Kathy Barnes
Encyclopedia
Katherine "Kathy" Barnes is a fictional character
from the long-running Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Sarah Jane Buckley
. Kathy arrived in 2005 and in October 2007, it was announced that the character had been written out of the show. She departed in January 2008.
auditioned for the role of Kathy, and went on to secure the role. Buckley was originally signed to an eighteen month contract, but stayed on after. In 2007, however, it was announced that the character would leave after only two years. Speaking entertainment and media website Digital Spy
about Buckley's impending departure, series producer Bryan Kirkwood
said: "Sarah Jane Buckley will also be leaving the show in the coming months. There's a lot happening in with the Barmy Barnes and it's really exciting to give them ever-increasing bonkers storylines. So Kathy will be leaving in a bit of a bonkers story at the beginning of next year, too." A Channel 4
spokesperson added: "Kathy's departure knocks Mike for six, but it's not long before he strikes up a relationship with one of the younger birds in the village."
In 2009, Buckley admitted she would like to see her character return. Speaking to Holy Soap, Buckley explained: "I suggested, and I haven't heard anything back yet, that I should come back, demand to have the babies from Amy and have a young toyboy, which would throw Mike Barnes into a right tizz. I think it would be an amazing storyline for her to come back and cause loads of trouble in the village with this younger man." She continued: "I wish they'd bring [Kathy] back. I had so much more to go with her. I was sad to leave. I didn't want to leave at all. I loved doing the show." When asked whether she thought viewers would be happy to see the character, Buckley said: "I always thought they'd say, 'We're glad you're gone'. But people say they wish she was there because she was that kind of antagonistic element you need sometimes in a soap. Get the campaign going! Get Kathy back. I'd go back tomorrow."
and Kathy met at a young age and fell in love. Kathy discovered she was pregnant with Sarah
. She and Mike pondered whether to put Sarah up for adoption, however they decided to keep her. The pair then married. Kathy was originally born in 1973, however in 2006, she celebrated her 40th birthday. This was due to SORAS.
. Kathy is strictly training Sarah for numerous swimming
contests and a future career in the sport. Sarah feels suffocated by Kathy's pressure and finds support in the form of boyfriend Rhys Ashworth
. Kathy's husband Mike
and their second daughter Amy
then arrive. Kathy sees Sarah's boyfriend Rhys Ashworth
as a threat to her hope of Sarah becoming a swimmer. Kathy then sleeps with Rhys and blackmails him into breaking up with her. During a massive row over Sarah and Rhys getting back together at Mike and Kathy's anniversary party, Gilly Roach
inadvertently shouts out that Rhys and Kathy slept together, in front of Sarah, Amy and Mike. Sarah is hurt and disgusted with Rhys and Kathy, while Amy is left shocked and distressed by the revelation. Mike is furious. Backed up by Amy and Sarah, he orders Kathy to leave, which she does. Kathy returns and gets back together with Mike after the two decide to reconcile for the sake of their daughters. Amy gives birth to Leah Barnes and Kathy feels ashamed. To cover it up, Kathy decides to raise Leah as her own. Kathy leaves to stay with her mother for a short while. In this time, Amy bonds with Leah and declares she wants to raise Leah, she also tells everyone she is Leah's real mother. Kathy realises she will lose Leah and kidnaps her. Eventually Leah is returned to Amy as Kathy moves to her mother's to recover from trauma.
Kathy returns in October 2007, and finds Ste Hay
living with Amy. Kathy and Mike are not happy and throw Ste out. Amy then leaves with Leah and moves in with Ste. Kathy phones the social services which excludes her from her daughter even more. Kathy discovers Sarah and Rhys are back together. Their relationship leads to the start of Kathy's vendetta against the Ashworth family
. The family begins getting strange phone calls, vandalism on their house and even a Tupperware box full of faeces. The Ashworths begin to accuse several people including Ste and even own family members Hannah
and Beth
. Whilst throwing a brick through the window of the Ashworth family business, Drive 'n' Buy, Kathy loses a nail. She goes to Evissa for a manicure and tells Carmel that she took the nail off after it became loose. Carmel turns detective and finds a broken nail outside Drive 'n' Buy. She then reveals Kathy as the vandal. Kathy, Mike, Sarah, Amy and Ste are confronted by Suzanne
, Nev
, Rhys, Josh
, Hannah and Beth. Kathy also gets jealous of Zoe Carpenter
and falsely accuses her and Mike of cheating. Although he had always previously supported Kathy throughout all of her various issues while at Hollyoaks, this accusation, coupled with Kathy's vendetta against the Ashworths, finally proves to be the last straw for Mike. Unable to cope with Kathy's behaviour any longer Mike tells her to leave. When she refuses, Mike throws her out, and Kathy goes to stay with her mother. In January 2008 Mike subsequently files for a divorce.
