Last year, Tom King (James Chase) returned to Emmerdale, much to the surprise of old friend Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper).
The two characters decided to start a relationship and at first, things were going well.
It was the prospect of marriage that changed things for Belle and Tom. When Belle expressed how she didn’t want to get married as Tom had only just moved in, he angrily pushed the beloved character, causing her to fall and hit her head.
This was ultimately the sign for ITV viewers that things were about to get very dark for Belle. What followed next was a storyline that saw her physically and emotionally abused by Tom, who became convinced he could isolate Belle from her friends and family forever.
After months of hell, Belle was given a tiny glimmer of hope when Tom was put in prison. However, while he cannot hurt her physically anymore, upcoming episodes will see Tom take advantage of Belle’s mental health from behind bars.
With this storyline now drawing to a close, actress Eden Taylor-Draper has been reflecting on the impact it’s had on audience members of the ITV soap, plus her thoughts on the final part of this plot.
‘It has been incredible feedback I have never before experienced so many people reaching out’, she told us.
‘It has been very impacting to hear all their stories and just the way this story has touched people. I think it is so special and you know I’ve had people reach out and say this story has made them evaluate their relationship. Or that they’ve now managed to get themselves and their children to safety and they are now in a refuge.
‘It is just incredible but also just so sad the vast numbers – just how many people this is affecting, So I’m really proud that we have shown this.’
She explained: ‘This is the ending that feels right. And I think it’s great we are showing this and we are showing the steps on how anyone out there can find the strength to do this. And you will be heard and you will be listened to. And for us just to show there is hope.’
James Chase, who plays Tom, added: ‘I am yes [pleased with the ending], I think it was the right decision. I think it’s satisfying but still an interesting way of going about it. How we get to that end point it’s not just cut and dry. It is an interesting way of doing it.’
Pondering over the entirety of this narrative, Eden said:
‘I’ve learnt so much – from the minute I was told that I was being trusted with this storyline there were research chats set up with the writing department, producers and the charities and in an hour’s zoom call I already just couldn’t believe the state of what was happening and how often it was happening to people.
‘But also how many people it affects and the tech abuse as obviously things like technology abuse and control have been on the rise recently.
‘They showed me how abuse is actually changing and adapting. And it is just the smallest little things that I think have probably stuck with me most. So yes I’ve learnt so much. I also feel like I am definitely more aware of certain red flags that might be at the beginning of an abusive relationship. I also hope viewers can perhaps pick up on red flags more readily too.’
