10 November 2023 , 10:23
472
0
Samantha Giles has broken her silence on her sudden exit from Emmerdale after playing Bernice Blackstock on the popular ITV programme for 25 years.
She first appeared all the way back in 1998 and has had four stints, exiting three times since her arrival in the Dales in the late nineties.
Her much-loved character goes on the run in upcoming scenes leading up to her exit after falling £20,000 in debt. But Bernice's final episodes are thought to feature the side-splitting comedy aspect Samantha says she's learned to love.
Speaking ahead of her exit, she admitted: "I love the comedy. I wouldn't have been able to have played the character for so long if it hadn’t been for the light relief. She's a complete fantasist, which I love about her." Her exit was confirmed last month when Samantha revealed she was making an ever so slight career change.
Samantha first joined Emmerdale back in 1998 (Mark Bruce / ITV)"I'm sad to be leaving colleagues and I loved getting my hair and make-up done every day, I shall miss that! I am already missing that, just look at my hair," she revealed. "The routine of going to work too; it takes a while to realise you have to create a whole new routine for yourself, it's great in some ways as it’s very liberating and creative, but then obviously one does miss not earning regular money too.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
"But I think it is not good to get too caught up in financial things, of course we all need to earn money, but if you are a creative person you have to feel you can spread your wings too and paint a different picture each day, rather than just the same painting day after day." Samantha says her Emmerdale exit is due to a new job in theatre.
After news she'll be starring in Cinderella at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre, she explained: "I'd love just to be working on a variety of things really, theatre, tv, my books. I'm someone who needs to be challenged and I love being busy, so fingers crossed the universe will send me stuff and send me places where I need to be."
Last month she discussed her exit on This Morning with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. Towards the end of their chat, she was asked if she was leaving the soap. She confirmed that she was and hadn't announced it officially yet, but would be heading off for a different career for the time being.
Previously, Samantha has opened up to The Mirror about her experience with the menopause. Telling us, she said: "I think it is important to be open about stuff like that, because someone else might think, 'I was feeling like that, too'. Sometimes it just reminds you that, actually, you're not going mad, it's just hormones."
Bernice also revealed what she enjoys away from the soap, adding: "I like exercise and I do yoga at home. As a family, we like to go out for walks but my eldest isn't so keen now. We do love to travel, but I imagine this will be the last year my eldest will come on holiday. We might plump for somewhere like France, she likes French at school so hopefully she'll be keener as she can practise!"