Bernice Thomas

Bernice Blackstock
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Samantha Giles
Duration	1998–2002, 2004, 2012–
First appearance	25 November 1998
Introduced by	Kieran Roberts (1998) Steve Frost (2004) Stuart Blackburn (2012)
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Occupation	Barmaid (1999–2002, 2012–) Pub landlady (1999–2002) Businesswoman (1999–2002)
Home	Mill Cottage
Family Father Rodney Blackstock Mother Diane Sugden Stepmother Maureen Blackstock Half brothers Paul Lambert Half sisters Nicola King Husband Anthony Binns (divorced) Ashley Thomas (2000–04) Charlie (divorced)[1] Daughters Gabrielle Thomas Diane Aunts Val Pollard Nieces Angelica King First cousins Sharon Lambert

Bernice Marie Blackstock (previously Binns and Thomas) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Samantha Giles. She made her first on screen appearance on 25 November 1998. In September 2012, it was announced Giles had reprised her role and Bernice returned on 20 November 2012, after nearly nine years away from Emmerdale.

Character development

Bernice begins a relationship with the local vicar, Ashley Thomas (John Middleton). Ashley falls in love with Bernice but does not have the courage to tell her.^[2] He finds himself in a "right state" when he shares a tent with Bernice during a camping trip. As Middleton told Claire Brand from Inside Soap, Ashley could not handle scenarios involving females and now "he has to spend time with this woman who he clearly adores". While Ashley worries about the arrangement, Bernice remains "ignorant" to his feelings. The actor thought that Bernice had never contemplated a relationship with Ashley. He added that even "Ashley doesn't think Bernice would give him a second look even if he did tell her how he feels."^[2] The storyline had gained momentum off-screen as viewers had written to Middleton demanding a relationship between the two characters. While Inside Soap ran a poll which determined that readers wanted Bernice to leave Gavin Ferris (Robert Beck) in favour of Ashley.^[2] When the bishop learns of their romance he offers Ashley a job in Leeds, but Bernice does not like the idea.^[3] Giles told a writer from Inside Soap that her character is reluctant to leave the village because "for once in her life, she has got some stability and she doesn't want to change that." Ashley tries to persuade Bernice to move by taking her to visit his potential work place; but Bernice is not impressed.^[3] Giles explained that Bernice dislikes it and she feels depressed. While she accepts Ashley's beliefs, his relationship with the God creates problems during decision making. The actress added that Bernice "naively thought that if they got engaged - their problems would be solved."^[3]

She later starts an affair Carlos Diaz (Gary Turner). Carlos is engaged to Bernice's half-sister Nicola Blackstock (Nicola Wheeler).^[4] However, when Bernice's mother Diane Blackstock (Elizabeth Estensen) discovers their affair she forces them to end it. Turner told a reporter from Inside Soap that Bernice and Carlos have tried to end their affair, but they have "fallen madly, passionately in love". The twosome know that "they need" to be together but cannot be truthful due to the fear of hurting their partners.^[4] Diane is initially "instrumental" in stopping the affair; but she soon realises they are seeing one another again. Turner explained that Diane wants Bernice and Carlos to see how much hurt their actions will cause. Carlos wants to make Diane realise that his and Bernice's feelings are "more than just a petty affair". Carlos attempts to tell Nicola the truth, but cannot, so ends his affair with Bernice.^[4] Turner said that Bernice cannot believe it and "begs him to reconsider"; as he will not a "devastated" Bernice fires Carlos from The Woolpack. The actor concluded that Carlos should not be deterred by Bernice's actions - "if they try and deny their feelings now, it'll cause more pain for everyone in the long run."^[4]

Return (2012)

On 9 September 2012, Susan Hill from the Daily Star reported Giles had reprised her role and she would begin filming Bernice's return scenes in October.^[5] Hill stated that Bernice's return would "stir things up."^[5] Giles commented "It's so ­lovely to be asked back to Emmerdale. The show is on top form and I'm really looking forward to being part of the team again."^[5] The series producer, Stuart Blackburn, added that Bernice ­was one of ­Emmerdale's most popular characters and because of her links to many of the village residents, she remained "right at the heart of the show."^[5]

Storylines

1998–2004

Bernice arrives in the village and finds work as a barmaid at The Woolpack. Initially she does not like Tricia Stokes (Sheree Murphy), but after they discover their partners - Gavin and Jason Kirk (James Carlton) - are having an affair, they become good friends. Bernice calls off her engagement to Gavin, who was unfaithful with her friend, Stella Jones (Stephanie Schonfield). She then becomes the landlady of The Woolpack thanks to a bequest from the guilt-ridden Stella. Bernice begins a relationship with the local vicar, Ashley. After getting Bishop George's (Peter Cartwright) blessing, they marry on Christmas Day. Bernice is given away by her mother, Diane, even though her father, Rodney (Patrick Mower), is in attendance.

