Body found in search for Channel 4 star who vanished 24 hours ago

Chaplain Katherine Watson.
-Credit: (Image: No credit)


A tragic discovery has been made in the search for Channel 4 personality Katherine Watson, known from the TV series Geordie Hospital, who went missing yesterday.

The former army officer, 50, affectionately referred to as Katie, was last spotted in Newcastle on Thursday afternoon. Northumbria Police have now confirmed that a body has been found during the search and her family has been notified.

In their latest statement, they announced: "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.", reports the Mirror.

"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 had joined the army at 18 in 1992, undergoing basic training at the Army Women's Training Centre in Guilford before proceeding to the Royal Military Police trade training in Chichester.

In the 1990s, Katie served two operational tours in Bosnia and Croatia, before being deployed as a searcher Corporal in Northern Ireland. After leaving the Army in 2002, she trained with Humberside Probation and later took an NHS placement in Newcastle, where she eventually became head of chaplaincy in 2022.

Following the news of her disappearance, tributes poured in on social media from former colleagues. A now-retired colleague posted: "For many of us at Newcastle Hospitals she was our rock during the worst parts of the Covid Pandemic."

Another paid homage by saying she was "one of the most wonderful women I have had the pleasure of knowing".