Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper reveals key character Belle seeks help from amid Tom s.u.i.c.i.d.e story
Eden Taylor-Draper has spent the past year at the centre of an Emmerdale storyline that’s seen her character Belle Dingle get abused by husband Tom King (James Chase).
After Belle accepted within herself that Tom had been physically and emotionally hurting her, she faced an uphill battle. She reported Tom to the police, but the manipulative character was very good at worming his way out of everything.
However, once DS Foy found the tablet that had proof Tom was watching Belle via CCTV cameras, the case suddenly picked up speed again.
Tom remained smug when being questioned by the police – that is, until DS Foy revealed photographic evidence recovered from his tablet. The pictures showed Belle asleep, using the bathroom and sitting in her living room at Dale Head – all of which corroborates her version of events, aka the truth.
Tom was taken aback and desperately tried to regain control of the narrative, claiming he could explain everything. DS Foy, however, took him away to be charged – just as Jimmy arrived to witness it.
In upcoming episodes, Belle will discover that Tom has tried to end his life before facing her in the trial.
‘Belle is very conflicted and confused because when they were away in Wales at the cottage, Tom tried to take his own life and then later on when she was chatting Jimmy she realised it was all a façade and in fact he’d set himself up, and her up’, Eden Taylor-Draper explained, discussing these upcoming scenes.
‘So now she doesn’t know what to believe. Whether this is real or not, Everyone around her is saying he is doing it again – he’s trying to play you, to get in your head. But she hates the thought of having his life on her shoulders, so I think she is trying to just navigate it as best as she can.
‘But it’s obviously a horrible time for her. She doesn’t really want to commit either way as to whether it was a genuine attempt by him or that he’s playing her again; she doesn’t want the responsibility of that decision.’
Following this news, Belle heads to find Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), a member of the village who previously experienced s.u.i.c.i.d.a.l thoughts.
‘I think it’s made more confusing’, Eden explains, reflecting on Belle’s attempt at getting some answers.
‘As not only does she feel uncomfortable for the fact she is going to see Paddy because of what he’s been through – but everyone is different and Paddy can’t answer for Tom. I don’t think she expects him to but I think she is looking to Paddy for guidance and all he can really do is say only Tom knows – which is what she knows deep down anyway.
‘But I think she was wanting to come away from there knowing 100 percent and obviously that wasn’t the case.’
Pondering over the storyline as a whole, Eden has received plenty of comments from audience members with similar experiences.
‘It has been incredible feedback I have never before experienced so many people reaching out. 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.’