Emmerdalestar Shirley Stelfox has revealed that her screen alter ego, impoverished pensioner Edna Birch, is set for a difficult start to the new year. Viewers have seen the character struggling to make ends meet after being saddled with huge vet's bills to save her dog Tootsie - and things aren't going to get any better as 2012 ends. "I think 2013 is going to start fairly grimly for Edna," Shirley admitted. "To start with she is really cold and hungry, then presumably the credit card will need its repayments making. Plus Edna has ongoing enormous vet's bills, plus her general bills. "Then there is the buying of food for both herself and Tootsie. Tootsie being ill needs to be kept healthy and fed well. Hopefully things will start to improve for her as the year goes on, although I have a feeling things may get worse first." Shirley added that she hopes the villagers may come to Edna's assistance, given that she is too proud to admit she needs help. "Hopefully this story about Edna's incredible pride will make people see that all she needs to do is ask for help," Shirley said. "It is so simple. "People around her and in the village do care, or rather would care if they just knew her plight. Edna needs to open up and be less stubborn. She needs to realise that asking for help is not an admission of failure - it is just circumstance."
