By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 22:00 BST, 5 September 2026 | Updated: 22:43 BST, 5 September 2026

Millions of dog owners believe their pooches have super powers that can detect danger and know when something is awry.

And with around 15million domestic dogs in the UK, that is an impressive amount of gifted furry friends.

A staggering 80 per cent of owners said their dog sensed when something was wrong and the same amount trusted their beloved pooches to protect them, according to research by Burns Pet Nutrition.

More than a third of owners said their dog has alerted them to wellbeing issues unbeknownst to them, while 22 per cent said they were woken up in an emergency.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, 52 per cent of people believe their dog knows when they are sad and 44 per cent said their dogs understand when they are feeling stressed and unwell.

The research was released by the dog food brand as it launched The Burns Bravery Awards alongside former Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer.

Ms Hauer will host the awards in London this November which will celebrate the nation’s most heroic hounds.

She said: ‘I remember one day when I felt completely overwhelmed and just wanted to shut the world out.

Advertisement

A cute brown-haired Dachshund puppy, most commonly known as a sausage dog, poses for a picture

Former Strictly Come Dancing star, Karen Hauer, pictured, is set to host The Burns Bravery Awards this November

‘One of my dogs came and sat beside me, rested their head against me and just stayed there. They didn’t know what was wrong but somehow they knew I needed them.

Advertisement

‘These dogs have been through things no dog should ever have to. Some have lost limbs, lived on the streets or been kicked and hurt by people. 

The professional dancer and TV star added that despite the hardship many dogs have endured, ‘they don’t hold a grudge. They still choose to trust… to show compassion and to love.’

‘That’s their superpower,’ she said. ‘Despite everything they’ve been through, they keep loving.’

The research also found 75 per cent of owners turn to their dog rather than their own family after a tough day at work.

Advertisement

A further 56 per cent of furry friend owners regularly talk to the dogs about their problems and 76 per cent even share secrets with them that would otherwise go untold. 

While dog owners who took part in the research might not have agreed on all of the potential super powers, a resounding 98 per cent said their pooches have improved their mental wellbeing.

A Burns Pet Nutrition spokesperson said: ‘This research shows just how deeply people value the instincts, support and protection their dogs provide.

‘The Burns Bravery Awards is our way of recognising those extraordinary dogs while shining a spotlight on the incredible work of Britain’s Mountain Search & Rescue dogs, who we’ve proudly fuelled for many years.

Advertisement

‘We hope the campaign inspires people across the UK to celebrate the dogs that make a difference in their own lives.’

Nominations for The Burns Bravery Awards are open and after public voting, the winners will be announced at the awards night in November. 

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am – sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE

Do YOU have a story? Email joshua.haining@dailymail.co.uk 

Advertisement

Picture a cosy Danish living room. Candles flicker, soft music plays and friends and family gather around a table laden with pastries – flaky, buttery and gloriously calorific. This is hygge in action, and it seems almost tailor made to give any health conscious Briton a mild panic attack.

While Britons have spent decades being told that sugar and fat are dietary villains, the Danes appear to be cheerfully ignoring the memo and somehow remaining one of the slimmest nations in Europe, even though they consume 57kg of sugar annually per capita compared to the UK’s 44kg. We could call it “the pastry paradox”.

The very pastry that bears their name – the Danish – is a staple of British bakeries, airport lounges and sad desk breakfasts the nation over. And yet Danes are much less likely to be obese, with one in five having a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30, when one in three of their British counterparts are obese.

So what is going on? Let’s take a deeper look into trends in Britain, where obesity has steadily risen from around 15% in 1993, to around 29% in England, 32% in Scotland, and 26% in Wales in recent estimates.

Health Gap / Sundhedskløften is a collaborative series from The Conversation UK and Denmark’s Videnskab.dk exploring what the two countries can learn from each other when it comes to health and wellbeing.

From cycling and alcohol to inequality, healthcare and everyday habits, the series looks beyond hospitals and medical treatment to explore how culture, politics and society shape the way people live – and how healthy they are.

The older you are in Britain, the more likely you are to be obese. If you are aged between 55 to 74 you are at the highest risk of obesity. You’re much less likely to be obese if you’re older than 74, which is probably related to the fact that obese people, on average, die earlier. You’re also more likely to be obese if you live in a poor neighbourhood, if you’re disabled, if you’re black British, and the fewer educational qualifications you hold.

