Edna Birch is the sharp-tongued, hat-wearing Emmerdale villager who became a fan favourite
Edna was prickly but everyone loved her!
Edna Birch lived in Emmerdale for 15 years, rubbing just about everyone up the wrong way, ruffling feathers, making blunt comments and bringing a lot of drama – and humour – with her.
Plus there was her devotion to her dogs Tootsie and Batley.
Despite (or maybe because of!) her sharp-tongue, Edna was a firm fan favourite.
Here’s the lowdown on her time in the village.
Edna Birch v Ashley Thomas
Edna had lived in the Emmerdale village for many years when she first appeared on screen, clashing with vicar Ashley Thomas over his choice of girlfriend! Edna didn’t approve of Ashley getting together with barmaid Bernice Blackstock and she made her feelings VERY clear.
In fact, Edna made her feelings about all sorts of things very clear! Len Reynolds fell for her, but she told him she didn’t feel the same, only to be extremely disgruntled when he started spending time with Pearl Ladderbanks instead.
But then when Pearl’s son turned out to be a convicted rapist, Edna defended her friend to the rest of the village.
In fact, she became firm friends with Pearl, Len, Sandy and Betty.
So she wasn’t all bad!
Edna’s family
Edna’s granddaughter Eve came to the village to live with her grandmother. Eve was trouble! She was involved in a hit-and-run accident, that killed her teacher. Eve’s boyfriend Marc Reynolds took the blame and Eve managed to convince her blinkered grandmother that he was the bad influence.
But when Edna’s friend Betty spotted Eve kicking Edna’s dog Batley, Edna finally realised the truth about her granddaughter. She threw her out and sent her to live with her dad Peter in France.
Edna and Lily
A few years later, Edna went to Eve’s wedding blessing and met Peter and her estranged sister, Lily.
It turned out that Lily was Peter’s real mum. Edna had brought him up as her own. When Edna’s friend Tom King found out the truth he used it to blackmail poor Mrs Birch into keeping his secrets about the show home explosion. It ended the pair’s friendship and led Edna to reveal the truth to Peter – which didn’t go well.
But Edna and Lily, who were polar opposites, did mend their relationship and Lily stayed in the village for a while (causing trouble!).
Eve returned to the village later. Though she hadn’t changed her ways! She had an affair with Carl King causing his fiancee Chas Dingle to jilt him at the altar and humiliate Eve into the bargain! Much to Edna’s disgust.
Edna and her dogs
When Tootsie got ill, devoted Edna spent all her money on the mutt’s medical bills.
In fact, she spent so much on her dog that Jimmy eventually found her unconscious, having been unable to afford food or heating.
Though she was reluctant at first, Edna got help from her friends in the village.
Edna’s husband and Lawrence White
Edna was a widow. But she was hiding a secret about her husband Harold. She confided in Aaron Dingle that Harold had been gay – at a time when it was still illegal – and had married her as a convenience to hide his sexuality.
She told Aaron that Harold had a lover called Lawrence White. Edna had reported the couple to the police, Lawrence had been arrested and she believed he had killed himself in prison. Edna’s friend Sandy Thomas tried to find Lawrence’s grave to give her closure but wasn’t able – because Lawrence was still alive!
He visited Edna and the pair made peace, though she wasn’t overly happy when he moved to the village.
Edna’s death
Edna went to stay with her sister Lily in Bournemouth, hiding the fact that she’d been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
But Ashley got a call from a hospital telling him Edna’s condition had worsened. He and Laurel went to visit and returned with Tootsie, bringing the sad news that Edna had died.
Tootsie went to live with Harriet Finch, who did Edna’s funeral ceremony.
Edna’s hat
Edna had a distinctive appearance, with her round hat and buttoned-up coat.
She wore her hat because actress Shirley Stelfox, who played Edna, had long blonde hair that the Emmerdale bosses thought didn’t suit Edna’s character!
In the 15 years Edna was on screen in Emmerdale, she only appeared without her hat a couple of times.
The most famous time was when she was in hospital after being run over by Sam Dingle.
For a while some of the Emmerdale cast members including Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy, Tom Lister (AKA Carl King) and Sian Reese-Williams (Gennie Walker) had a band, which was called Edna’s Hat!
Shirley Stelfox was the accomplished actress who played Edna Birch in Emmerdale from 2000 until 2015.
Edna became a fan fave, and was an important part of the village – and a lot of the drama that took place there!
Shirley Stelfox was already a familiar face to telly viewers when she took on the role of Edna – though Edna’s distinctive hat meant it sometimes took fans a while to work out where they knew her from. The hat hid Shirley’s striking and very recognisable long, blonde hair!
Shirley’s television roles
Shirley was the original actress to play Rose in Keeping Up Appearances. She was the man-eating sister of snobby Hyacinth, played by Patricia Routledge. But Shirley was so in demand that in later series of the show her commitments meant Rose was played by Mary Millar.
Soap fans will know Shirley played another man-eater – Madge Richmond in Brookside, in the 1980s. And she also appeared in EastEnders as Mel Healy’s mum, Jane. She came to Walford for Mel’s (ill-fated!) wedding to Ian Beale.
Plus she appeared in Coronation Street several times over the years firstly in 1964 as a groupie, and lastly as a guest-house landlady in the 1990s.
Shirley Stelfox on film
Shirley also won acclaim for her appearances on stage, and in film.
She appeared in Personal Services with Julie Walters. In the film, Julie Walters played brothel madam Cynthia Payne, while Shirley played her whip-cracking friend!
But it was Edna who made Shirley into a household name – even though before she took on the role she’d resisted staying too long in any one job.
“For most of my career, I would never agree to do anything long-term,” she said. “I wanted to do every medium and every role, from Greek tragedy to Shakespeare through to farce and everything in between. But, with Edna, I liked the role and I like the people I am working with.”
Shirley’s family life
Shirley Stelfox was married twice. She had a daughter Helena with her first husband, Keith Edmundson. In 1979 she married actor Don Henderson who died in 1997.
Shirley died in December 2015.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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