Candice Smilie is the mother of Bolton Smilie and several other older unnamed children. She tried to better herself through adult education evening classes at Waterloo Road to improve her basic literacy skills. She is proud of her job as top dinner lady in the school canteen and is ambitious, putting aside her disapproval of Rose Kelly and then working with her to pitch for the school franchise. Since winning the pitch, Rose and Candice have become firm friends - bonded not only through work but their shared experiences of trying to raise difficult sons, alone.
A firm mother to Bolton, she doesn't shy away from keeping him in line but is ultimately very proud of her son. Candice is mouthy and blunt which some people find intimidating, but she always means well and is a big fan of Rachel after everything she has done for her son.
Bolton's dad was abusive towards Candice as explained in Series 3 Episode 11 when Bolton asks where his dad is. Candice had previously lied that Bolton's dad was in prison in order to stop Bolton's questions about his dad.
After suffering from PTSD and holding Grantly Budgen's class hostage Bolton rings Candice in Series 8 Episode 16 but her calls goes straight to answer phone. He tells her that he's sorry he missed her calls. He says to tell Pete that he's glad his team won and to tell Turner's girl that he is sorry. Bolton is later arrested by the military police.
Behind the scenes[]
Actress Kay Purcell died of cancer on 23 December 2020 at the age of 57.
Quotes[]
- "Ey, ey, ey, lad, just a touch! You'll give everyone kidney failure! And keep stirring, I don't want a sticky bottom." (first line)
- "What is this? A drop in centre? That woman and hers sweat trouble. I can smell it." (about Rose Kelly)
- Rose: "What do we have to wear this clown's outfit for?"
- Candice: "So your nits don't get in the food, innit?"
- Rose: "Oh, there must be something else I could do! Peeling potatoes for a living - that's what immigrants are for!"
- Candice: "Yeah, Irish immigrants!" (Series 4 Episode 5)
- Rob: "I am so sorry about Bolton's grandmother. Yeah, he told me that, uh...she's not ill, is she?"
- Candice: "Well, that depends on how you look at it. She's been dead ten year."
- "Right. I'll have a look and see what we've got int' fridges." (final line)