Denmark still has health inequalities, but they tend to be smaller than in many other countries. This is largely thanks to strong government policies around prevention, diet and alcohol, as well as a reliable healthcare system that serves people across different income levels and backgrounds.

In truth, there’s no reason why Britain cannot emulate Denmark in this respect. Both are wealthy countries, and both provide their citizens with universal, tax-funded public health coverage. They both share a cold northern European climate, a fishing culture since they’re surrounded by sea, and a similar tradition of simple and hearty cooking with a love for potatoes, bread and porridge, dairy products, fish and pork.

Common ancestors, uncommon diets

The original Angles who settled Britain, and after whom England was named, came from Denmark, only to be invaded by Danish Vikings a couple of centuries later. But that’s where the similarities stop.

While Danes indulge in modern dietary pleasures – like their famous pastries – they also consume many traditional foods that are high in protein and fibre. This helps people feel fuller for longer compared with processed carbs and fats, while also providing essential vitamins and minerals.

Smørrebrød, the traditional open-faced, rye-bread sandwich often topped with fish and vegetables, is a cultural touchstone and Denmark’s daily lunch. Traditionally fermented and baked whole rye bread, often enriched with whole grains and seeds, and freshly sold in neighbourhood bakeries, is the basis of the national dietary strategy and guidelines. Local fruits like berries are regularly consumed. Cabbage, carrots, beets and parsnips are also staples.

The Danish diet gives a special emphasis to seasonality and sustainability, home-cooking and a low amount of highly processed meals. Danes are some of the most eco-conscious people in the world, with low levels of smoking, declining alcohol intake and policies for alcohol reduction, and a high level of participation in sports.

No wonder the Nordic diet and lifestyle is recommended both for its healthy properties, but has also topped the world of high gastronomy, proving that healthy food can also be extremely delicious, creative and even mind blowing.

In contrast, the diet most Britons follow today would be unrecognisable a few decades ago and resembles more what the US has exported to the rest of the world since the emergence of the modern retail system, which fully took over the UK in the 1980s. The US, where nearly one in two people is obese, is the world leader in obesity among major nations.

In Britain, 44% of daily energy comes from ultra-processed foods and drinks, the highest in Europe. This is one of the main drivers for obesity. By comparison, in Denmark the figure is 25%.

Ultra-processed foods and drinks are characterised by high salt and sugar content, unhealthy fats, low fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. They are highly appetising and low in satiety, bad for gut health and they promote inflammation. They are manufactured for easy appeal, high profit, long shelf-life, convenience and minimal preparation.

A typical morning in Copenhagen, where people commute to work and school on their bikes after having their hygge blueberry and yogurt or rye bread and toppings breakfast, looks very different to a morning in a typical UK city where most people drive to work and the fast-food chains are full of kids grabbing something to eat on their way to school.

Smørrebrød, Denmark’s traditional open-faced rye-bread lunch, might be the equivalent of a UK high street meal deal. Dinner in Britain is more likely to be a prepared meal than a home-cooked meal like in Denmark. This is possibly stereotypical, and there are significant variations based on income and lifestyle differences, but it paints a picture of the main differences between Britain and Denmark.

Do Danes indulge in a daily pastry? Possibly. But they do a lot of other things that offset that and keep their obesity levels to a low rate compared to the rest of Europe. Britain, take heed.

This series was commissioned as part of a partnership between Videnskab.dk and The Conversation, where articles are published in English and Danish.

By CLAUDIA AORAHA, DEPUTY HEAD OF NEWS

Published: 15:37 BST, 5 September 2026 | Updated: 22:58 BST, 5 September 2026

The United States has obliterated three Iranian oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at American warships.

Central Command said two US Navy warships were patrolling regional waters when they were targeted by Iran on Saturday. 

An aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks, and no American personnel were harmed. 

Iran’s two crude oil carriers, one off the island of Kharg and the other near Jask, were ‘permanently disabled’ by the American retaliatory strikes. 

Advertisement

American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman, hitting the vessel until the crew was directed to abandon ship, according to CENTCOM. 

‘Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,’ said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. 

‘We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.’ 

Advertisement

Central Command said two US Navy warships were patrolling regional waters when they were targeted by Iran. Pictured: An Iranian tanker being blown up

The US said that the attack on the tankers came after ballistic missiles were fired unsuccessfully on American warships

A massive fire breaks out on an Iranian tanker after being struck by the US

The strikes – a day after Donald Trump sought to minimize the conflict as ‘small potatoes’ – keep up a new tilt back toward fighting after six months of on-again, off-again war that began on February 28. 

