Former Emmerdale star Caroline Harker has stunned fans with her new television role, appearing in the Sky drama War as a character described as "very different" from her soap villain.
Viewers of the ITV soap will remember Harker's character Dr Caitlin Todd, who blackmailed Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) earlier this year over the true parentage of baby Leyla Sugden. The doctor extorted £100,000 from the Woolpack co-owner, leaving Charity desperate. The storyline took a sinister turn when Todd sexually assaulted Charity at Jacobs Fold. Charity reported the incident to police but could not secure charges without evidence.
Dr Todd's dramatic exit from the Dales
Todd returned to the village in August, where she met an accidental death at the hands of Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), according to the Daily Star. After discovering the doctor had assaulted her grandmother, Sarah shoved Todd towards the front entrance at Jacobs Fold. Todd stumbled on a rug and struck her head on the corner of a table, dying of a fatal head injury on the floor.
Charity subsequently accepted responsibility, with Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) assisting in manufacturing evidence. Following the revelation that Charity and Ross Barton (Michael Parr) were Leyla's biological parents, Sarah lied to authorities, leading to Charity's arrest and current imprisonment. The youngster has since changed her mind and is now blackmailing Serena and DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge) to secure her grandmother's exoneration.
New role in Sky's War
While Charity waits to learn her fate, Harker has been spotted on television in a "very different" role. She is currently starring in the new Sky drama War, alongside Sienna Miller and Dominic West. The legal drama chronicles a high-stakes divorce dispute between tech billionaire Morgan Henderson and film star Carla Duval. The synopsis adds: "When ambitious lawyer Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux) is drawn into the case, he enters a ruthless world where every decision could make or break careers, reputations, and lives."
The eight-part opening season is currently broadcasting on Sky in the UK. A follow-up series has already been greenlit, with Marissa Tomei, Kelly Macdonald and David Harewood confirmed to star. Harker portrays Harriet Croft in a single episode. Harriet is the mother of Bella Croft, played by Honor Swinton Byrne, who works as a public relations executive and serves as Johnny Warren's much wealthier partner.
Fans react to Caroline Harker's new role
Soap enthusiasts were quick to express their astonishment at seeing Caroline play a less villainous character following her stint in the Dales. One Reddit user wrote: "Todd's in Sky Atlantic's War." Another added: "Oh, amazing! Good to see Caroline Harker playing a goodie this time. Different from what she was!!" A third said: "Yes, I spotted her! Also been rewatching Slow Horses series 3 and both her and Kev were in it." Someone else noted their surprise at seeing the star play a "goodie", while another simply wrote: "Great actress".
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, while War is airing on Sky Atlantic.
