KEEP THE CREDITS ROLLING...
MARION MCMULLEN looks at some of the longest-running jobs on television
Casualty’s longestserving cast member Derek Thompson is leaving the BBC hospital drama after almost four decades of playing Charlie Fairhead. The 75-year-old said: “The time has come for me to hang up Charlie’s scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years.” He has starred in nearly 900 episodes and his final scenes will be broadcast next year.
2 William Roache has been playing Ken Barlow in ITV soap Coronation Street since 1960 and is still going strong almost 63 years later. He is in the Guinness World Records for the longest-serving television star in a continuous role. He’s pictured as Ken in Corrie’s first episode, alongside Frank Pemberton, who played his dad Frank.
3 Adam Woodyatt is the longest-serving male actor on Eastenders. He joined the BBC soap when it started in 1985 playing Ian Beale before bowing out in 2021. He is said to be making a shock return to Albert Square with Michelle Collins (pictured with Ian) returning from the dead after her character Cindy was killed off 25 years ago.
4 Jeremy Paxman has signed off from University Challenge after 29 years of hosting the BBC quiz show. The 73-year-old broadcaster and former Newsnight presenter has hosted the series since 1994. He is stepping down after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
5 Kelsey Grammer made his name as psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane on the American sitcom Cheers before getting his own spin-off show, Frasier, which ran for 11 series from 1993 to 2004. The 67-year-old is returning to the character once again for a reboot of the US sitcom.
6 Gary Lineker has presented BBC’S Match of the Day since 1999. The 62-year-old former England striker scored 48 times in 80 appearances for England and was recently presented with a special international award at a Sport and Human Rights ceremony in Rome.
7 Former tennis player Sue Barker hosted BBC’S A Question Of Sport for 24 years. Her final episode was broadcast in May 2021 with Paddy Mcguinness then taking over as host.
8 BBC music show Later ... with Jools Holland has been running since 1992 and has played an important role in launching new talent in the UK, with acts including Adele, Stormzy, Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, and Alicia Keys all featuring as guests.
9 Emilia Fox has been solving crimes as Dr Nikki Alexander in BBC’S Silent Witness for 19 years. The actress took over from Amanda Burton who left in 2004. Emilia told Radio Times earlier this year: “I have always said that I would like to do this job while I love it, and I still love it.”
10 Alan Davies first began playing magic act designer and puzzle-solving Jonathan Creek in 1997 and figured out his final crime in 2016. The duffle coat he wore in the series was his own and it became part of Creek’s trademark look in the early days. Alan returned to his comedy roots when he became a regular panellist on brainbusting quiz QI in 2010.