Profile from former official Emmerdale Site that is no more

First appearance on 23rd November 1999

1999
Bernice’s mother makes her debut on the day of Roy’s release from prison. There is a welcome home party for him in the Woolpack and Diane makes an impression on Alan Turner when she tries make him dance. Her daughter's impending marriage to Gavin displeases her, and she warns him against crossing the Blackstock family. Later, Bernice confides that she has thrown him out of the house after catching him kissing Jason.  She tells Ashley about Gavin, and he comes close to telling her his true feelings for her daughter.

2000
Diane and Alan chat about Bernice’s money problems now that Gavin has gone and she promises Bernice she will move here permanently and buy the pub. Bernice announces to the whole pub that her and her mum are taking over the Woolpack.
When Spanish chef Carlos arrives in the village Diane can’t wait to get a look at him.
Diane has been getting friendlier with Jack, after he discovered Sarah was having an affair with Richie, and has been his shoulder to cry on. She lends him the money to go and visit the kids in Spain. Jack and Diane finally kiss. They both say they are not ready for another relationship and he asks her to keep quiet about her staying over.
When Jack loses custody of Victoria he becomes depressed and refuses to get out of bed.

Diane’s relationship with Jack progresses and she spends the night with him after having a meal. Unfortunately, her ex-husband Rodney turns up and Jack gets annoyed that she has stood him up. Diane can’t believe Rodney has turned up after 26 years. She wants him to leave before Bernice returns. Bernice arrives back and guesses that Rodney is her father.

Jack unburdens his problems about the farm to Diane. He tells her that the farm is worth more on paper than it is as a working concern. After the fire Diane has to break the news to Richie that his lover Sarah is dead. She gives Jack a hard time and keeps asking him why Sarah and Richie were in the barn and how the fire started. Richie tells her Jack started the fire and she begins to have doubts over Jack’s innocence.

When Alan makes a move on Diane she is forced to admit to him that she is in love with Jack. Alan feels that he has made a fool of himself. Diane makes a mistake when comforting Jack - she lets it slip that she loves him.

2001
Diane and Alan grow closer while Jack is in prison. They go on a couple of dates and he takes her on his bike around the Dales. Yet Diane knows there is no magic between them, she puts an end to it when she realises its Jack that she loves.
She then discovers that her daughter is having an affair with Carlos, and tries to stop them.. Bernice discovers she is pregnant and Diane has to support her and help her to makes some tough decisions about the baby, Ashley and Carlos. Diane herself gets into hot water when she has a drunken romp with ex hubby Rodney.

ITV.COM Blossoming love

Tuesday | 01.04.03

Jack Sugden and Diane Blackstock are falling in love again.
The pair have been close friends ever since Diane arrived in the village but their first attempt at romance was a disaster.

However, after the kindly landlady helps Jack make daughter Victoria's birthday party a hit, both feel their passion has been reignited.

Instead of talking to each other about their feelings the shy duo turn to other to help them sort out their feelings. Diane confides in friend Louise Appleton and Jack discusses his situation with son Robert.

Actress Elizabeth Estensen - who plays the straight-talking Diane - says, "It is obvious to everyone else that Diane and Jack would love to get back together. The trouble is, neither of them is sure how the other one feels, so they're both too scared to say anything."

But after a series of misunderstandings and missed chances the pair finally come clean about their true feelings.

Elizabeth adds, "At the end of the evening they share a kiss. It's not a mad, passionate thing, but they know it has changed their relationship."

ITV.COM

Diane's Dilemma

Wednesday | 23.04.03

Woolpack landlady Diane Blackstock is in for a shock tonight.

The brassy barmaid is the first person to know about the torrid affair between Louise and Ronnie – and she doesn’t like it.

Temperatures soared over the weekend as Louise and Ronnie gave into their passion but both of them see the liaison as no big deal.

However, Diane knows only too well the pain that affairs can cause and is disgusted by Louise’s devil-may-care attitude.

Diane had thought that since her fiancé Ray Mullen’s death, Louise had revealed her true self to her. But the cold attitude Louise displays when discussing the life-changing romance leaves Diane wondering if she ever knew her at all.

And viewers will be left asking the same question in coming weeks. Not content with her trysts with Ronnie, Louise begins to play games with Terry Woods as well.

Newlywed Terry, who used to have a major unrequited crush on Louise, is perplexed when Louise starts paying him attention.

Will he fall into her web of deceit too?

ITV.COMLou Blue After 'Fess Mess

Friday | 27.06.03

Troubled Emmerdale beauty Louise Appleton confesses her terrible crime tonight.

The blonde stunner has been keeping the secret that she killed evil fiancé Ray Mullen but tells pal Diane Blackstock the truth.