In October 2009, Sarah dies during a parachute jump. Mike phones Kathy to tell her the bad news. However, she does not attend Sarah's funeral.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the long-running Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
, played by Sarah Jane Buckley
Sarah Jane Buckley
Sarah Jane Buckley is an actress and singer. She is also an ambassador for The Prince's Trust.She was well-known for playing Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks from November 2005 to January 2008. These days, Sarah likes to teach acting, which she does so in workshops held for aspiring young amateur...
. Kathy arrived in 2005 and in October 2007, it was announced that the character had been written out of the show. She departed in January 2008.
Character creation
Actress Sarah Jane BuckleySarah Jane Buckley
Sarah Jane Buckley is an actress and singer. She is also an ambassador for The Prince's Trust.She was well-known for playing Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks from November 2005 to January 2008. These days, Sarah likes to teach acting, which she does so in workshops held for aspiring young amateur...
auditioned for the role of Kathy, and went on to secure the role. Buckley was originally signed to an eighteen month contract, but stayed on after. In 2007, however, it was announced that the character would leave after only two years. Speaking entertainment and media website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
about Buckley's impending departure, series producer Bryan Kirkwood
Bryan Kirkwood (producer)
Bryan Kirkwood is a Scottish-born British television producer. He was the producer of teen Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 until 2009 and has been the executive producer of the BBC soap EastEnders since 2010.- Personal life :...
said: "Sarah Jane Buckley will also be leaving the show in the coming months. There's a lot happening in with the Barmy Barnes and it's really exciting to give them ever-increasing bonkers storylines. So Kathy will be leaving in a bit of a bonkers story at the beginning of next year, too." A Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
spokesperson added: "Kathy's departure knocks Mike for six, but it's not long before he strikes up a relationship with one of the younger birds in the village."
In 2009, Buckley admitted she would like to see her character return. Speaking to Holy Soap, Buckley explained: "I suggested, and I haven't heard anything back yet, that I should come back, demand to have the babies from Amy and have a young toyboy, which would throw Mike Barnes into a right tizz. I think it would be an amazing storyline for her to come back and cause loads of trouble in the village with this younger man." She continued: "I wish they'd bring [Kathy] back. I had so much more to go with her. I was sad to leave. I didn't want to leave at all. I loved doing the show." When asked whether she thought viewers would be happy to see the character, Buckley said: "I always thought they'd say, 'We're glad you're gone'. But people say they wish she was there because she was that kind of antagonistic element you need sometimes in a soap. Get the campaign going! Get Kathy back. I'd go back tomorrow."
Backstory
Mike BarnesMike Barnes (Hollyoaks)
Michael "Mike" Barnes is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Tony Hirst. He first appeared in 2006. In 2010, soap opera magazine Inside Soap reported that the character would leave in late January with love interest Zoe Carpenter...
and Kathy met at a young age and fell in love. Kathy discovered she was pregnant with Sarah
Sarah Barnes
Sarah Barnes is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Loui Batley. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 10 October 2005. Sarah was created by executive producer David Hanson as part of the Barnes family. In 2009 Batley quit the serial in...
. She and Mike pondered whether to put Sarah up for adoption, however they decided to keep her. The pair then married. Kathy was originally born in 1973, however in 2006, she celebrated her 40th birthday. This was due to SORAS.
2005–2008
Kathy is introduced shortly after her daughter Sarah BarnesSarah Barnes
Sarah Barnes is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Loui Batley. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 10 October 2005. Sarah was created by executive producer David Hanson as part of the Barnes family. In 2009 Batley quit the serial in...
. Kathy is strictly training Sarah for numerous swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
contests and a future career in the sport. Sarah feels suffocated by Kathy's pressure and finds support in the form of boyfriend Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Lesley Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Andrew Moss. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 October 2005.-Character creation and casting:...
