Edna Birch
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| Emmerdale character | |
 |
|
| Edna Birch | |
|---|---|
| Played by | Shirley Stelfox |
| Duration | 2000- |
| Date of birth | 21st April 1937 |
| Date of death | |
| Marital status | Widowed |
| Occupation | Retired |
| Family | Peter, Eve, Lily |
Edna Birch is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She is played by Shirley Stelfox.
[edit] About Edna
In a village marred by affairs, double-crossing and sin, widow Edna Birch is a lone paragon of virtue. She arrived in Emmerdale in 2000.
Strong-minded and sharp-tongued, Edna is the sort of woman who will tell people exactly what she thinks of them to their faces.
So it was quite a shock when god fearing Edna formed a close friendship with Jason Kirk, a gay man married to a straight woman.
She may have a vicious temper, but Edna has a good heart, which is demonstrated by her devotion to her friends and her beloved dogs.
As a devout parishioner, Edna was horrified when vicar Ashley Thomas began dating pub landlady Bernice Blackstock and was one of a group of people who outwardly opposed the match.
A woman of contradictions, Edna was the only person to stand up for Len Reynolds and Pearl Ladderbanks when Pearl's son, a convicted rapist, Frank Bernard Hartbourne came to stay with them.
Her unwavering friendship helped them decide to stay in Emmerdale when everyone else had nearly driven them out. Len and Edna are old friends and once it looked like a flicker of romance might be brewing between them.
In fact, Len once told Edna that he had fallen for her - only to be met with fury from the object of his affections.
Not that Edna was pleased when he took up with Pearl. Since the flamboyant pensioner was her absolute opposite it took Edna a long time to warm to her. But now they’re firm friends.
Edna’s closest companions in her life have been her dogs Batley and Tootsie. When Batley fell ill, Edna was absolutely heartbroken and it took a long time for her to get over his death. Tootsie has bought a lot of sunshine back into Edna’s life.
She was ashamed to learn that her grandmother was a prostitute and for a while hid away from the rest of the villagers in shame.
But she got even more of a purpose when she took a job working for local millionaire Tom King. An unlikely duo, Tom and Edna have become pretty close pals.
Knowing he can rely on her completely, Tom trusts Edna implicitly and often turns to her for advice. Taking the King company in hand proved to be quite difficult for Edna, though.
She clashed repeatedly with the sleazy Jimmy King and ruthless Matthew King and even quit the company for good when Tom retired.
Fortunately, now Tom is running Home Farm estates, he’s in need of Edna’s services there and she’s back in business.
She may not approve of some of his business decisions, but Edna believes Tom to be a good man.
Edna is also known to almost always wear her hat. She only takes it off for special occasions, like Seth Armstrong's funeral.
On 1st March 2007. Edna's dog, Tootsie was not feeling herself, Billy Hopwood noticed this and Edna telephoned to Hari Prasad (the Vet) Hari made a home visit and found Tootsie was in labour and close to giving birth. Edna did not know that Tootsie was pregnant till then. Later on two healthy full-term puppies were delivered. Edna was shocked.
[edit] Family
- Sister: Lily Butterfield
- Husband: Harold Birch (deceased)
- Nephew: Peter Birch
- Great Niece : Eve Birch
