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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Aaliyah Rugg & Ryan Paton

Emmerdale's Samantha Giles' life away from the screen in Liverpool and what makes city special

Samantha Giles is one of Emmerdale's most well known figures.

The 51-year-old soap star is renowned for her role as Bernice Blackstock in the ITV show. She joined the cast as The Woolpack's new barmaid in 1998 and continues to be one of the programme's key characters.

Bernice was at the centre of a major plot this week as she finally opened the doors to her B&B. The character has opened up the hotel alongside Bob Hope and the two planned a grand launch event.

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However, the event was struck by disaster when they thought Tim the harpist had died after spending the night with Bernice. Viewers compared the soap to Fawlty Towers after Bob and Bernice tried to hide Tim's body from a respected reviewer.

The plot had a happy ending as the harpist had actually taken a sleeping pill. Bob and Bernice were relieved as he emerged from his room and the rest of the event ran smoothly.

Samantha is not just a talented actor, she has also forged a successful career as a children's author. She has released two books named 'Rosemary and The Witches of Pendle Hill and 'Rosemary and the Book of the Dead'.

Samantha hails from Kent but has relocated to Merseyside and she wanted her book series to feature the area heavily. She told the ECHO in 2021: "There aren't many children's books set in the North West and there is so much to see and celebrate and learn about the area. The books are based on my children and my family."

Samantha moved to Childwall 17 years ago and describes the area as home. She said: "My children were born in Liverpool, they are Scousers and my husband is a Scouser."

Samantha swooned over the city as she revealed what makes the region special. She said: "I feel like I've been adopted by the city, it's a fantastic place to live and the history is incredible.

"It's very artistic and cultural, there's so much arts and culture. My eldest daughter was born in the year when it became a city of culture in 2008 - there's always something going on.

"Arts and culture really is celebrated and it's very exciting."

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