Kath Fox (also Kath Shaughnessy) is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Jan Pearson. She first appeared in the series two episode "Knife Edge", broadcast on 23 December 1999. Kath arrives at Holby City hospital as a Ward Sister. She is characterised as a devout Catholic with high moral values and the over-protective mother of Danny Shaughnessy (Jeremy Edwards). Writers played off her strong faith, often making it centric to various dramatic plots they conjured up for her. Over a four-year period she became a tortured character who had been domestically abused by her husband Simon Shaughnessy (Andrew Dunn). The stigma of a divorce in her religion makes her feel unable to leave him.
She befriends and later falls in love with a priest, Father Michael (Martin Ledwith). Following a near fatal beating from Simon she moved on to a romance with moneyed Terry Fox (Miles Anderson), but their happiness is short-lived because of Terry's terminal cancer. Writers featured her in a euthanasia story, when she agrees to assist him in committing suicide. A feud with her step-daughter Lisa Fox (Luisa Bradshaw-White) was created and Kath found herself standing trial for assisted suicide. Kath was then a regular feature in a controversial serial killer plot, in which patients are murdered by staff nurse Kelly Yorke (Rachel Leskovac). She tries to frame Kath, who lays blame to Kelly's brother Nic Yorke (Liam Garrigan), which results in Kelly stabbing Kath in a near fatal clash.
Following the succession of bleak stories for her character, Pearson decided to leave Holby City. She had made her intentions clear to producers in 2003 and they convinced her to stay for an extra year. The actress requested her unlucky character leave the show amidst a happy ending. Writers introduced Larry Phillips (Dominic Mafham) as Kath's love interest and they move away together. Pearson has stated that Kath became one of the show's best loved characters. Critics of the genre have praised her portrayal of Kath, though Jim Shelley from the Daily Mirror criticised Kath, whom he believed often went against her own faith and morals.
Development
Characterisation
The character first appeared in the series two episode "Knife Edge", which was broadcast on 23 December 1999. 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 an "easy-going and calm nature" which makes her well liked with colleagues and patients. Her Catholicism is referenced in the show. She uses her beliefs to help other characters, such as those who question their faith. Pearson described her character as "rather saintly by nature". She is a "very protective" mother to Danny Shaughnessy (Jeremy Edwards), but her attitude towards him constantly leaves him embarrassed. 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. When Danny leaves home Kath begins to suffer from 'empty nest' syndrome and seeks solace through her working life. Throughout her tenure writers have maintained a troubled personal life for Kath, through various doomed romances and dramatic storylines. Pearson has also described her on-screen counterpart as having "a hard life".
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.