Emmerdale’s vicar Harriet Finch actress Katherine Dow Blyton fears axe over Malone’s murder storyline
EMMERDALE star Katherine Dow Blyton has revealed she fears her days on the soap could be numbered after the murder of bent cop Mark Malone.
Her character, vicar Harriet Finch, helped bury his body last summer when Dawn Taylor shot him after Harriet had first smashed him over the head.
- Visit our Emmerdale page for the latest gossip
- Find all Emmerdale spoilers here
Katherine, who has been in the show for seven years, said: “You always worry that your days might be numbered.
“There have got to be consequences, whether that happens a year down the line or two years down the line, you can’t get away with murder. But I’ll stay for as long as they want me to stay. I love the show and the role; thank heavens for it.”
However, Katherine said that the storyline has caused consternation amongst viewers, with some of them convinced that she will personally pay the price for Harriet’s behaviour.
She said: “Some viewers meet me and say I’m going to get judged by God because of this current storyline!
“And on Twitter sometimes people think I can be a bit more help than I possibly can be. I don’t know if that’s because they see the dog collar on screen.
“I’ve had a couple of occasions where I’ve thought: ‘oh gosh, I’m not qualified to help with that sort of problem.’ I have to point them in the right direction to get help.”
Viewers of the ITV soap have seen a guilt-ridden Harriet forced to move the body of Malone (Mark Womack) and re-bury him in a shallow grave on Home Farm land, in order to protect both herself and Dawn (Olivia Bromley).
But things are about to go from bad to worse for the tormented vicar this week, when she tells her shocked colleague Charles (Kevin Mathurin) that she’s sick of letting down her parishioners and that’s she’s quitting her job, convinced it’s best for everyone.
Charles tries to talk her out of resigning, but she’s adamant it’s the right decision.
Katherine said: “Harriet is losing it because of fear, regret, shame, guilt and self-hatred. She’s going through pretty much every negative emotion she can possibly experience and she’s sinking.
Most read in Soaps
“Killing Malone was self-defence, but the mistake was that they didn’t call the police because they thought nobody would believe them. Now she just can’t see how she can carry on as a vicar after what she’s done.”
Moira (Natalie Robb) tells Charles that Harriet isn’t in a fit state to be making big decisions and advises him that he shouldn’t let Harriet walk away without a struggle, but will he heed her advice?
Emmerdale, ITV, every weekday at 7pm with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursday.