EastEnders fans were left up in arms after viewers saw the return of Bernie Taylor’s beloved pastime in the latest instalment of the BBC One soap.
On Monday (May 2), the brunette beauty teamed up with her best friend Dotty Cotton to enjoy a fun-filled day together over the bank holiday weekend.
But the star’s version of fun is completely different to many others as she dragged her pal to the local chess club in the heart of Watford.
And it’s fair to say fans were left in stitches when Dotty took on the almighty force of the Bareknuckle Bishop of Barking during her first match of the day.
As soon as she stepped into the community hall, Dotty complained: “Absolutely not, no, not happening. Bernie – this is unsolicited geekdom, alright? And I do not consent.”
It was at this point that the fan favourite reassured her friend: “They’re really lovely, they’ll teach you how to play.
“You agreed [to] half a day doing something I want to do,” she argued. “Please Dotty, I haven’t played since I was pregnant.”
To which Dotty clapped back: “Fine but if you tell anyone about this I will get a knight and ram it up-” before Bernie interrupted: “Ohh, so you do know some chess.”
While Dotty helplessly gazed around the room full of chess boards and eager players, she happened to catch the eye of one player who branded himself the Bareknuckle Bishop of Barking.
He opened with: “Alright hottie, surely you’re too cute for chess club – wanna play?”
Eager to get out of his invitation, she replied: “Well I don’t know anything about chess, it looks pretty complicated.”
The mystery player reassured her: “I can teach you,” before he gloated: “Ten to the power of a hundred and twenty three possible moves – can you imagine how big that number is?
“Well, lucky for you it’s all up here [points at his temple]. I should warn you, they call me the bareknuckle bishop of Barking, and don’t think I’m losing that title for a pretty face.”
It was at this point that the Londoner flashed a twinkle in her eye as she replied: “Well if you’re sure that you can teach me.”
He eagerly replied: “No problem, babe. but once I’ve shown you the basics, I’m playing for cash.”
Little did he know that Dotty was quite the whiz at chess after her drug-addict mother taught her some tips and tricks to the game in her youth.
After the girls left the community centre, Dotty treated her friend to a pint in the Queen Vic as she boasted her winnings at the bar.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk