Derek Martin

Charlie Slater

Plays Charlie Slater

Derek was born on 11 April 1933 and brought up in Bow in the East End of London. After he left school at 15 he worked as an apprentice to an Estate Agents and Surveyors and then later as a builder, before joining the RAF at 18.

Derek quit after reaching the rank of corporal and became a meat porter at London’s Smithfield’s meat market. After seven years at the market he tried his hand at motor racing, but went through a messy divorce with his first wife that put a halt to his aspirations. He finally settled on becoming an actor and spent the early part of his career as a stuntman in numerous films and TV shows.

Derek married model Christine Turner in the mid-Seventies and had his first big acting break in 1978 in the drama series Law and Order. He also appeared in many other drama series, including The Gentle Touch, The Professionals, and doomed BBC soap Eldorado.

Derek, who split from Christine in 1982, has two adopted sons from his second marriage, David and Jonathan.

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