Samantha Giles addresses Emmerdale exit and explains why she said yes to return as Bernice

Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles) makes an empathic return to Emmerdale next week.

The stalwart departed the ITV soap in sad scenes almost two years ago, after discovering that her ex-husband needed her in Australia.

In real life, actress Samantha had made the decision to leave, in order to ‘pursue other projects’.

‘I certainly needed to have a break,’ the soap star told Metro.co.uk. ‘I was doing a lot of writing.

‘The travelling was becoming absolutely impossible. In my last two or three weeks before I finished 18 months ago, I had some horrendous journeys – some of the worst journeys ever – because I travel from Liverpool.

‘It was just awful, so it reiterated to me that it was the right time to go. But you don’t know what’s around the corner, do you? Especially when you’re freelance.’

Yes 18 months later, and Samantha is all set to make a dramatic return to the Dales.

But just what was it that made her decide to step into Bernice’s iconic stilettos once more?

‘When this opportunity came up, it seemed like a good thing to do,’ the soap star explained. ‘The character had a lot of stuff going on to be coming back for, so I said: “Yes, why not!”

Bernice sets foot back in the village in explosive scenes next week, and her unannounced arrival causes quite the stir – especially where ex-fiancé Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) in concerned!

Yes, upon setting his sights on Bernice, the village’s resident GP believes that he’s seen an apparition!

The question is: is Bernice still in love with Liam? And will she do whatever it takes to win him back?

‘I don’t really think she is [still in love with him], explains Samantha. ‘She moved on quite quickly when she went to Australia and forgot about him.

‘I think that coming back, it’s more to do with her pride: the fact that he is with somebody else. “How dare he?” – that he should be falling at her feet begging her forgiveness and to try again, but he’s not.

‘And I think that’s what irks her more than any genuine feeling. I don’t really think Bernice knows what real love is, actually.’

One to watch: Thursday May 27 at 7pm on ITV.

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