On the Thursday, we'd seen quite a few cast, all things considered: Simon Rouse, Kim Tiddy, Todd Carty, Alex Walkinshaw, Lisa Maxwell (she's so tiny!!!), Daniel McPhearson and Thusitha whatshername who plays Ramani Da Costa... Last of all to appear was Bernie!!! This was at around 5pm, perhaps? Because we were basically waiting for her before we left to go get ready for Blood Brothers! I wasn't looking at the studio doors, when Ems suddenly said "Isn't that Bernie?!" and so away I went!!! She was wearing blue leggings, cute flip flop sandals and a white baggy t-shirt, with a pinky red DKNY logo on it. She saw me coming (her car was near the studios, and after she'd opened the door to put some paperwork in, turned round to chat. My greeting was "It's the Irish Girl again!" to which she laughed. Being as excited as I was, I blabbered away slightly, saying that we'd decided to come down to london as a treat for our AS level results (Katie/Hailstorm and I had AS results, Tomahawk who isn't on this forum had her A levels) and so she asked what I got... so I told her (2 As and a B should anyone wish to know!) and she was very enthusiastic with "Oh that's brilliant! It's really good, well done!!" and I added that at first we'd thought I'd got a B in Eng Lit, which had been disappointing, because it's "my" subject, and she understood and commiserated.
The I reminded her of the convo we'd had last time, about Pete's website (*waves to Pete if he just happens to read this!!;)*) and I said that we'd been emailing a good bit - her reply? "That's a match if it strikes, as me mother would say!" (awww bless!!!), and that I was hoping to go to one of the gigs later this year. "One of me sisters gigs? Have fun!"
I also said that our other prezzie to ourselves was going to Blood Brothers that evening, although I was very disappointed that I'd missed Linda again! She asked who was performing, "It's Lyn Paul now isn't it?" and I replied that she was acting from the 1st of Sept, but that Sarah Hay was playing Mrs J until then. "Sarah Hay? She's brilliant! If you see her afterwatds, if you wait for her, would you give her my love?" So we assured her we would (and we did! leaving Sarah all chuffed as well!)
Of course I asked to have a photo with her again, and while we were posing her hair flew everywhere, so she had a slight moan about that Then Mandy got in for a shot with her and me together (ie, *1 and *2) and I said it would be for the website, because M was my no.2, and that it was going really well, and she had a lot of fans on it (and that we were growing quite steadily). I think she asked if people liked the character, either way, I assured her that Sheelagh was very well liked, and her reply was to shout "Up The Dubs!!!" (Our new sign off people!) which got a laugh out of all of us! I think for some reason, we were then talking about accents... because I remarked that the only thing I could say in a dublin accent was "what were ye goin to tell me dave? that Polly page's a little whore?" (Jenny Quinnan quote from a few years back: I explained the context) Which had her giggling loudly, with a *slightly* mock shocked face!!!
Then she had a pic with Emmy as well, and then she asked us if we had oil on (we'd started discussing the weather). We said that we did, that we didn't want to be as burnt as we were at the cricket match ("Oh you were at that were you?") etc... Oh, and we added that we'd be there again the next day, so her parting shot was "See you tomorrow!" Then she got in her car and drove off, waving to us as she backed out onto the road.
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Friday.
We caught Bernie leaving at about 1 o'clock on friday, this time she was wearing a long blue and white striped tank top, and she had lovely flowers with her (I don't know why, but I have a feeling it was her wedding anniversary - but thats just surmise, ignore me!). Before we could reach her, she was grabbed by some other fans hanging around (they'd been little prats all day), and after sorting their autographs out, she came over to join us for a minute or so. First of all, I said that we'd gone to see BB, and given Sarah her message, and that Sarah had sent it back with a smile (or words to that effect: I basically said Sarah sent her love back to Bernie!) then I asked her to sign the one cast card I have of her (well, it was the only one then: I got another one later, which is officially Mandys ) and pointed out that someone in the office had faked her signature, very badly. She seemed somewhat annoyed about it, asked where I'd got it: when I pointed ruefully to the studios, and said 'in there, last time', she grimaced and gave a slight sardonic laugh. Anyways, she signed it to me anyways, and as she was doing that, Debz shouted out "You're obsessed Dege", so of course I replied: No I'm not, I'm just a fan... a very big fan! "Nothing wrong with that" says Bernie with a smile at me She also laughed at me taking the piss outta Debz baaing! (Debz having heard the world Wales mentioned had to Baaa!). Then we asked for a picture of her with the flowers, and complimented her on them, so she smiled and said yes. (pause for the picking up of flowers and posing with them). Laughingly I told her that we hadn't got too burned on the thursday, and that at least today was slightly cooler. Then she remarked that she was "off on holiday tomorrow" - so we asked where, and told her she was a lucky thing, and to enjoy it etc... She said "The south of France - going to be really hot there!" That was pretty much about it, and she left with calls of "See you later" and "Have a good day" to us. Mandy reckons she sounded slightly more irish this time.
I also added that I was Irish too, although from the other end of the Island. Then Mandy asked if she could take a photo of us, and Bernie promptly put her arm round me, and leaned her head in, so I did just like. (That surprised me, because I know very few of the cast are willing to even put their arm round a fan!) After that, paul, another forummer asked her to sign his Bill book, and then she wanted to see when the CD was produced (1998) and noticed that her autograph had blurred (she'd signed it The Nolans, bless her, and then said "Oops, that's habit!" and wrote Bernie beneath) so she signed our wee book as well. She was just about to go when I added that Mandy was a big fan of her Mrs J, in Blood Brothers, so they discussed that for a moment, she asked where Mandy had seen it etc. She said she'd loved doing it, and "that's how I got this... no! I mean Brookside!" so they discussed Brookie for a second, and then she finally did leave, with cheery bye-byes.
The second time we met her was about a week later, having been down at Bosun with John. She'd been filming and came back to the studios on a location bus. Seeing us standing at the fence, she came to chat again, and while we could see she was tired, she was still smiley and friendly. I asked if I could take another photo of her (which she did, and Mandy's in that one) because I've found it quite hard to get photos of her on the net: basically, I explained about running this site, and she asked if I'd gone to The Bill's official site. I also asked whether she would have known my God Parents when the family did the northern circuit, because they would have done the same areas at the same time. (she hadn't, but very few people who don't listen to folk music haven't!) We also commented that she'd got her hair cut (see here), and she said yes, she had, because she was sick of the plait! After that she went back into the studios.
I hold firm that she's the most down to earth Star I've met, and I still think a hell of a lot of her, both her acting and her singing. (Can't wait for the new album). She's also, like I said, very pretty, and youthful. I wouldn't think she was nearly 43!!! Oh, and she's tiny! She seems very petite, although I think she's only a few inches shorter than I am! Ok, I'll stop rambling now.
If you've met Bernie and would like to post your experiences here, please email me!
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