Emmerdale's Jonny McPherson has weighed in on Bernice Blackstock's upcoming exit from the 'dales.

Earlier this year, Samantha Giles - who plays Bernice - announced she would be leaving the soap after seven years. McPherson's character, Liam Cavanagh, is currently engaged to Bernice - but it looks like the pair are unlikely to get their happily ever with Bernice's exit looming. The actor said he was "massively sad" to see his co-star leaving, although he feels "hugely grateful" to have been paired up with her from the outset. "You don't have any choice over who you'll be paired up with, so I feel hugely fortunate to have worked with somebody as funny, fun and professional," he told DigitalSpy. "When I first started, it felt like such an honour. Then as you get to know somebody, you become mates and enjoy the work. I'm massively sad to see her go." Scenes set to air next week will see the engaged couple celebrating their hen and stag parties, as the big day starts to grow closer. However, it looks like it's going to be far from wedded bliss for the couple. Bernice ends up missing a number of calls during the hen celebrations,  before her daughter Dee Dee takes an important call and shares a discovery that could change everything.  McPherson said that it was an "earth-shattering, seismic announcement" - although he wouldn't specify what it was.

"The news is sufficiently punchy that Bernice decides there's no other course of action than to run to The Woolpack and drag Liam out," he added.