Blanche & Deirdre in Corrie.
Edna Birch in Emmerdale

All fab actresses, we didn't just lose the characters we lost the actresses too which made it all the more poignant.

I also wanna add Callum Logan, it was sooo obvious the writers were just thinking, "everyone's sick of Callum, let's kill him off" but they never thought ahead!

I wasn't devastated that he died but it devastated me that they made Kylie kill him even tho she was saving Sarah, cos I know that in coronation street when someone kills someone, the killer always gets their comeuppance, and I knew Kylie's time on coronation street was ending as soon as she bashed him over the head with that wrench

I still think Callum should of either gone to prison or been killed by Denton. I always think if Kylie hadn't of killed Callum, they wouldn't of killed her off. It's almost as if her death was her "comeuppance" for killing him sometimes coronation street just don't think!

Not devastating but definitely upsetting at the time

Max Cunningham - HO
Jamie Mitchell - EE
Casey Braxton - H&A
Oscar MacGuire - H&A
Danielle - EE

I didn't actually know that. Thanks for putting me right.

Renee Roberts, Corrie, late 70s. I was only 4 and it really shook me.

I forgot Paul from EE.

I know he wasn't all that popular but I liked him, he was a nice lad with his whole life ahead of him and it's tragic that he was killed in such a vile way just because he was gay.

It's sickening that there are people in this world who are so prejudiced that they kill.

Emotional attachments to fictional characters is actually quite a common experience - they call it parasocial interaction. It happens a lot with books films, soaps/serials. I was devastated when Gandalf "died" in Lord of the Rings and had to force myself to read on - it was the same with Dumbledore and Sirius in the Harry Potter series.

I remember being very saddened when Steven left in 2008 after being disowned by the Beales - while I understood that the second time round it was his own fault (he was ill back in 2007) I had developed a sense of empathy with the character, but as long as you are alive you always have a chance - you can go elsewhere, build new relationships etc and time can heal family rifts in the majority of cases.

Back to soap character exits - I would agree with Paul because though he was a background character, it was appalling that he died the way he did and all because he loved men. Those idiots hat can't accept same sex love might as well discriminate against vegetarians, vegans and people who are left handed - it's that senseless.

John Stape and Tony Gordon (after he showed guilt and remorse and fell in love with Maria) would be two other exits that were in a way saddening as their actions were a waste of their lives. I would also add Dennis Ricman and Tom the fireman.

I agree.

Haha, I know exactly what you mean. Katie was one of my all-time favourites. I did think she'd be there forever, and whilst she was no angel, she was basically a decent, sweet-natured country girl. She was 'old skool' Emmerdale. But now she's gone, as will Andy and Ashley be soon, the old skool are thin on the ground - one of the many reasons I gave the show up.

Glad you said that That really bothered me too..didn't bother my Dad so much though. He just complained that all the characters ever do in EE is "talk about the gay characters". Yeah, because one of them was murdered..

Kylie Platt Coronation Street

As a Jebbie fan my number one exit of a character that upset me has to be Jasmine in Emmerdale in 2009.

In Neighbours it was both Felicity Scully and Sky Mangel in 2002 and 2007 respectively.

In EastEnders it was Zoe Slater in 2005.

In Coronation Street it was Sarah in 2007 but she's (obviously) returned now.

You are partly right and partly wrong. The actress did decide to leave but asked for the door to be left open, and Kate Oates slammed it shut and killed her off. So I don't believe the 'Kate Oates was sad' bit.

Parasocial Interaction?

Have never heard of that before but it explains my love for Herr Flick off Allo Allo!

Sammy Winward knew Katie's days on the show were numbered once she was paired off with drippy Adam (a character she'd barely ever spoken to) so she jumped before she was pushed by Kate Oates.

Tiffany Mitchell

I'll never get over this mistake. I've accepted it but I'll always be bitter.

Source?


I think this one is partly two sides of the same coin. It was a devastating loss for such a lovely and sad character, but at the same time it was an iconic period for the show. I mean here we are, talking about it 18 years later! That said, can you ever imagine a new EE character with anything like the depth of Tiffany now?

The comments were just my own personal observations taken from how far and how quickly Katie was demoted as a character under Kate Oates.
In a blink she was taken from Home Farm to being dumped with Adam.

Stuart Blackburn was the boss when Katie was at Home Farm, Kate Oates when Katie got with Adam. Different producers have different visions, some are interested in certain characters and some aren't. From the way Sammy spoke about her departure, it actually sounds like she'd been thinking about it for a long time. I don't think someone who'd been there as long as she did would be given the boot, personally, especially as Sammy was hugely popular on set. What annoys me is that Katie was killed off - Sammy didn't want that and neither did Charlie Hardwick (Val). Kate Oates didn't care. IMO that's just a basic lack of respect and it has damaged Emmerdale in the long run.

If I recall correctly Blackburn put Katie and Declan together but Oates spilt them up straight after tak:ng charge. Kate Oates was taking a lot of notice of who and who were not popular on here. She axed Dom and Daughter, Spencers and getting Katie our of Home Farm. I do agree that Katie then being put with Adam was the beginning of the end for Katie as far as Oates was concerned. Producers have the right to get rid of anyone no matter how long a character has been there or how popular the actor is on set.

Nice selective context you have there. She did not axe the Spencers per se: Sean decided to leave. Kelli Hollis (Ali) had been ill offscreen for sometime and had also decided to leave. With those two gone it was only logical to axe Ruby. Dan and Amelia are both Spencers and still very much in Emmerdale. Kate Oates did not get rid of Katie, Sammy Winward decided to leave. If you're going to make a point, don't make stuff up.

Sorry to hear Kelli Hollis has been ill

Yeah, I think that's probably why she left. Before her final storyline she was off Emmerdale for quite some time if you recall. She couldn't be involved in the helicopter crash storyline because she was ill then. No idea how she's doing though, she's a very private person by all accounts.

7 years.. still not over it and still can't watch that scene

Not sure that she was actually leaving, I heard she wanted time off to do another Karin Young play tour. Sammy Winward also only wanted a break.
Kate Oates wouldn't know how to be sad, not about another person.