Emmerdale fans have been left ‘screaming’ over the conclusion of a special episode that focused solely on Tom King (James Chase) and wife Belle Dingle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) abuse ordeal at his hands.
Tom, as viewers know, lured her to a cottage last week and this special offering on Wednesday (July 24) took us back the time from when Charity and Cain Dingle (Emma Atkins and Jeff Hordley) found the house a wreck with Belle nowhere to be seen.
This so-called romantic break very quickly became hellish for Belle while Piper was targeted by the abuser, with Tom using Belle’s love of the dog to further manipulate and gaslight her, before he hit her across the face.
Belle therefore had enough and, in heart-racing scenes, she fled the holiday home.
The gripping episode has changed everything for Belle and, while we know that the storyline remains set to go on until the end of the year, this visit to the soap will turn it all upside down.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY – BUT THERE’S MORE!
We really appreciate you joining us for this watch-a-long, think we all need a lie down after that. Rest assured there’s loads to come.
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ACTOR JAMES CHASE ADDRESSES TOM’S COMEUPPANCE
Don’t know about you, but we’re still feeling enraged at Tom, and James Chase, who plays him, recently told us he shares in that. Luckily, he also had something hopeful to say about the character’s comeuppance.
‘He can’t get away with it,’ he told us.
‘I don’t know to what extent that would be, or how the storyline would end but I would think it would have to be something like that because she needs justice for what’s happened to her.
‘The viewer needs that, for all the hell we’ve seen Belle get put through we have to see her win in the end, or at the very least for him to lose.’
On what he thinks the outcome should be, James added: ‘I think definitely at least prison. There needs to be at least that. I don’t really know. They’re all interesting.’
HOW LONG WILL THE STORYLINE GO ON FOR?
Producer Laura Shaw has spoken about how long the storyline might go on for – and it might be bad news for Belle as there is still a lot of time.
She told us: ‘We said right from the beginning that we wanted to tell this story as authentically and truthfully as we can.
‘Let’s face it, for people who are subjected to domestic abuse this isn’t something that’s over in a couple of weeks, it’s something that goes on for a long length of time and we wanted to be truthful to that.
‘I think you can expect that this storyline is going to run until the end of this year.’
THAT ENDING!
We were literally screaming at the screen, pretty sure we weren’t alone. Relive that intense moment as Belle broke free
(And huge love for the bus driver as well!)
YES, BELLE!
BELLE ESCAPES TOM AFTER TERRIFYING SHOWDOWN
A dramatic end but we’re relieved for brave Belle – however, it’s far from over.
Read the full story here.
And stick with this blog for just a bit longer, we have more to share and you have plenty to say!
HOW WILL IT END?
You have thoughts on how you feel this storyline should conclude
TOM IS HORRIFIC
‘Lunch smells delicious, now that you’ve mastered the oven’
‘Come on, don’t be thick Belle’
‘Don’t whimper, it’s pathetic’
Few TV characters have been so vile – we hope Belle can get out of this terrible ordeal
MILLIONS ARE WATCHING
Belle is currently trending on X and so many of you are tweeting along with one thing consistent – it’s an extremely difficult watch
TOM’S GASLIGHTING WORSENS
Tom’s behaviour is what so many victims and survivors of abuse recognise. Attributing blame, changing narratives, trying to make someone paranoid
It’s not your fault, Belle. A very tough watch – but Eden Taylor-Draper and James Chase are playing their roles hauntingly well
Please protect Piper at all costs!
We’re all horrified once more by how Tom is treating not just Belle but also her beloved pet and show boss Laura Shaw told us recently she expected backlash.
‘I don’t think having such a cute dog has helped!’ she quipped. ‘Whenever you put any pet in danger on Emmerdale everyone goes up in arms about it. Did I expect it? Yes.’
She continued: ‘Piper will certainly have a future role in the story. I’m joking about it but it’s research-led. One of the things we found is that that’s one of the things that abusers will use, they use a family pet, people you love, they’ll use them as weapons against you.
‘So this is all based on research, I promise you it’s not just us being mean to the dog for the sake of it.’
Luckily, Emmerdale has confirmed that off-screen, the dog is treated like royalty.
OH NO…
A warning issued before the episode confirms something worrying about poor Piper
Feeling tense already – we all know this vibe isn’t going to last at all
Me getting ready to live-blog…
ANOTHER SNEAK PEEK
With not long to go, here is another teaser clip as Belle makes a worrying discovery about Tom’s true motives
JIMMY KING IS QUITE CORRECT…
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!
We want to know what you think as the episode goes on, so feel free to put your thoughts and reactions under this tweet and we will share some as we continue to regularly update this blog
FLASHBACK KICKS OFF WEEK OF HORROR FOR BELLE
Tonight’s Emmerdale is kicking off in around half an hour on ITV. You will remember that Cain and Charity burst into the cottage to find the place trashed and a worrying blood stain.
Here’s how the episode opens, turning back time to the start of the week where we will discover what truly happened.
If you are impacted by any of the subject matter, details on support around domestic abuse can be found here
