‘I USED PAGAN WITCHCRAFT TO FIND MY HUSBAND!'

AS EMMERDALE’S SAMANTHA GILES, 49, RETURNS TO OUR SCREENS TO STIR UP TROUBLE SHE TALKS HIGH HEELS, HOCUS-POCUS AND HEALTH SCARES

- LOUISE BURKE

Spare a thought for the folks in Emmerdale this week. There’s always a hefty dose of drama in store, but even more so with the return of elegant troublemaker Bernice Blackstock. She’s back after spending last year in Australia, and it’s sent her ex, Liam, and his fiancée, Leyla, into a tailspin.

“As far as Bernice is concerned, he should be falling at her feet,” says actress Samantha Giles. “She can’t believe he’s getting married to Leyla – how dare he?”

Cue some juicy storylines as Bernice stirs up trouble between the soon-to-be-newlyweds in the Yorkshire Dales.

We caught up with Samantha for all the behind-the-scenes goss and to talk about her life off camera…

What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed on the Emmerdale set since you left prior to the pandemic?

My hair and make-up. Due to social distancing, we’ve had to do it all ourselves. It’s a nightmare! I can just about do my make-up, but I’m no good with my hair, it’s so frizzy. Bernice is a hairdresser and always has a coiffed look. So the wardrobe team gave me a wig – but I still have to style it. I know I sound precious, but when you’ve got an emotional scene to do, you don’t want to be fannying about checking your blusher or your hair. On the flip side, it must be very frustrating for the hair and make-up teams, who are probably desperate to get their hands on us.

How did it feel going from lockdown loungewear to high heels and false nails, Bernice-style?