Before his passing in 2019, Emmerdale star Godfrey James opened up about the intense and often shocking reactions he received from fans 

due to his portrayal of the villainous Harry Mowlam. 

Although his role in the ITV soap was brief, spanning just three years from 1983 to 1986, 

the impact he had on viewers was long-lasting, with many expressing their anger towards the character in unexpected and sometimes violent ways.

Harry Mowlam was a character that viewers loved to hate. As a ruthless farmer and quarry owner, Harry’s behavior was deplorable—he mistreated animals, 

committed armed robbery, and terrorized the residents of Emmerdale. 

His despicable actions led him to become one of the most reviled characters on the show during his time in the village. Harry’s misdeeds didn’t stop there, as he also attempted to run over Jackie Merrick (Ian Sharrock) and made inappropriate sexual advances toward Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers).

It didn’t take long for the character’s villainous nature to resonate with the audience. While James was playing a part, viewers were not able to separate the actor from the role, and many found it difficult to dissociate the negative traits of the character from the actor portraying him. This led to Godfrey James facing aggression and hostility from fans on the street, with some going as far as physically attacking him.

In an interview with The Mirror, James shared how he struggled with the extreme reactions to his role. He revealed that he was often accosted by fans wherever he went, and sometimes the responses were downright hostile. “Old ladies have spat at me, and I have nearly been assaulted a few times,” he admitted. Despite the shocking nature of these encounters, James was understanding of the public’s anger. “I can understand it,” he continued, “Harry Mowlam is a really nasty piece of work. He’s by far the most dreadful character I’ve ever played.”

James compared his character’s villainous nature to that of other notorious TV villains, saying that Harry was far worse than famous “bad guys” like J.R. Ewing from Dallas. He explained that Harry’s actions were so extreme that the character became infamous not only on Emmerdale but in the wider television world. “He knocks the spot off J.R. or any of the other so-called nasties,” James remarked. His comments highlight just how memorable and despised Harry Mowlam became during his time on the soap.

Despite playing one of the most despicable characters on television, James maintained that he was quite the opposite in real life. In fact, he humorously described himself as a “pussycat at heart,” underscoring the vast difference between his personal nature and the cruel persona he portrayed on screen. James’s ability to separate his off-screen self from his on-screen roles speaks to the complexities of being a character actor, particularly when playing a role that generates such strong emotions from the public.

Harry Mowlam’s storyline came to a tragic and violent end in 1986 when he was killed by his partner-in-crime, Derek Warner (Dennis Blanch), after his reckless behavior and flaunting of his ill-gotten wealth began to put their criminal activities in jeopardy. Derek, fearing that the police would uncover their role in a robbery, ultimately murdered Harry, though he later confessed to the crime after Matt Skilbeck (Fredrick Pyne) was wrongfully blamed for the death. Harry’s departure from Emmerdale marked the end of Godfrey James’s time on the show, but his portrayal of the character left a lasting impression on both the fictional world of Emmerdale and its real-world audience.

After his time on Emmerdale, James continued to work in television and film, making appearances in productions such as Out of Order (1987), Piccolo Grande Amore (1993), and Coronation Street (1997), where he played Sam Briscoe, the chairman of a travel agency. His career also included roles in A Very Peculiar Practice and Crime Traveller, both of which showcased his versatility as an actor.

Godfrey James passed away in October 2019 at the age of 88 in Eastbourne, but his legacy as Harry Mowlam lives on in the minds of Emmerdale fans. His candid reflections on the extreme reactions he faced from the public remind us of the intense emotional connections viewers can form with fictional characters and the powerful impact actors can have, whether for good or ill. Despite the challenges he faced during and after his time on Emmerdale, James’s contribution to British television continues to be remembered and appreciated by fans worldwide.

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