Emmerdale's Bernice Blackstock bid farewell to the sleepy Yorkshire village back in 2019, leaving her daughter Gabby Thomas behind as she fled Down Under.
However, now that Gabby has fallen pregnant with a Tate baby, her flighty mother could be inspired to make a return.
Discussing her pregnancy storyline, actress Rosie Bentham, who has played Gabby since 2016, questioned whether Bernice's return would be a welcome one.
Speaking to Daily Star and assorted press, she said: "I think she'd love her mum to be here."
Their complicated history saw Bernice, played by Samantha Giles, disappear for most of Gabby's childhood, only to return 10 years later and attempt a reconciliation.
Suddenly, in November of 2019, she abruptly cancelled her wedding to Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and announced she was leaving the country.
Bernice explained her ex-husband Charlie had been involved in a serious car accident, and she was moving her Australia to care for him.
The former beautician's absence has driven a wedge through her relationship with Gabby, meaning her daughter would feel conflicted if she rushed to her aid in scenes to come.
Rosie mused: "I don't think her mum is the first person she wants to go to, because she knows her mum's just going to put it to the side.
"But if she did come back I think, secretly, she'd like her support.
"But then, she gets so involved with Kim [Tate], she doesn't need her support. Just like Bernice has shown she doesn't need Gabby, well now Gabby, she doesn't need Bernice."
Actress Samantha hasn't suggested she's interested in an Emmerdale comeback, leaving the soap "to pursue other creative projects".
However, she did admit she was pleased her character hadn't been killed off, meaning a return wasn't completely off-limits.
Following her exit, she told This Morning viewers: I" didn't mind what they did [about my exit]. If you're saying you're going, you can't say, 'Oh don't kill me though'.
"So I wouldn't have minded that but they wanted to leave it open. That's really nice that she's not dead."
Actress Rosie also hinted Gabby's strained relationship with her mother might inspire her to go through with the pregnancy, determined to right Bernice's wrongs.
"She kind of thinks, 'oh is this a good idea, is it not,'" she said.
"But then also she's had this upbringing from her mum which wasn't the best upbringing and she's like, 'well, maybe I could prove that I'm going to be a better mum than my mum.'
"Because she didn't have a very good job and just neglected her child. So I think that's probably why."
With the prospect of a grandchild on the horizon, could Bernice decide to make an explosive return?
Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7pm on ITV, with an extra helping on Thursdays at 8pm.
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