Denise Welch breaks silence about joining Emmerdale calling new role ‘an honour’
The Loose Women star makes her first appearance this week
DENISE Welch has broken her silence about her Emmerdale role as part of Tom King’s comeuppance.
The Sun exclusively revealed how Denise was joining the ITV soap for a short stint as part of the storyline and now she’s opened up about how she feels ‘honoured’ to take on the role.
Denise plays the head juror for Tom’s trial for his abuse and control of wife Belle.
The special episode will see Denise lead deliberations as the jury weigh up whether to find Tom guilty or not for his crimes.
Speaking for the first time she said: “I thoroughly enjoyed shooting this important episode of Emmerdale.
“Like many I’ve been gripped by the Belle and Tom storyline so to play a head juror in the story’s culmination was an honour.
“Parts of the script were taken from real life cases and the charity Refuge were involved in the research.
“My character Heidi was more emotionally involved so I felt that maybe she had experienced some form of domestic abuse herself.
“At Loose Women (wearing my other hat) we launched our Facing it Together campaign this year which has been hugely successful in shining a light on all sorts of abuse including of course coercive control so the subject matter is one I’m passionate about.
“To share the jury scenes with Charlie Dale and Jack Ellis and also to see lots of my Emmerdale mates made it a job to remember.”
Denise – who The Sun exclusively revealed is returning to Waterloo Road – made her name as Natalie Barnes on Coronation Street in the 90s.
In 2016 she joined EastEnders as Kyle Slater’s estranged mum Alison for a short stint.
And between 2021 and 2022 she played the villainous Trish Minniver in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
Viewers have watched this week as Tom faked a suicide attempt in a twisted plot to rattle Belle and stop her from testifying against him.
In tomorrow’s episode he will learn whether his plan worked after Belle disappears leaving a note for her family.
Aware they need to find Belle the Dingles spring into action but soon they are shocked when the prosecution barrister admits that, without Belle, they may struggle to secure a conviction.
Solicitor Ollie tells Tom that Belle hasn’t arrived at court and Tom is pleased to see the fruits of his labour.
Tom’s triumphant as he prepares to take centre stage but will his plan work or will Belle find the strength to testify?
And will the jury realise Tom is guilty?