ITV Emmerdale star opens up about characters shock death which left viewers in tears
EMMERDALE star Katherine Dow Blyton opened up about her brutal exit as Harriet Finch and her life after the soap.
The actress has opened up about her exit from the ITV soap after playing the former policewoman turned vicar for almost a decade.
Her character was killed off due to injuries she received when her quad bike overturned in a deadly storm while searching for teen Amelia Spencer.
The spectacular stunt was part of Emmerdale’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The lives of much-loved characters hanged in the balance as the terrible weather causes chaos.
Liv Flaherty played by Isobel Steele also died in the storm after being crushed by a caravan, leaving husband Vinny Dingle and fans heartbroken.
Months later, Katherine opened up about her exit as Harriet and her life after the soap.
She told Inside Soap: “I got three months’ notice I was being killed.
“In a way you leave before you physically leave; you say goodbye emotionally because you know it is coming.
“However, I made friends for life at Emmerdale – I’m always asking how people are getting on, and whether there’s any gossip!”
She added that she is close to several cast members and they have booked tickets to see the play she is currently starring in, A Passionate Woman, at Leeds Playhouse.
She continued: “Afterwards, I needed to decompress a bit. It has been almost ten years commuting up from London every week. And I am not getting any younger, let’s face it!
“I needed a bit of time, not setting my alarm for 5.30am, to spend time with my dog Dexter and see my friends.
“I really enjoyed taking a breather and just thinking about what I’m going to do in the future.”
Katherine has also appeared on rival soaps Hollyoaks, playing Sally Hunter between 2001 and 2005 and appeared in five episodes of Coronation Street.
But the star has said she is done with soaps – for now at least.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.