Advertisement

Both sides have sought to inflict both military and economic pain, and negotiations have collapsed.

Earlier, Iranian state TV had said four US missiles struck a tanker about six miles from Kharg Island, home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil. 

Kharg Island has been repeatedly targeted during the war.

The strikes came nearly a week after the US and Iran resumed attacks following a month of relative calm, with the strait and Iranian communities along it again being targeted. 

Advertisement

The resumption of fighting came after Trump’s new efforts to apply economic pressures on Tehran.

Meanwhile, the US military has been helping to guide ships through the strait as Tehran asserts control and targets some vessels, but overall traffic remains low.

This is a breaking news story. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Zheng Qinwen was on her back with her arms in the air, celebrating a U.S. Open victory maybe only she believed was possible.

Madison Keys fought off tears as she tried to explain how Zheng, way down and all but out, somehow got the win.

Zheng, the Olympic gold medalist, extended her return to the U.S. Open on Saturday with a spectacular and stunning rally, winning the final seven games to eliminate No. 22 Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

“I feel like I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I just got really — I mean, got really scared, like I couldn’t swing,” Keys said. “I don’t know. Tennis just feels really hard right now, so I feel like that kind of took over.”

No. 9 Taylor Fritz also went out in a shocker, blowing a two-set lead and falling to No. 24 Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

“I don’t know how I let that happen today,” Fritz said.

Top seeds knocked out

Amanda Anisimova, like Fritz and Keys a past runner-up at the U.S. Open, also was knocked out when the No. 10 seed lost to No. 24 Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5. No. 5 Flavio Cobolli, the French Open runner-up, lost in four sets to No. 28 Alexander Blockx to leave the men’s draw without six of the top 10 seeds.

Keys won a three-set match in the previous round in a match tiebreaker when she fought off five match points. Two days later came a collapse that was as out-of-nowhere as that comeback.

The 2017 runner-up rebounded after losing the second-set tiebreaker to charge out to 5-0 lead. Zheng held but Keys had a match point while serving at 5-1, and once she couldn’t convert that, the turnaround was on, with Keys at one point banging her racket into her head repeatedly and pulling off her visor in disgust.

“I’m just telling myself keep holding every single point, never give up, stay there and somehow little by little it just happened,” Zheng said.

She won the gold medal for China at the 2024 Olympics after reaching the Australian Open final that year, and has been ranked as high as No. 4. But after elbow surgery, she is down to No. 121 and had to go through qualifying just to make the main draw.

“The hard work pays off,” said Zheng, who will play 2022 U.S. Open champion Iga Swiatek next.

Osaka and Eala can join Zheng in a big day for Asian players

Zheng’s victory set up the potential for a big day for top Asian women at the U.S. Open. Naomi Osaka, the two-time champion from Japan, was in action against No. 23 Elise Mertens on Saturday night, while No. 17 Alex Eala from the Philippines faced 14th-seeded American Iva Jovic in a matchup of promising young players.

Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, beat Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4 and will face the Eala-Jovic winner in her latest trip to the round of 16 at a major.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m definitely used to getting to Week 2s now because I feel like I woke up today and I was like, ’Oh, we’re already in Round 3,’” Gauff said. “So, I think that’s a good sign, just feeling like I’m not feeling tired.”

Keys, who won the 2025 Australian Open for her lone Grand Slam title, said she was going to have to make some unspecified changes she has been putting off.

“I think she started playing better; I started playing poorly,” Keys said. “Then I felt like I couldn’t play tennis anymore, and it just felt like it was a much bigger deal than just playing a tennis match all of a sudden.”

Fritz stormed through his first two rounds, losing a total of 11 games, and there was no hint of trouble when he broke Cerundolo to open the third set. But Cerundolo broke right back and started to feel more comfortable in his first time playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think fourth and fifth I played a really good tennis that I wasn’t finding that tennis in the previous sets and the previous rounds,” the Argentine said.

Anisimova missed repeated chances by converting just 3 of 16 break-point chances (19%). Potapova, a 25-year-old who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, went 6 for 8 and matched her best showing in a Grand Slam tournament by reaching the fourth round.

Anisimova made the final at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2025, falling to Aryna Sabalenka in Flushing Meadows. But after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the American was eliminated in the third round of the last three majors this year.

Potapova will play No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion.

Top-seeded man Alexander Zverev, who had to win five-setters in the first two rounds, faced No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo in a night match.

