A star of Channel 4's Geordie Hospital has gone missing with police appealing for witnesses.
Katherine Watson, who also goes by Katie, is a 50-year-old ex-army officer who hasn't been seen since Thursday afternoon in the Newcastle area.
She appeared on UK TV screens as part of the Channel 4 documentary series "where NHS staff do extraordinary work around the clock to transform lives".
Issuing the appeal for information, Northumbria Police's X account shared the following thread of posts on Thursday evening: "#MISSING Have you seen #Newcastle woman Katherine Watson?
"The 50-year-old was last seen in the Heaton Road area at around 1pm today, and we're growing increasingly concerned for her welfare."
Northumbria Police confirmed "searches are ongoing to locate Katherine" before sharing a description of Watson's appearance.
#MISSING Have you seen #Newcastle woman Katherine Watson?
— Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) September 19, 2024
The 50-year-old was last seen in the Heaton Road area at around 1pm today, and we're growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/Nmlha5Zm9c
Watson is "a white woman, around 5ft 6ins in height, of slim build, with short light grey hair".
The posts continued: "Katherine was last seen wearing a green hat, a back pack, with dark trousers and a dark hooded top.
"She has a number of tattoos on her arms, as well as a military tattoo on her chest.
"She has links to the #Heaton and #Jesmond areas of #Newcastle – but could have travelled further afield."
Encouraging anyone with information to come forward, the appeal concluded: "Any info? Please get in touch by sending us a direct message, using the live chat function or report forms on our website, or by calling 101 quoting reference: NP-20240919-0717."
Watson, who is also known as Reverend Captain Katie Watson, joined the army when she was 18 and served in Bosnia, Croatia and Northern Ireland.
Watson made an impact with Channel 4 viewers when she appeared on Geordie Hospital alongside her staff welfare hound, Poppy.
Those who knew Watson soon joined the appeal on social media as they encouraged fellow X users to share Northumberland Police's statement "far and wide".
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Actress Jill Halfpenny narrated Channel 4's Geordie Hospital in which Katherine Watson starred
PA
Praise and hopeful messages have poured in for Watson, including from one X user who described Watson as "the most wonderful woman I’ve the pleasure of knowing".
A second said Watson is "an incredible woman who has helped so many staff and patients".
And a third echoed the sentiment as she branded the Geordie Hospital star "a wonderful person and is loved by so many".