Bernice falls pregnant but miscarries and in her grief, she lashes out at Ashley and he takes a temporary job away from the village as he feels unable to help her. Bernice, however, feels abandoned and begins an affair with Carlos but this is complicated when Bernice discovers she is pregnant again but doesn't know who the father is. Bernice's half-sister, Nicola, arrives in the village and begins dating Carlos. She is clearly keener on him than he is on her but they later announce that they are getting married and expecting a baby but on her hen night, Nicola admits that she is not pregnant but felt it was the only way to get Carlos to settle down with her. Bernice makes Nicola tell Carlos the truth and in revenge for Nicola's lies, Carlos tells her that he and Bernice are together and he could be the father of her baby. Nicola promptly tells the village about this, devastating Ashley, and he asks her to move out. Bernice, feeling guilty for hurting Ashley, tries to make amends but Ashley isn't interested and during another argument, they realise Bernice is in labour so he takes her to hospital where she has a daughter, who she names Gabrielle (Annelise Manojlovic). Bernice hopes Carlos is Gabrielle's father but a paternity test reveals she is Ashley's child, leading Ashley and Bernice to reconcile. However, Bernice's doubts about her marriage plus postnatal depression cause more problems between them and after Gabrielle's christening, Bernice tells Ashley that she does not love him anymore. Finding living in Emmerdale after the split too difficult, Bernice takes on a job on a cruise liner and leaves Gabby with Ashley.

Bernice returns in 2004 to attend Tricia's funeral. Now living in Brighton, she tells her father that she wants Gabby to live with her but when she goes to discuss the idea with Ashley, she sees how close he and Gabby are and realises that it would be unfair to take Gabby away. Bernice returns to Brighton, leaving Ashley and Diane unaware of her intentions. Bernice gets engaged to her partner, Charlie, and gives birth to another daughter who she names Diane, after her mother.

2012–

Bernice returns to the village to see Diane and admits that her marriage to husband Charlie is over. Her ex-husband Ashley asks Bernice what her intentions towards their daughter Gabby are and she states that she wants to spend more time with her. Ashley and Gabby's stepmother Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) tell Bernice that they need to set some ground rules, particularly when Bernice asks Laurel to take a back seat, much to Ashley and Laurel's anger as Laurel has played a much bigger part in Gabby's upbringing than Bernice. Diane and Rodney later learn that Bernice has been having an affair. They confront her and Bernice reveals that she is in love with a man named Steve and she is waiting for him to leave his wife. Bernice's sister Nicola King takes matters into her own hands and informs Steve's wife about her husband's relationship with Bernice and she throws him out so he joins Bernice in the village. The only thing that Bernice is now unhappy about is that Charlie is proving awkward about allowing her access to their daughter so she goes to visit him, hoping to persuade him to be more reasonable. Bernice becomes Acting landlady of The Woolpack working alongside Chas Spencer while Diane is away in Brighton. Diane returns weeks later to inform everyone that she is moving to Australia and is selling her share of The Woolpack. Bernice has high hopes of buying Diane's share and becoming landlady again as does Chas. Diane eventually reveals that she has decided to stay and takes The Woolpack off the market dashing Bernice's dreams of owning the pub again.

Reception

For her portrayal of Bernice, Giles was nominated for "Most Popular Newcomer" at the 1999 National Television Awards.^[6] In 2000, she earned a nomination for "Best Actress".^[7] At the TV Quick Awards, Giles won "Best Soap Actress".^[8] She garnered nominations for "Best Actress", "Sexiest Female" and "Best On-screen Partnership" with Middleton at the 2002 British Soap Awards.^[9]

During a feature on the "wild women" of Emmerdale, a writer for the Daily Mirror said "Bernice personifies everything prim and proper compared to the soap's wild women. She is so virtuous that she has failed to hear the rustle of bushes and bedsheets as her heartthrob boyfriend Gavin swept into the village and the local lasses off their feet..."^[10] While a reporter from the Daily Mail opined that Giles was always brilliant in her portrayal and that she stole the show when the "inconsolable with grief" Bernice had a miscarriage.^[11]

References