Samantha Giles reveals she’s not returning to ‘restrictive’ Emmerdale as she takes on hugely different role
Emmerdale legend Samantha Giles has swapped the Dales for the stage – and has revealed to Metro.co.uk that she has no current plans to return to the ITV soap.
Samantha, 52, starred as Bernice Blackstock in the long-running show sporadically for twenty five years before departing last year.
She’s currently appearing alongside her former co-star Gaynor Faye and Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent in the touring production of The Syndicate, adapted from the BBC One series of the same name.
The production follows a number of supermarket workers who win a lottery jackpot after finding out their jobs are at risk, and the highs and lows that come with securing such a lucrative sum of money.
Samantha plays Denise, someone who she describes as ‘very, very different’ from her Dales alter-ego, who was a beautician.
‘She’s almost a polar opposite. She’s very frumpy, she doesn’t care about her appearance – she has mad, frizzy hair and glasses’ she exclusively told Metro.co.uk.
‘I’m carrying a little bit of extra weight, a little all in one thing, because she has liposuction towards the end. So she’s a little bit overweight and doesn’t wear clothes that are good to show off any kind of figure, she wears very loose fitting clothes.
‘So absolutely nothing like Bernice, the complete opposite!’
From screen to stage, The Syndicate is a heartwarming and comedic drama, penned by the late Kay Mellor, the mum of Gaynor, who is both starring in and directing the play.
Samantha told us of her nerves when taking on the role: ‘I was very anxious. I was such a fan of Kay’s work and Gaynor is such a close friend. We never really worked together much on Emmerdale. We shared a dressing room but our Emmerdale characters didn’t really have much to do with eachother.
‘So it’s not just for Kay’s legacy, but to make it right for the whole family. I’d know how I’d feel if it was my mum’s work.’
The decision to take on theatrical work following her lengthy soap stint made her reflect on working with the iconic June Brown, EastEnders’ Dot Cotton, in a piece of theatre from 1993.
‘June was just a brilliant person and we became very close. It was very sad when she died but she lived to be a great age, especially since she was a bit of a chain smoker!’
As for whether we’d see Bernice return to Emmerdale and catch-up with her business woman daughter Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) again, remains to be seen.
‘I don’t feel I’d want to go back to Emmerdale at the moment. I’m enjoying doing other things, and the show changes. I haven’t had a chance to see what’s going on with the show, so I don’t know whether Bernice would fit into it at the moment. Who knows?
‘They might not want the character to come back. I don’t think they’ve killed her or anything – they could still do that. It’s something that’s there for the future possibly, or not. Never say never is what I’m saying. For now, I’m enjoying doing lots of different things.
‘It’s a wonderful job but it’s restrictive in a way that you’re obviously signed to them and that’s that. I never had the chance whilst at Emmerdale to do other work’ she continued.
‘Sue Cleaver from Corrie has gone off to do Sister Act – she’s doing other things and then going back, but they don’t really let people do that on Emmerdale.’
She also championed her former colleagues who are currently starring in ITVBe reality show Drama Queens, which follows the personal and professional lives of our favourite soap stars.
‘It’s a great way of them highlighting different things – it’s been a brilliant platform for Laura Norton to highlight Usher syndrome that her children are dealing with. It’s great to bring up awareness. But for me, I just want to do different things whilst I can.’
