Emmerdale Star Returns with a New Villainous Role
A well-known actress from the world of British television is set to return to Emmerdale in a new and compelling storyline, this time taking on a more villainous role. The star has previously appeared on various popular soaps and dramas, making her a familiar face to many viewers.
The actress, who has been seen in series such as A Touch of Frost and Midsomer Murders, last made an appearance on the ITV series in 2025 with a guest role. Now, she is back for a more extended stint, reviving her character, Doctor Todd, in a storyline that explores themes of workplace bullying and power dynamics.
Caroline Harker, who plays Doctor Todd, will be taking on the role of a boss to trainee doctor Jacob Sugden, played by Joe Warren Plant. Despite being a bright and ambitious young doctor, Jacob’s professional life is about to become a battlefield. Doctor Todd returns with a vengeance, quickly finding fault with Jacob and relentlessly critiquing his work.
The storyline will follow Jacob as he struggles to maintain a balance between his personal and professional life under the increasing pressure from his boss, who keeps a watchful eye on him. The tension escalates further when Doctor Todd starts to insert herself into the day-to-day life of the village, blurring the lines between Jacob’s professional and private life.
Caroline Harker shared her excitement about returning to Emmerdale: “I’m delighted to be back at Emmerdale for a longer stint playing Doctor Todd. She’s a complex character and from what I’ve been told so far, quite a tricky one for Jacob to navigate. Workplace bullying is commonplace, and it will be interesting to see it brought to our screens in a serial drama such as Emmerdale.”
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw added: “We are looking forward to seeing the machinations of someone like Caitlin Todd, and it’s not just at the hospital where she will start to make an impression. Caroline is a fabulous actor and brings such great experience to this role – we can’t wait for her to play out what we have planned for the character.”
This return comes after fans were left surprised when they realized why they recognized Dr Caitlin Todd from. The health professional first appeared in the ITV soap as part of the hour-long A&E special at the beginning of 2025. The episode saw medical student Jacob Gallagher, played by Joe-Warren Plant, experiencing his first day of work placement at Hotten General Hospital.
One particular scene saw Dr Todd confronting Jacob after he made a significant mistake, leading him to question whether he truly wanted to be a doctor. While the doctor was on screen, some fans were distracted, trying to identify the actress behind the role.
One fan took to Reddit to figure it out, and Caroline Harker was quickly revealed. They asked on the discussion forum website: “Who played the white-haired Dr Todd in tonight’s episode?” One reply noted: “Recently she was in Joan – she was the posh lady they stole the painting from.”
Caroline’s character in Joan, Ms Taylor Brown, had a painting stolen off her by Joan (Sophie Turner).
Caroline shot to fame in the 90s and has appeared in various popular TV shows over the years. She played Claire Jarrett in Doctors, Imogen White in Holby City, and Alicia Davenport in Corrie. She has also been in Ten Percent, Midsomer Murders, Foyle’s War, and Toast of Tinseltown. Others may remember her as W.P.C. Hazel Wallace in A Touch of Frost.
Caroline has also appeared in a number of films, including Mothering Sunday, The Croft, and The Madness of King George.
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 8pm on ITV1 and streams from 7am on ITVX.
