Casualty - Desperate Remedies - 10:50 am Monday, June 29 on U&Drama

Derek Thompson (Actor) .. Charlie Fairhead

Born: April 04, 1948 in Belfast

Best Known For: Playing nurse boss Charlie Fairhead in Casualty.

Early-life: Born in Belfast on April 4, 1948. He began his showbusiness career at the age of 10 in a close harmony group with his twin sister Elaine (she is 10 minutes younger than him). The siblings then went on a roadshow touring the variety theatres of Britain and landed a record deal, eventually having a hit with One Little Robin in a Cherry Tree when they were 12. They appeared in the 1965 film Gonks Go Beat and formed a trio called Odin's People with Larry Johns. Derek decided to concentrate on acting at the age of 19.

Career: Thompson got a job as a stage manager and went on to do repertory and fringe theatre. His first professional role was in Romeo and Juliet at the Ludlow Festival and he made his TV debut in the police series Softly, Softly. Other early work included roles in The Gentle Touch, The Long Good Friday and Yanks. Although his main love has always been the stage, he was delighted at being offered the part of Charlie in Casualty. First appearing in 1986, he is the longest-serving actor in the show and has faced many emotional scenes and delicate issues. His famous alter ego has crossed over into sister show Holby City, and in the short-lived spin-off series HolbyBlue.

Quote: 'Playing Charlie for as long as I have means it's hard to tell what parts of me have become part of his personality.'

Trivia: A keen swimmer, Thompson also loves sailing and taking long walks.

Sunetra Sarker (Actor) .. Zoe Hanna

Born: July 25, 1973 in Liverpool

Best Known For: Casualty.

Early-life: Sunetra was born in Liverpool on June 25, 1973. Her father is a doctor. She went on to study Information Systems for Business with French at Brunel University. Her breakthrough as an actress came in 1988 when she was cast as Nisha Batra in Brookside. She stayed with the soap for two years but returned to play the same character 10 years later between 2000 and 2003.

Career: Following her first stint on Brookside, Sarker starred in London Bridge, Cold Feet and Playing the Field. Bigger roles came in No Angels and The Chase. In 2007, she was cast as Dr Zoe Hanna in Casualty, a role she continues to play. In 2014, she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

Quote: On signing up for Strictly Come Dancing: 'I don't quite know what I've let myself in for. But the chance to swap my stethoscope for sequins was just too tempting.'

Trivia: In 2014, Sarker appeared with her son, Noah, on game show Big Star's Little Star.

Charlotte Salt (Actor) .. Sam Nicholls

Madeleine Mantock (Actor) .. Scarlett Conway

Michael Obiora (Actor) .. Lloyd Asike

Steven Miller (Actor) .. Lenny Lyons

Jane Hazlegrove (Actor) .. Kathleen `Dixie" Dixon

Matt Bardock (Actor) .. Jeff Collier

Charles Dale (Actor) .. Big Mac

Born: November 28, 1963 in Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Best Known For: The Lakes and Coronation Street.

Early-life: Charles Dale was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, in 1963. His father ran a record shop and both his parents were keen amateur actors. After leaving school in 1979, he became an assistant stage manager at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven, where he stayed for a year. After occasional acting roles, he moved to London and trained at Lamda.

Career: Dale broke into TV with a string of small roles in the likes of Lovejoy, A Touch of Frost and Bramwell in the early 1990s. However, his big break came when he appeared as Chef in Jimmy McGovern's The Lakes, where his memorable turn as the head-case and seducer created an instant screen legend. He appeared in a couple of West End shows and played Dennis in Coronation Street for 18 months. He later appeared as Clive in Paradise Heights, as well as its spin-off, The Eustace Brothers, alongside Neil Morrissey and Ralf Little. He had further roles in ITV's Steel River Blues and children's series Barking! He also appeared in Rocket Man with Robson Green. He joined the cast of Casualty in November 2007 as porter Big Mac.

Quote: 'Big Mac's grumpy, overweight and a hypochondriac. It's nice to be in my comfort zone.'

Trivia: In the BBC series Coming Home, Dale uncovered the role played by his grandfather in the Second World War.

Tony Marshall (Actor) .. Noel Garcia

Born: May 14, 1974 in Manchester

Best Known For: Playing Noel Garcia in Casualty.

Early-life: Tony was born in Manchester on May 14, 1974. He made his TV debut in 1989 as a waiter in the TV drama Saracen. Minor roles followed in The Paradise Club, Second Thoughts, Only Fools and Horses and Nelson's Column.

Career: Marshall had a recurring role on All Quiet on the Preston Front and went on to make guest appearances in the likes of Faith in the Future, The Bill, The Queen's Nose, Doctors, My Family, Judge John Deed and Holby City. He played the bartender Nelson in Life on Mars. His big break came in 2008 when he began playing receptionist Noel Garcia in Casualty.

Quote: On his Casualty character: 'He's a chancer! Cheeky, up for a laugh - looking out for ways to make money.'

Trivia: Away from acting, Marshall enjoys classic cars, football and comedy DVDs.

William Beck (Actor) .. Dylan Keogh

Christine Tremarco (Actor) .. Linda Andrews

Elizabeth Croft (Actor) .. Jessica Murray

Stephen Beckett (Actor) .. Lawrence Murray

Lisa Hogg (Actor) .. Lauren Flynn

Rose O'Loughlin (Actor) .. Miranda Flynn

Brid Brennan (Actor) .. Jane Flynn

James Boyland (Actor) .. Carl MacIntyre

Jack Derges (Actor) .. Ben Shears

Richard Signey (Director)

Anne Edyvean (Producer)

Frank Rickarby (Writer)

Casualty: Desperate Remedies

10:50 am - 11:50 am, Monday, June 29 on U&Drama (20)

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Desperate Remedies
Episode 33

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