She confesses because she wants to make furious Diane understand why she is intent on recapturing the heart of old flame Terry Woods. But Diane is quite unprepared for the shock revelation that Terry helped Louise cover up Ray's murder - and the news looks set to permanently damage their rocky friendship.

Actress Emily Symons - who plays Louise - admits that the situation is tricky for both women.

She says, "Diane can't take in what Louise is telling her. She can't believe how much Louise has kept from her over the past few months. Diane's reaction isn't good. Louise feels a bit let down - she's worn her heart on her sleeve and is now vulnerable.

"She has confessed her deepest and darkest secrets and hasn't got the support she wanted. But Diane is struggling to take it all in."

Will Diane go to the police?

ITV.COM She Drives Me Crazy

Monday | 30.06.03

Emmerdale's Terry Woods fears for his future after Louise's revelations.

The newlywed chauffeur is horrified tonight when pal Diane Blackstock marches round to see him and demands to know the whole truth.

Diane is still reeling from Louise's confession that she murdered Ray and Terry helped her cover up the crime. She needs answers and, feeling she can no longer trust Louise, she decides to confront Terry herself.

And his reaction is one of absolute terror when he realises the terrible secret is now in her hands. And Diane is in no mood to be messed with.

She is sickened that Terry helped Louise to create a bond between them – with a view to embarking on a romance with her.

And now Terry is happily married to young wife Dawn and has a baby on the way, he is distraught that his past could destroy his family.

He is also angry that Louise could have confided in Diane about something so important – risking both their futures.

Will Terry prevent Diane from going to the police?

The Sun 5th July 2003

EMMERDALE

Weekdays ITV1

WARRING joint landladies Diane and Louise are arrested when the police raid a late-night lock-in at The Woolpack.

After they are thrown into a cell together, Louise almost tells the police her guilty secret - that she killed her stalker boyfriend Ray.

But Diane saves the day when she covers up for Louise, and the two women become friends again.

"Diane does care for Louise," says Elizabeth Estensen, who plays the formidable Mrs Blackstock.

"But the revelations about Ray have knocked her sideways, and she is also furious that Louise has told people that Diane is going through the menopause. She knows it’s Louise’s way of explaining Diane’s shock, but she hates it."

The trouble starts when Viv reports the pub to the police because she is angry that barman Bob is late home yet again.

"It’s Louise who suggests the lock-in," says Elizabeth. "But Diane loses her temper after the police arrive and she insults them.

"She gets arrested and when Louise tries to intervene, she is arrested as well!"

The two women have plenty of opportunity to air their differences when they are shut in the same cell.

"They blame each other and have a big row," says Elizabeth. "Diane is still reeling from the impact of Louise’s confession about Ray.

"And she is even more annoyed with Louise for telling her boyfriend Jack and others that she is in the middle of the ‘change of life’.

"But when Louise gets so upset that it seems she is going to blurt out everything to the police, it is Diane who quickly covers for her."

The women are released, and Louise takes the first chance she gets to tell Jack the truth behind Diane’s strange behaviour.

ITV.COM

Jail Birds

Thursday | 10.07.03

Emmerdale landladies Louise and Diane are banged up in jail.

The squabbling duo made the mistake of venting their fury against one and other in public - in front of two off-duty policemen.

And the consequence of their outburst - plus the fact they were operating an illegal lock-in at the time - has earned them a night in the cells.

For Louise this is a terrifying taste of what she can expect if the truth of her involvement in psycho fiancé Ray Mullen’s murder ever comes out. But the incarceration has more profound effect on her cellmate pal.

Diane is finding it hard to cope with the revelation and is still angry and confused by her troubled friend.

But as the situation comes to a head in the confined space, Diane finds out where her loyalties lie.

Actress Elizabeth Estensen - who plays the brassy blonde - explains, “They have a monumental row, and then Louise says she’s going to confess all to the police, and calls for an officer.

“But Diane just can’t let her do it, so she distracts him by ranting about how she’s menopausal. At the end of the day, Louise is her friend - she wants to protect her.”

Will the pair finally put their differences behind them?

The Sun 26th January 2004

EMMERDALE

Sun to Fri - ITV1

THERE hasn’t been much to celebrate in Emmerdale recently. But Jack changes all that when he asks Woolpack landlady Diane to marry him and she accepts.

The happy news comes after Jack reacts angrily when depressed Diane decides she wants to leave Emmerdale to live near her daughter Bernice, who is moving to Brighton.

Jack can’t bear the idea of losing the woman he loves, and proposes.

Diane is still in bits over Tricia’s death but she realises running away is not the answer and says "Yes".

"Diane does love Jack," explains Elizabeth Estensen, who plays the pub boss. "But she’s been through such a lot lately, it takes her a while to agree to marry him. She feels desperately guilty Tricia was killed when The Woolpack chimney fell on her in the New Year’s Eve storm."

