Police said a body found has been found in the search for Channel 4 star Katherine Watson who appeared in TV series Geordie Hospital and vanished on Thursday
A body found has been found in the search for Channel 4 star Katherine Watson who disappeared yesterday.
The 50-year-old ex-army officer, often known as Katie, who appeared in the TV series Geordie Hospital, was last seen in the Newcastle area on early Thursday afternoon. Now, Northumbria Police has revealed a body has been found in the search for the star and her next of kin have been informed.
They said in an update on X: “We have some sad news to share with you. We have sadly found a body in the search for missing Newcastle woman Katherine Watson.
“The 50-year-old, also known as Katie, was reported missing yesterday. Extensive searches have been carried out since then to locate her.
“Sadly, this morning a body was discovered in the Jesmond Dene area. Formal identification has yet to take place, however it is believed to be Katherine. Her next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by specially-trained officers.
“This is an incredibly sad outcome and our thoughts are with Katherine’s loved-ones at this difficult time. We continue to support them and we ask that their privacy is respected. Thank you to everyone who supported our search for Katherine.”
Katie previously served in the army, having joined at the age of 18 in 1992. She completed basic training at Army Women’s Training Centre in Guilford before moving on to undertake trade training with the Royal Military Police at Chichester.
In the 1990s Katie completed two operational tours to Bosnia and Croatia, and was later deployed as a searcher Corporal in Northern Ireland. In 2002 she left the Army and trained with Humberside Probation, before going on an NHS placement in Newcastle five years later. She stayed on permanently and became head of chaplaincy in 2022.
Following news of her disappearance, a now-retired former colleague wrote on social media: “For many of us at Newcastle Hospitals she was our rock during the worst parts of the Covid Pandemic.” Another described her as “one of the most wonderful women I have had the pleasure of knowing”.
