unique opportunity to tell the story of a national health service that is also unique here. That's what Derek really wants on the show.”
“I think Charlie's legacy will be heart and caring, and I think that's something the show will definitely continue to try to preserve,” she added. “But someone like that – they don't go away. They will remain in the very fabric of the world they created, so he is not gone in that sense.”
Accident it's windy on Saturday nights on BBC One. The show is now airing episodes early on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the day of broadcast.
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Sophie is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a writer. Previously at BT.com, where she ran her own Reality TV column, Sophie joined the Digital Spy soap team in 2013 and won Unsung Hero of the Year at the 2022 PPA Awards.
Over the years, she has written hundreds of articles about the Carters, the Dingles, and even Wellard the Dog, and has created numerous video franchises on the site. Sophie hosted Digital Spy's first-ever “Soap Scoop” podcast in 2020, where she spoke with the likes of Alan Fletcher (aka Dr. Karl) and Lisa Riley, was interviewed on podcasts and live radio, and represented the company in British Soap Awards panel.