___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

The organisation, which is the official maker of British coins in the UK, has revealed the rarest version of each of the eight coins in Britain.

Values range from a coin’s face value to thousands of pounds, with a coin’s mintage used to establish the rarity of a coin.

Figures are available on the Royal Mint’s website, where mintage figures can be checked.

What makes a coin valuable or rare?

There are ‘circulating’ coins, released from The Royal Mint to banks and post offices, typically featuring a standard set of designs.

There are also commemorative coins, mostly designed to be collectable items and gifts which celebrate key events, anniversaries and themes.

The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, however, there are also rare 10p, 20p and other coins.

The 27.5mm diameter of the 50p makes it the largest of any British coin and allows space for decorative pictures.

It has often been used to celebrate big events over the course of British history.

The rarest coins tend to be the most valuable, with mintage (the number of coins of each design made) being the primary attraction for collectors.

Along with the design, other aspects of the coin that increase its value are its condition and whether it has a design error.

The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value.

Some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, whereas others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.

Royal Mint reveals rarest version of all 8 British coins

The Royal Mint recently revealed each British coin with the lowest mintage.

It said: “From the £2 to the 1p, we have identified the coins with the lowest mintages.

“You might be holding a rare one without even knowing it.”

Here is a list of the rarest versions of each British coin, when they were made, and how many were minted:

• Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 (2002) – 485,500
• Edinburgh City £1 (2011) – 935,500
• Atlantic Salmon 50p (2023) – 200,000
• Puffin 20p (2023) – 525,000
• Great British Coin Hunt coins: W – World Wide Web, Y – Yeoman Warder, Z – Zebra Crossing (2019) – 63,000
• Oak Tree Leaf 5p (2025) – 19,000,000
• Christopher Ironside 2p (2008) – 10.6 million
• Hazel Dormouse 1p (2023) – 600,000

Recommended reading:

The Puffin 20p and Hazel Dormouse 1p are both yet to enter circulation; however, the number of each coin minted makes them the rarest 20p and 1p, respectively.

Both coins will only enter circulation if there is demand.

Have you ever come across or collected any rare coins? Let us know in the comments.

A Darlington woman who shed four stone on Mounjaro has revealed she paid a hefty price for the slimmed frame – she lost 50 per cent of her hair.

Dara Smith, 34, used the ‘King Kong’ injections between January and December last year, and noticed clumps falling out after upping her dose to 12mg – the second highest strength.

‘It would be all over my clothes and on my bedding, it just wouldn’t stop,’ said the content creator. 

The problem was most obvious in the shower, or while brushing her hair, she added.

‘I was really upset when I realised that Mounjaro was the cause of my hair loss, as I’d had such a positive journey with the jab until that point.

‘It was really the last thing I expected to happen as I’d never heard anyone talking about it back then.’

Studies show that patients who use the injections, known as GLP-1 agonists, face 40-70 per cent risk of hair loss. 

Studies show that the blockbuster jabs can increase the risk of hair loss by up to 70 per cent

It’s thought that the reduced intake of nutrients that are vital for hair growth, such as protein, iron and zinc, can trigger the problem. 

Hair shedding often becomes noticeable a few months after medication is first taken, so it can seem disconnected from starting the drugs.

It’s thought that around 1.6 million Britons use weight loss injections like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy. The majority of patients obtain private prescriptions.

Ms Smith began taking Mounjaro in January 2025, at a weight of roughly 13 stone. 

She’d tried countless times to eat healthier but always fell back into making ‘wrong choices’ and struggled to stick to a regular exercise routine.

‘I wasn’t very educated on what a proper diet entailed, and I had a million excuses as to why I couldn’t stick to things,’ she said.

After hearing her work colleagues discussing Mounjaro, she decided to look into weight loss injections herself and ordered a 2.5mg dose from an online pharmacy.

She lost 10 pounds in the first week.

‘After 25 hours my food noises completely stopped,’ she recalled. 

‘I didn’t really have any side effects except a headache every now and then,’

Like many patients, she gradually increased the dosage until she was on 12 mg of the drug. 

By August 2025, she had lost three stone and five pounds, bringing her down nine-and-a-half stone.

The shedding was most obvious when brushing her hair or in the shower, Ms Smith said 

It wasn’t until Ms Smith had a three week pause from the medication that her hair grew again

Advertisement

It was around this time she noticed the thinning – and later shedding – of her hair. 

