Kath Fox

Kath was a respected and excellent Ward Sister. She was resolute in the face of anything life threw at her. She had a calm nature which made people warm to her. A devout Catholic, she had her faith tested many times. After a number of traumas, she left Holby for pastures new with Architect Larry.[1]

— An excerpt from Kath's profile on the official Holby City website.

The character first appeared in the series two episode "Knife Edge", which was broadcast on 23 December 1999.[2] Kath is characterised as a "devout Catholic" and her strong faith causes her issues with a series of relationships writers created for her. She has a "easy-going and calm nature" which makes her well liked with colleagues and patients.[3] Her Catholicism is referenced in the show. She uses her beliefs to help other characters, such as those who question their faith.[4] Pearson described her character as "rather saintly by nature".[5] She is a "very protective" mother to Danny Shaughnessy (Jeremy Edwards), but her attitude towards him constantly leaves him embarrassed.[3] Kath struggled to come to terms with Danny growing up and becoming independent. She interferes in his work life and he becomes irritated with her. Following an "emotional confrontation" he decides to move out.[6] When Danny leaves home Kath begins to suffer from 'empty nest' syndrome and seeks solace through her working life.[3] Throughout her tenure writers have maintained a troubled personal life for Kath, through various doomed romances and dramatic storylines.[3] Pearson has also described her on-screen counterpart as having "a hard life".[7]

Pearson found challenging to play a character as "resolutely nice" as Kath is. She said that she is completely different to more "edgy" roles she has played previously. While Pearson states she is completely unlike Kath, she uses her own experiences to play her. She was once a teacher at a Sunday school and used this when portraying Kath's religious aspects.[8]

One of Kath's early issue lead stories was becoming the victim of domestic abuse from her husband Simon Shaughnessy (Andrew Dunn).[3] Initially Kath develops feelings for her colleague, the consultant general surgeon Mike Barratt (Clive Mantle). When they attend a course together they almost share a kiss. This tests Kath's faith and she decides to distance herself from him.[3] Kath briefly break up with Simon, but he convinces her to return with the promise of counselling sessions.[9] Simon tries to change his ways but his aggression towards Kath heightens the following month. She then bonds with a patient named Linda (Sonia Beinroth) whose husband has attacked her.[10] Simon had long been aggressive towards Kath but it was only when she was admitted to the hospital following a "severe beating", would her colleagues discover the abuse.[3] It happens after she becomes close with the on-site priest Father Michael (Martin Ledwith), which makes Simon jealous. When Father Michael drops Kath off at home following a church service, Simon beats Kath up and she is rushed into the hospital for emergency surgery.[11] Danny becomes desperate to protect Kath from his father. He and Father Michael secure and decorate a new flat for Kath to live in when she is discharged.[12] Father Michael gives Kath the courage to leave Simon for good. But their relationship cannot progress because both of their commitments to religion. Father Michael offers to leave the church but Kath believes it is wrong and ends their relationship.[3]

The story was "very exciting" and a "challenge" to play for Pearson. To prepare for the plot, she researched the issue with social works who had experience working with domestic abuse victims. They helped her create the background details for the story. She wanted to talk to victims directly, but later decided it could be too intrusive.[13] She also had to understand why Kath would stay with an abusive husband. Pearson told Andrew Davies from the Birmingham Post that "in Kath's case, the character has been married for 30 years and she's Catholic. That's very important to her - it's more about not wanting to break her vows which she made before God."[13] The actress was happy to be given the storyline because it helped her to explore Kath's homelife. She believed writers had only ever shown Kath to be "strong, kind and centred". Exploring domestic abuse helped viewers understand the character better. Pearson added "to be able to explore what makes her marriage the way it is, what makes her tick, has been great."[13]

Kath's relationship with Father Michael was her favourite storyline. She told a BBC Online reporter that "I liked the idea of her having a saucy relationship with a young man and a priest to boot."[5] Writers devised an ending to the story in October 2002, when Kath files for divorce. When Simon receives the divorce papers he arrives at the hospital and angrily pins Kath up against a wall. She is scared by the encounter but after encouragement from Chrissie Williams (Tina Hobley) she decides to stand up to him.[14]

Luisa Bradshaw-White portrays Lisa Fox, Kath's step-daughter and enemy.

Producers created a story for Kath dealing with the controversial topic of euthanasia. Terry Fox (Miles Anderson) was introduced as the wealthy father of midwife Lisa Fox (Luisa Bradshaw-White). He is diagnosed with cancer and decides to divorce his wife. As Kath is also going through a divorce the pair agree to go on a date. A Daily Record journalist revealed that Kath would be cautious because of Terry's health but is "swayed by his infectious attitude to life." Lisa also becomes suspicious of their new romance.[15]

Kath and Terry decide to get married when he finds out his cancer is terminal. They travel to a coastal holiday home for their honeymoon. Terry convinces Kath to help him commit suicide before spending their final hours together. When he is ready, Kath administers a lethal dose of morphine via a hypodermic needle. But Kath's act of euthanasia is suspected by an interfering neighbour.[16] Lisa suspects that Kath killed her father and reports her to the police.[3] Pearson and Anderson filmed the honeymoon and death scenes in one day. The actress recalled that she had cried that much on set that she barely had clear vision.[5] She later revealed that she found the amount of crying Kath did "exhausting" and added they were her "hardest episodes" to film.[7] Pearson called the storyline a "very serious subject" and found it challenging to portray it correctly.[5]

