EMMERDALE fans were left in tears tonight as Bernice Blackstock exited the soap in truly dramatic fashion.
She marched out of the Dales and away to Australia after calling off her wedding and breaking fiance Liam Cavanagh’s heart in the process.
She told him the wedding was on hold because she had to take daughter Dee Dee to her critically injured dad Charlie – Bernice’s third husband.
However, she failed to mention that she probably wasn’t coming back.
Bernice told Liam: “I can’t marry you tomorrow – because I’m going with her. I’m sorry my darling, I can’t marry you.”
She then said goodbye to him and her mum in a tear-jerking finale which is widely thought to be Samantha Giles’ last scenes after revealing she’d quit in September.
One viewer wept: “Bernice what are you doing ?????Liam makes you happy! Now im sobbing! X.”
Another wailed: “Why can’t Bernice ever have happiness ? She is so precious and just deserves the world Damn it!”
A third said: “Bernice leaving for unselfish reasons. I’m quite emotional ?.”
One other sobbed: “I’m actually gutted Bernice and Liam never made it down the aisle ?.”
Viewers saw her explaining what had happened to Charlie, saying: “He’s basically had a massive stroke and the effects can be catastrophic.
“He’s going to need months of rehab. He could be brain-damaged or paralysed.”
And, setting up the fact she won’t be returning, Bernice was warned she would be “walking away indefinitely”.
She replied: “What choice? Choose between putting my daughter first or my happiness with Liam?”
And fans agreed, with one writing: “First rule of Motherhood… There IS NO CHOICE. Your daughter comes first.”
But she didn’t tell Liam she wouldn’t be back, with the pair sharing an emotional dance in their living room before she headed off.
One viewer wailed: “Wish they’d have given Bernice more serious stuff to act out. @sammeegiles is breaking my HEART.
“You had a good ‘un here, #Emmerdale. I hope she comes back one day to some real gritty material x.”