ITV Emmerdale fans stunned by Harriet's death as…

ITV Emmerdale fans stunned by Harriet's death as actress sends goodbye message and shares emotions behind scenes

Emmerdale's 50th anniversary windstorm claimed its first victim - and fans were stunned that it was PC-turned-vicar-turned PC again, Harriet Finch. During Sunday night's special hour-long episode to mark the ITV soap's milestone occasion, viewers saw Harriet squashed when she plunged down a ravine followed by the quad bike she was riding in search for pregnant Amelia Spencer.

Ignoring the looming storm, Amelia headed off to get a romantic picnic ready for her and her boyfriend Noah Dingle outside of the Yorkshire Village. However, the strong wind pushed her off her feet and a sudden fall led to the teen going into early labour. She managed to make a brief call to her dad to tell him she was having the baby but lost signal before being able to tell him where she was.

Back at Home Farm, following Will Taylor and Kim Tate's wedding, Lydia arrived and asked for help in the search for Amelia. Kim was quick to request Sam saddle up her horse, Ice, but as she searched for the teen in the woods, Kim stumbled across a trapped Harriet. As she tried to help, her horse bolted and left Kim without a way of returning to the village for help.

Then in another twist, both women ended up lying lifeless after a fork of lightning struck the quad throwing them both. Kim hit her head on a stone, leaving viewers wondering if either of them will be able to escape the storm. But it was then confirmed during the start of Monday night's episode (October 17) that Kim survived and sadly, Harriet had lost her life in the freak accident.

An emotional and injured Kim later arrived back at Home Farm to break the awful news of Harriet's death to Will and his daughter Dawn. Meanwhile, Harriet's lifeless body was found by partner Dan, who was in the midst of his own rescue mission for daughter Amelia.

But the latest twist means that actress Katherine Dow Blyton has bowed out of the soap after nearly a decade in the Dales. And she had a goodbye message for fans. In a video posted to Emmerdale's official social channels featuring a behind-the-scenes look at how they filmed the stunt, the departing soap star said: "So yeah, this 50th is quite big for Harriet as it's her last episode, as you will now know.

Kim woke from her bang on the head to find Harriet dead next to her (ITV)

"I just want to say thank you for watching Harriet finch, from her journey entering the village as the vicar and then the policewoman and then the vicar and then the policewoman and all her trials and tribulations. And thanks very much for your support. And here's to the next 50 years of Emmerdale when I'll be a viewer too."

Speaking to press for the first time about Harriet's death scene, Katherine said: "I got very emotional reading it. On the actual day I was covered in blood and I had various bits of woodland hanging out of my hair. We had these industrial wind machines which were literally blowing sand and debris into your eyes.

"So when it came to it, it wasn't as emotional because the technicality of what you have to do takes away from the emotion so I managed to get through the day without sobbing. The death wasn't my last scene though, but on my last day I received flowers and lovely gifts and messages. I don't think it will hit me that I'm not going back for a couple of weeks because it feels like I'm on a break, but it will slowly hit me.

"I had a leaving meal and then we had drinks, and it was lovely. I've made a lot of really good friends in the cast and crew, and I know I'll stay in touch with so many of them."

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