Emmerdale fans were left gobsmacked after catching a glimpse of Harriet Finch actress Katherine Dow Blyton in an ITV thriller.

Fans of the soap will remember Harriet as the former policewoman and vicar of St Mary’s Church, a role she played intermittently from 2013 to 2021. She also served as a mother figure to her ex-stepdaughter, Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley).

In a tragic turn of events, Harriet met her demise in a horrific quad bike accident during a fierce storm that hit the Dales, marking the soap’s spectacular 50th anniversary episodes in October 2022.

The intense episodes saw a dejected Harriet watch on as her past love, Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), tied the knot with Kim Tate (Claire King).

The situation escalated when Harriet set out to find Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell), who found herself trapped in a barn as she went into premature labour, reports Leeds Live.

While navigating the woods amidst the perilous storm, Harriet lost control of her quad bike, crashing into a tree and tumbling down an embankment.

A subsequent lightning strike ignited the bike’s leaking fuel, resulting in a massive explosion that ultimately claimed Harriet’s life.

After bidding farewell to Emmerdale, actress Katherine has since been seen in the British comedy-drama Brassic, sharing the screen with Joe Gilgun and Michelle Keegan.

Now, more than two years after Harriet’s untimely death, fans were stunned to spot Katherine looking “unrecognisable” in the ITV thriller Malpractice.

The second series, which premiered last weekend (May 4), revolves around an on-call psychiatric registrar who is under investigation after a postnatal check-up takes a deadly turn.

Katherine plays the role of Maria Carter, a midwife responsible for delivering the baby of Rosie (Hannah McClean), a mentally unwell new mother.

Maria made her first appearance at the end of episode one, and viewers soon discovered her hidden rivalry with obstetrics registrar Dr Sophia Hernandez (Selin Hizli).

Upon seeing Katherine’s guest role in the drama, Emmerdale fans quickly expressed their surprise on social media.

One individual posted on Reddit: “It has only been two years and six and a half months since Katherine Dow Blyton, who portrayed Harriet Finch (vicar) in Emmerdale, departed the show on Monday, October 17, 2022. However it was a remarkable revelation to witness her as Maria Carter in ITV’s new miniseries Malpractice.”

Another added: “Did Maria used to be in Emmerdale?” while a third fan observed, “Wow, she looks so different!”