Suspecting that her protein intake could be behind the problem, she began drinking protein shakes and eating high-protein bars with the aim of consuming 100g of the nutrient per day.

Official guidance states that adult women need around 45g of protein per day, on average. 

Ms Smith began using rosemary oil and pumpkin seed extract – and taking collagen and biotin – but her hair loss continued.

‘The damage was done, it was too late,’ she said. ‘Nothing I did helped.’

Despite her concern, Ms Smith continued taking Mounjaro until December 2025, when she reached her goal weight of eight-and-a-half stone.

She decided to take a break from the jab in the hope of resolving the hair loss. 

As soon as she stopped, her hair stopped shedding.

But at the end of January this year she decided to re-start the medication, concerned that her weight would creep back up. 

Oddly, she has experienced no hair loss so far. 

What’s more, she’s managed to grow back 20 per cent of the loss which she claims is down to following a strict hair care routine.

Ms Smith takes two hair growth supplements and a scoop of collagen powder daily, and uses a rosemary and rice water spray on her scalp five times a week.

The content creator has lost a total of four stone over the last 18 months 

She also uses specialist shampoo designed to encourage hair growth. 

Some studies suggest rosemary oil may improve hair growth in people with hair loss by stimulating hair follicles, but the evidence is limited.

Meanwhile, experts say collagen powders and hair growth supplements are unlikely to work unless a nutrient deficiency has been identified.  

But Ms Smith believes these methods have contributed to her hair growing back.

‘There’s now so much growth throughout my whole hair,’ she said. ‘But I still only have about 70 per cent of the hair I had before I lost weight.’

She added: ‘For anyone who’s starting Mounjaro, make sure to work out your nutrient requirements from day one. 

‘Despite the hair loss, going on Mounjaro was one of the best decisions of my life.

‘It’s completely changed my mindset and made me so much more confident.

‘Losing hair was a downside, but one I could cope with.’

Casualty fans were left in tears as the Holby team bid farewell to one of their own

A heartbreaking death was aired during Casualty‘s 40th anniversary specials.

A gripping double-bill that centred around a high-stakes major incident aired on Saturday night (September 5). Lives hung in the balance and the Emergency Department team at Holby City Hospital were pushed to their limits after an explosion.

“As the fallout continues, a major rescue operation unfolds, forcing impossible life-or-death decisions and testing the courage, resilience and leadership of those at the heart of the hospital,” reads the official synopsis. Dylan Keogh (William Beck) faced a devastating moment when his ex, Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), arrived at the hospital with severe injuries.

“There are burns in the airway, so pending airway obstruction, let’s have the crash trolley, please?” a worried Dylan instructed his team, shortly after Sophia was brought in. “And we need to standby with the RSI drugs, yeah? Quickly,” reports the Mirror.

Advertisement

Later, Sophia’s condition worsened, with Dylan frantically performing CPR on her. Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell) and Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) watched on as Dylan realised that Sophia wasn’t going to make it.

“We had a pulse! We had a pulse!” Dylan screamed. Dr Alex Kavanagh (Pippa Haywood) then said: “Dr Keogh, this wasn’t your battle. It wasn’t anyone’s.”

Viewers were left in tears after the emotional scenes, with many sharing their reactions on X. “Oh no! Sophia is dead,” one person wrote.

Another added: “Not Dylan’s ex-girlfriend Sophia!” Many others were left “sobbing” as they watched Dylan come to terms with the death. “Poor Dylan, I just want to hug him,” someone shared.

Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “#Casualty @BBCCasualty what a brilliant couple of episodes, very emotional, fantastic acting, tears in my eyes three times tonight. Love Dylan he is such a brilliant actor, and it was good seeing Charlie.”

After watching the episodes, some viewers may want to refresh their memory of Sophia and how she was connected to Dylan. The character was notably introduced as a psychiatric liaison nurse at Holby back in June 2024.

Despite only appearing on the show for several months, Sophia became a firm favourite after she fell in love with Dylan. In a twist that fans hadn’t seen coming, Sophia later told Dylan she was pregnant with their child, leaving the doctor completely stunned.

Due to his fears of becoming a dad, Dylan suggested that Sophia have a termination, something she was initially hesitant about. But while Dylan was being held in police custody, having been arrested for manslaughter, Sophia made the decision to have an abortion.

Sophia later decided to leave Holby and accept a job elsewhere, leaving Dylan devastated. “I struggled with that storyline,” Kellie, who played Sophia, previously told the Mirror. “I mean, I’d only recently had my baby, and my hormones were all over the place. Yeah, I found it difficult.”

