Eastenders dealt a shocker on tonight’s episode with Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) deciding to leave the Square for a new life with her baby.
The teenager is currently acting as a surrogate for Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) and Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) but has been getting more attached to the child as her due date draws closer.
Technically, the baby will be biologically hers as the want-to-be parents used Bernie’s eggs, so unless she signs the rights over to them, they have no right to the baby.
After referring to the tot as ‘hers’ in recent conversations, Bernie is seen seeking the opportunity to get away from the Square for the sake of her tot.
With the help of brother Keegan (Zack Morris), who was planning to leave, Bernie makes the decision to go instead, saying the baby is now her number one priority.
Despite her mum Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) begging her to stay she explains she feels like she has to leave for the sake of the tot.
“You can't run away from your responsibilities love, not when it's something like this. You've promised two people a child,” Karen tells her, before asking if she planned to “keep it safe, or keep it full stop”.
“It's not about me anymore,” Bernie responds. “There is a little person in here relying on me, and I just need to get away for a bit, get my head together, make sure I'm doing the right thing.”
When Karen asks when she’s planning on coming back, Bernie doesn’t respond.
The news leaves Rainie devastated, especially considering she took a drug test in front of Bernie in order to prove to her that she was clean.
But Rainie’s ongoing erratic behaviour has caused the expectant mum to get worried about handing over her baby - and it seems now she’s making a move.
Viewers were devastated though for Rainie and Stuart, branding Bernie selfish for doing a runner when it was clear she wanted to keep the child anyway.
One wrote on Twitter : “Bernie wants to keep the baby I saw that coming. In a way I feel sorry for her. She struggled so much after the miscarriage. This isn't fair on Rainie and Stuart though.”
“That was selfish of Bernie though,” said another. “She didn't even apologise to Rainie for getting it wrong and now she's swanned off into the sunset.”
“Bernie’s selfish! I bet you she kept (or will keep) the surrogacy money too,” added another viewer. “Poor Rainie and Stuart.”
How will the couple cope now their dreams of being parents are dashed? Or will something happen sooner rather than later?
Eastenders airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings on BBC One.