Diane comes out of her mood a little at the start of the week when Bernice tells her she is moving to the South Coast to live with her boyfriend Charlie.

Mother and daughter share an emotional - and drunken - night, during which Diane reveals the depth of her grief and Bernice tries to comfort her.

"Next day, Diane has a dreadful hangover and gets in a row with Jack at the farm," says Elizabeth.

"He is angry that she shuts him out and she says she’ll move back into The Woolpack to try to sort herself out. But when she returns, Bernice gives her some tempting advice.

" Diane is in a bit of a mess and agrees with Bernice’s suggestion that she move to Brighton as well to make a new start.

"Jack is furious when he finds out. And, in the heat of a row, he blurts out his marriage proposal."

However, he gives Diane a deadline of just 24 hours to think it over.

The next day, as she is preparing for the re-opening of the pub, Marlon takes Diane to Tricia’s grave, where they toast his wife’s memory with champagne.

While reminiscing, Marlon tells Diane that she ought to grab happiness while she can.

"She sneaks off to find Jack," says Elizabeth, "to tell him she’ll marry him."

ITV.COM With This Farm Hand...

Wednesday | 28.01.04

Emmerdale's Jack Sugden makes a very dramatic decision this week.

The besotted local is deeply in love with partner Diane Blackstock but she is tortured by her grief over pal Tricia's death.

Ever since poor Tricia died, Diane has been unable to lift herself out of a deep depression. Fearing that she will never be able to live happily at the Woolpack again, Diane decides to make a permanent move - to Brighton.

The distraught landlady is convinced that building a new life with daughter Bernice will erase the painful memories of Tricia's demise from her memory. But Jack is horrified.

Realising that he could lose the love of his life, smitten Jack decides to lay his feelings on the line - and tells Diane she is the only woman for him via a romantic proposal.

But with her feelings in such a mess - and the promise of a peaceful life away from Emmerdale - will Diane accept his hand in marriage?

In Two Minds

Thursday | 29.01.04

Emmerdale’s Diane Blackstock has a lot of options to ponder.

The Woolpack landlady has been in a terrible state since Tricia’s death and is looking for a way to be happy again.

Diane has been unable to open up to her boyfriend Jack Sugden ever since the terrible accident, causing their previously strong relationship to falter.

And in response to the problems at home, Diane has been considering daughter Bernice’s offer of a new start in Brighton.

But Jack - who loves Diane deeply - wants to cement the relationship by getting married, and his romantic proposal has sent his belle into a spin.

Diane speaks to grief-stricken Marlon about Jack’s plan and he tells her to grab her chance at happiness, but it looks that Diane is still hell-bent on moving away.

However, when good pal Louise Appletion asks Diane what is stopping her from committing to her smitten partner, she starts to wonder whether she is about to make a terrible mistake.

Will Diane take the opportunity to run away from the village or will she take Jack up on his romantic proposition?

ITV.COM Sister Act

Monday | 02.02.04

Emmerdale's Diane Blackstock's shocked by the arrival of sister Val.

Diane is busy preparing to celebrate her engagement to fiancé Jack Sugden and is less than enthusiastic about her sibling's dramatic entrance.

Val tells Diane that her badly bruised black eyes are the work of her violent old boyfriend, but canny Diane questions the truthfulness of the story. Although it is obvious that Val is going through a really hard time, Diane fears that being dragged into her web of catastrophe will only ruin her own life too.

When Jack discovers the pair engaged in an icy conversation he wonders what could have happened to make Diane so cold towards Val - but there's no time to discover the truth.

Instead Diane is strong-armed into offering Val a place to stay before going down to the Woolpack bar to enjoy her party.

Will Val make life even harder for poor Diane?

The Sun 1st February 2004

EMMERDALE

Sun to Fri - ITV1

SISTER OF MERCY

DIANE is shocked when her long-lost younger sister Val arrives, sporting two black eyes and claiming her boyfriend beat her up.

In fact, the bruising is from plastic surgery and Val is on the run to avoid paying back the money she borrowed for the op.

"Diane hasn’t seen her in years," says Elizabeth Estensen, who plays The Woolpack’s landlady. "But she is worried by the bruises and lets Val stay at the pub, though she doesn’t trust her."

Val gets sympathy at Diane and Jack’s engagement party, but when a man comes looking for her next day, Diane hears the truth.

At first, she threatens to give Val’s ‘attacker’, who is called Eugene, some of his own medicine. But it turns out Val borrowed cash from him for an operation.

"Diane is furious," says Elizabeth, "but gets rid of him. However, when Val skives off while she is supposed to be helping in the pub, Diane tells the taken-in regulars that her sister isn’t a battered woman. She’s getting over a nose job!"