Casualty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Michael Carrick has insisted that Manchester United can compete with their Premier League rivals in the title race – despite being outspent to a dramatic degree.

United bought three midfielders this summer for an initial cost of £148m but Manchester City’s outlay was about three times as much, including the joint British record signing of Enzo Fernandez for £125m, and Chelsea paid out more than £300m, with a £117m deal for Morgan Rogers.

But Carrick believes money is no guarantee of success on the pitch and takes heart from his belief his squad is stronger than they were last season, when they took the most points after his January return to Old Trafford.

He said: “I certainly feel we can compete. I think the challenge is just getting the right dynamics, getting the right balance, getting the right group together, getting the best players in the group to enhance the rest of the group, whether you need experience, some younger players. The actual amount of money in the end, I understand it can be a big thing. It doesn’t always have to be the answer, but it can be.

“It’s up to us to do the work and get the best out of the group. We’ve strengthened the group from what we had last season, and we finished the season really strong. We’re really positive with where we can get to.

“Money’s one thing, what you do with it is another thing, how you make the most of it is another thing. It’s about what happens on the pitch at the end of the day

“There’s a freshness around the group, there’s an excitement around the group, which is really encouraging. I’ll be honest, there’s a hunger and a feeling of wanting to achieve something.”

Casualty’s 40th anniversary specials saw the return of BBC icon Charlie Fairhead as William Beck reflects on the emotional filming experience

Advertisement

Emotions ran exceptionally high during Casualty’s 40th anniversary. This weekend, BBC audiences witnessed the Holby Hospital team grappling with the consequences of an explosion that led to numerous tragedies.

Amongst these was the devastating loss of Dylan’s (William Beck) former partner, Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), who had last appeared in Casualty in 2025. Her passing profoundly affected the beloved character as audiences observed Dylan unravelling, becoming incapable of performing his duties while staff battled to manage the relentless stream of casualties.

During an emotional collapse in the storage cupboard, a recognisable face provided words of comfort as Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) offered him vital support, reports the Daily Star.

Speaking to Reach PLC, actor William Beck discussed those distressing sequences and his experience working alongside a Casualty legend.

He remarked: “It was lovely having Derek back, and I think he was very pleased to be part of, not only part of the episode, but to have an opportunity, having reflected inevitably on how long he’d been on the show, to really come back and experience the adoration that there was for him.

Advertisement

“It was a real privilege for me to get to work with him, because I do remember the first episode of the show. It was almost an out-of-body experience.”

Derek portrayed the cherished character Charlie Fairhead on the BBC medical drama from its inception in 1986 until his departure in 2024.

Discussing his departure at the time, he remarked: “The time has come for me to hang up Charlie’s scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years. Charlie Fairhead was inspired by a real nurse, Pete Salt.

Advertisement

“Together with the writers and producers, I have tried to bring to Charlie the compassion, kindness, heroism and sound judgement that we all see and love in Pete, and I want to say thanks to Pete and everyone else over that time who has inspired me in bringing this character to life.”

Audiences were devastated to witness his exit and have subsequently campaigned for his return, though he did feature in the double-bill specials. Might another appearance be forthcoming?

Yet he wasn’t the sole familiar face to reappear during the special. Viewers also witnessed George Rainsford’s return as Dr Ethan Hardy, who departed the programme in 2023 following a ten-year stint.

He left the BBC production to dedicate more time to his family and explore different acting ventures. Reflecting on the dramatic two-parter, actress Melanie Hill, who portrays Siobhan McKenzie in the BBC drama, described it as the most ‘ambitious’ production she’s witnessed throughout Casualty’s history.

She said: “It’s always quite chaotic, but the stakes were higher. I think this is the most ambitious couple of episodes that I’ve ever seen in the history of Casualty. The stakes start off that bad… what happens: an entire hospital blowing up.

“Then you’ve got the influx of not only injured people but the actual people who are being treated at the hospital, so there’s differing layers of trauma cases coming in.”

The actress continued: “Obviously, there are personal stories to do with the characters in Casualty, tragedy affecting the actual doctors and nurses who are working there.”

BBC viewers were swift to react to Derek’s comeback to the show, with numerous fans delighted to witness the star’s return to the programme. Additionally, some viewers have urged for his reappearance to become permanent following his short-lived return.

Casualty is available to watch on BBC iPlayer