In the terrible storm that coincided with Emmerdale’s 50th anniversary last year, Harriet Finch was killed when she was run over by a quad cycle and then hit by lightning. Actress Katherine Dow Blyton, who played Harriet from 2013 until 2022, enjoys thinking about it.
She recalled the experience of filming the scenes, in which Harriet rode off on a quad bike into a furious storm in pursuit of Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell), who had given birth in the middle of nowhere, as saying, “We had a laugh.”
A figure who was never far from the drama had a fitting ending with Harriet’s figuratively spectacular demise. She first arrived in Emmerdale as the new vicar, but it quickly became clear that she had previously worked as an undercover police officer. A passionate romance with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and a terrifying confrontation with unscrupulous police officer DI Malone (Mark Womack), who attempted to rape Dawn (Olivia Bromley), were two other important plotlines. Harriet, Kim (Claire King), and Will (Dean Andrews) buried the body and covered up the murder after Dawn shot him to death.
Although Katherine admitted that the nature of her exit sequences prevented her from being overly emotional, it was clearly difficult to leave the show after such an exciting time there.
She admitted, “On the actual day, I was covered in blood and had various pieces of wood hanging out of my hair.” You could practically feel sand and other material being blown into your eyes by these large industrial wind turbines. In the end, it wasn’t as emotional because the technicalities of what you have to do takes away from the emotion, and I was able to go through the day without crying.
“I received a three-month notice that I would be killed.” In a sense, you say goodbye emotionally since you know it’s coming before you really go. She continued by saying that she had made “friends for life” on the show and enjoyed staying current with events.
I frequently inquire about how folks are doing and whether there is any rumours, she said.
Katherine confessed that she needed some time to unwind after being on the programme for over ten years before beginning her new endeavour.
She excluded one possibility: another soap. She believed she had “scratched that itch” after making cameos in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, and other shows.
I’m sort of opening up my profession to the world, she remarked. “I think I just need to let up on the gas and not freak out,” you say.
Katherine’s current part in the Leeds Playhouse production of Kay Mellor’s play A Passionate Woman is the result of this method. Kay Mellor, who passed away in May 2022, is honoured with a revival of the play in which Katherine portrays the matriarch Betty.
By doing my absolute best, I want to remember her memory,’ Katherine added, adding that she still keeps in touch with Gaynor Faye, who co-starred with her in Emmerdale as Megan Macey and is Kay’s daughter.
Furthermore, Katherine’s former cast mates have assured her that they would be there to support her.
“They’ve all made reservations!” She spoke.