The police decide to open an investigation into Terry's death and exhume his body for examination. A writer from Inside Soap said the development causes tension on the wards and leaves Kath "distraught".[17] She knows they will discover that she helped Terry to die and Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie) decides to support Kath. He is shocked when evidence mounts that could also implicate him in the investigation. When a needle mark is identified on Terry's body, Kath is arrested on suspicion of murder.[17] Kath is relieved when the murder charge is reduced to assisted suicide. She decides to plead not guilty which angers Lisa. Other staff do not believe that Kath is innocent and Danny rushes to her defense. Lisa confronts him and during an argument he almost hits her which makes Kath's situation worse.[18] At the trial the prosecution begin to bring up aspects of Kath's past to use against her. Chrissie and Danny also testify, and the latter's temper is used to discredit Kath. The jury find Kath not guilty of all charges and she is released.[19]

Writers placed Kath at the center of the show's long-running serial killer storyline, in which Kelly Yorke (Rachel Leskovac) begins killing numerous patients. Kath's role in the story was originally supposed to be played out by Laura Sadler's character Sandy Harper.[20] The actress died before filming her part and producers decided to rewrite the story to feature Kath. Pearson told Claire Brand from Inside Soap that "I felt like I took it over and I was very ambivalent about those scenes."[20] The story culminated in Kelly killing her mother Nina Yorke (Ellie Haddington), brother Nic Yorke (Liam Garrigan) and stabbing Kath.[21] Following a number of patients dying on Keller, a Commission For Health report is published with a scathing review accusing the hospital of gross negligence. Helen Grant (Susannah York) decides to interview staff and find out who is responsible.[22] Kelly is annoyed by the investigation and plots to frame Kath. When she is interviewed Kelly tells Helen that she thinks Kath is at fault. This leads Helen to focus her attention of Kath and they argue.[22] The police and DI Jane Archer (Christine Entwisle) also begin to suspect that Kath is responsible.[23] Following the death of another patient DI Archer returns again. A Liverpool Echo writer revealed that "Kath is particularly worried, having been at the centre of two cases in less than a year."[24]

It is soon discovered that the patients have been killed via an overdose administered via their drips.[25] When Nic finds an unresponsive patient he changes their drip, but Kath catches him. Garrigan told a reporter from Inside Soap that "Kath finds Nic with a syringe in his hand and a dead patient in front of him." Kath raises the alarm they try to revive the patient but are unsuccessful. Kath then reports Nic to DI Archer to clear her name and Nic is arrested for the murders.[25] When Nic is charged with murder Kelly turns her attentions to Kath and begins to take her "frustrations" out on her.[26]

When Kath discovers the truth, Kelly stabs her and leaves her to bleed to death. Zubin Khan (Art Malik) finds Kath and she is rushed to theatre for an operation. They manage to repair the damage and she survives.[27][23] Writers originally planned to have Kath and Kelly involved in a significant fight scene. But it had to be rewritten because the show had previously received complaints about the stabbing of another character previously.[28] Pearson told Brand that "I think the whole killer storyline went on for an awfully long time, it was a good ending."[20]

Dominic Mafham plays Kath's final love interest Larry Phillips.

In December 2003, it was announced that Pearson had decided to leave Holby City to pursue other acting projects.[27] Pearson had originally decided to leave one year prior. She felt that the story with Terry was great end to her character. The show's producers did not want the actress to leave and persuaded her to sign another year long contract.[29] Pearson later publicised her reasons for leaving the show, citing too many "ridiculous" stories written for Kath.[29] She told Emma Cox from the Sunday Mirror that "it got to the point where the writers had to keep out-doing themselves.[29] What the hell are you going to do to top the last big storyline with the serial killer?[29] It was in danger of getting silly."[29]

As Kath had long been used in traumatic stories and Pearson asked producers to create a positive departure story for her character. Viewers were still convinced that Kath would be killed off because of her past stories.[27] Pearson told Roz Laws from the Sunday Mercury that "poor Kath, I don't think she's got any insides left after all her operations." At the time of her departure Kath had become one of the show's most popular characters. Pearson observed that "Kath does have a lot of fans, she seems to be everyone's favourite nurse." She added that viewers would be "glad to hear" about the "happy departure" because Kath "deserves it".[27]

In the build up to her final episodes Kath has a "miserable" Christmas spent inside the hospital. Pearson said that Kath would reminisce about her previous festive season shared with Terry and his subsequent suicide. She added that she would be "sad and lonely" and "terrified" of Kelly being placed in the hospital while she recovers from her injuries received from the explosion.[27] Writers then gifted Kath with a new lover named Larry Phillips (Dominic Mafham), a request made by the actress herself.[29] She wanted Kath to leave with an uncomplicated man who was not abusive, dying or unavailable like her ex-partners. However producers did not want Kath to leave the show because of a romance and they reached a compromise.[29] When Mafham joined the cast he believed that Larry would be another "terrible thing" in Kath's life. He told Laws that Larry seemed "too good to be true" and he expected him to "turn and be really horrible and something nasty happen". But the actor stressed "Larry is so nice" and they have a "happy ending as he and Kath go off together."[30]

Kath's final episode saw her receive a job promotion, only for her to decline the offer and begin a new life elsewhere with Larry.[31] Pearson told Claire Brand from Inside Soap that Kath was happy she got the job because "it's a huge promotion and a massive endorsement of her nursing ability."[20] Kath's decision is made final when she treats a patient in an unorthodox way. Pearson believed dealing with the repercussions and her feeling that she wants to leave the progression become too much.[20] Before she departs Kath decides to make amends with Lisa. Pearson explained that "Kath resolves everything with Lisa and, as a Catholic, it is something that has been bothering her for a long time. She did take Terry's life, and she lied about it, so this is a huge weight lifted for her."[20]