Charlie joins fight to keep Casualty in Bristol
Casualty star Derek Thompson joined a protest in Broadmead to try to keep the top TV show in Bristol.
He added his voice to the campaign to stop the popular Saturday night drama being relocated to Cardiff under moves being considered by the BBC.
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Mr Thompson, 60, who plays staff nurse Charlie Fairhead – the longest standing character in the programme – helped members of Equity's Bristol and West branch and the broadcasting union BECTU hand out thousands of postcards to shoppers.
They asked them to sign the cards in support of the campaign and drop them into a sack carried by Father Christmas before being sent to the BBC director general, Mark Thompson.
A recent report estimated Casualty's value to Bristol and the South West economy at £24.7 million a year. It also helps attract other broadcasters and film-makers to the area.
Mr Thompson said: "I'm here as a resident of Bristol for the last 22 years to express the common feeling within Bristol that people don't want Casualty moved, not with any hostility towards where it might land but there's a notion that Casualty represents the West Country in a lot of its story lines.
"If they move it away, they will still have to come back and film here at least two days a week, which would prove more expensive.
"This is where it's based. Why go and record the Bristol culture somewhere else? The people of Bristol are confused as to why they want to do that, they will lose the roots of the whole thing if it goes."
Among those signing the postcards was Pam Rogers, 53, of Winscombe, North Somerset.
She said: "Casualty is a good advert for the city. Cardiff has Dr Who, why can't we keep Casualty?"
Two visitors from Wales who were doing their shopping in Bristol, even gave their backing.
Pat Edmunds, of Ebbw Vale, said "We have Dr Who and Torchwood so Bristol should have Casualty. I don't blame anyone who is fighting for jobs and their town."
Susan Bird, of Nantyglo , said: "I watch Casualty every week and support Bristol in trying to keep it."
David Donovan, of BECTU, said the BBC had pledged to support more TV production in the regions and those involved in Casualty, from cast to crew, could not understand why it was considering pulling out of Bristol.
It is thought a decision on the home base for the show will be taken some time in the spring.