. Kathy's husband Mike
Mike Barnes (Hollyoaks)
Michael "Mike" Barnes is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Tony Hirst. He first appeared in 2006. In 2010, soap opera magazine Inside Soap reported that the character would leave in late January with love interest Zoe Carpenter...
and their second daughter Amy
Amy Barnes
Amy Barnes is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ashley Slanina-Davies. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 14 November 2005. Amy was created by executive producer David Hanson and Slanina-Davies was offered the role whilst looking for...
then arrive. Kathy sees Sarah's boyfriend Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Lesley Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Andrew Moss. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 October 2005.-Character creation and casting:...
as a threat to her hope of Sarah becoming a swimmer. Kathy then sleeps with Rhys and blackmails him into breaking up with her. During a massive row over Sarah and Rhys getting back together at Mike and Kathy's anniversary party, Gilly Roach
Gilly Roach
Gilbert "Gilly" Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Anthony Quinlan. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 October 2005. Gilly was created in 2005 by executive producer David Hanson. Gilly has often been portrayed as a...
inadvertently shouts out that Rhys and Kathy slept together, in front of Sarah, Amy and Mike. Sarah is hurt and disgusted with Rhys and Kathy, while Amy is left shocked and distressed by the revelation. Mike is furious. Backed up by Amy and Sarah, he orders Kathy to leave, which she does. Kathy returns and gets back together with Mike after the two decide to reconcile for the sake of their daughters. Amy gives birth to Leah Barnes and Kathy feels ashamed. To cover it up, Kathy decides to raise Leah as her own. Kathy leaves to stay with her mother for a short while. In this time, Amy bonds with Leah and declares she wants to raise Leah, she also tells everyone she is Leah's real mother. Kathy realises she will lose Leah and kidnaps her. Eventually Leah is returned to Amy as Kathy moves to her mother's to recover from trauma.
Kathy returns in October 2007, and finds Ste Hay
Ste Hay
Stephen "Ste" Hay is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kieron Richardson. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 February 2006. Ste was created by David Hanson and was originally intended to be a short-term character for seven episodes...
living with Amy. Kathy and Mike are not happy and throw Ste out. Amy then leaves with Leah and moves in with Ste. Kathy phones the social services which excludes her from her daughter even more. Kathy discovers Sarah and Rhys are back together. Their relationship leads to the start of Kathy's vendetta against the Ashworth family
Ashworth family
The Ashworth family are a fictional family in the long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks. Introduced to the show in 2005, The family derives from Manchester and moved to Hollyoaks village in 2005...
. The family begins getting strange phone calls, vandalism on their house and even a Tupperware box full of faeces. The Ashworths begin to accuse several people including Ste and even own family members Hannah
Hannah Ashworth
Hannah Rose Ashworth is a fictional character from long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, played by Emma Rigby. Hannah first appeared on-screen from October 3, 2005 until her exit on February 12, 2010....
and Beth
Beth Clement
Beth Clement is a fictional character from long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sinéad Moynihan. Beth first appeared as a student at Hollyoaks Community College, studying for a nursing degree and was later involved in an incest storyline with half-brother, Rhys Ashworth...
. Whilst throwing a brick through the window of the Ashworth family business, Drive 'n' Buy, Kathy loses a nail. She goes to Evissa for a manicure and tells Carmel that she took the nail off after it became loose. Carmel turns detective and finds a broken nail outside Drive 'n' Buy. She then reveals Kathy as the vandal. Kathy, Mike, Sarah, Amy and Ste are confronted by Suzanne
Suzanne Ashworth
Suzanne Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Suzanne Hall. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 2005. Suzanne was introduced by series producer David Hanson as part of the Ashworth family. In February 2010, Suzanne was axed...
, Nev
Neville Ashworth
Neville "Nev" Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jim Millea. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 3 October 2005 and was created by David Hanson...
, Rhys, Josh
Josh Ashworth
Joshua Josh Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sonny Flood. He dedbuted on-screen during the episode airing on 3 October 2005 and left on 14 July 2010, after his character was axed by executive producer Paul Marquess...
, Hannah and Beth. Kathy also gets jealous of Zoe Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Zoë Lister. The character first appeared on-screen on 1 September 2006, as one of three new students at Hollyoaks Community College. It was announced in 2009 that Lister had quit her role in order to...
and falsely accuses her and Mike of cheating. Although he had always previously supported Kathy throughout all of her various issues while at Hollyoaks, this accusation, coupled with Kathy's vendetta against the Ashworths, finally proves to be the last straw for Mike. Unable to cope with Kathy's behaviour any longer Mike tells her to leave. When she refuses, Mike throws her out, and Kathy goes to stay with her mother. In January 2008 Mike subsequently files for a divorce.
In October 2009, Sarah dies during a parachute jump. Mike phones Kathy to tell her the bad news. However, she does not attend Sarah's funeral.
External links
- Character profile on the E4 website