Edna Birch was a long-time resident of Emmerdale and was certainly a staple of it. She first appeared in 2000, but had been living in the village for years beforehand. Edna was a woman of faith, devoutly Christian, and strongly standing by her beliefs, she would often voice her opposition to the goings-on in the village. Edna wasn't up for extended conversation, and she was often reclusive in the village, so her true companions over the years, were her beloved dogs, Batley, and Tootsie. Edna made her final appearance in October 2015, and she died seven months later in May 2016. She was 79 years old.