Emmerdale legend leaves the Dales after 26 years in heartbreaking twist
Emmerdale's Belle Dingle has been a staple on the soap for 26 years, but the beloved character has now left the Dales after a dramatic few months - will she return?
Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle, played by Eden Taylor-Draper, has bid farewell to the Dales after a tumultuous few months.
The character, who first graced our screens in 1998 as the daughter of Zak (Steve Halliwell) and Lisa (Jane Cox), has been a fan favourite for years. Belle has been at the centre of several major storylines, particularly in recent months with her harrowing domestic abuse plot involving husband Tom King (James Chase).
Viewers will remember the verbal and physical torment Belle endured at the hands of Tom. In addition to his attacks on Belle, Tom also targeted her beloved dog Piper, leading her to believe the pet was dead when it wasn’t.
Belle eventually broke free from Tom’s control, revealing the truth to her family and seeking to escape his grasp. However, Tom continued to make life difficult for Belle, refusing to let her go.
Earlier this month, Belle attacked Tom with an axe and is now under police investigation. The couple are legally obliged to avoid each other, but Belle violated her bail conditions this week, suspecting that Tom had sent her roses following the death of her father Zak, reports Leeds Live.
Tom denied sending the flowers, which resulted in an angry Belle throwing the bouquet at him. Tom subsequently reported Belle to the police for breaching her bail conditions, leading to her arrest.
Before her release, Belle received a stern warning from the police that any further contact with Tom would land her in jail. However, it soon became evident that her mental health was deteriorating as she began to hear the voice of her deceased father.
In an emotional twist during Thursday’s episode (October 24), a distressed Belle attempted to exhume Zak’s grave in a desperate plea for his assistance. Concerned, Sam (James Hooton) and Lydia (Karen Blick) found Belle and offered their support, agreeing to contact the crisis team once more regarding her mental collapse. It was later confirmed that Belle had left the village and been admitted to a secure unit.
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm