![FROM ITV Embargoed until: 20:30pm Thursday 22nd February 2024 EMMERDALE 2024 Emmerdale is set to depict Belle and Tom King???s controlling and abusive marital relationship. The newly married couple, played by Eden Taylor Draper and James Chase, have just returned from their honeymoon, but the signs are already apparent that their relationship is not a bed of roses. The night of her wedding we saw Belle question whether she had made the right choice and she is now starting to lose her way in what a normal relationship actually looks like. Her husband Tom is exhibiting clear signs of coercive control and there are indications this could develop into physical abuse as well as mental abuse. Sadly and typically Belle is likely to keep this aspect of their relationship a secret from her nearest and dearest. Picture Contact: david.crook@itv.com Photographer - Mark Bruce This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SEI_192689093-bb46.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=644%2C501)
Tom King (James Chase) has once again reignited his plot to control wife Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) life in Emmerdale.
The couple have thus far had a turbulent relationship, kicking off when she turned down his offer of proposal, causing him to lash out and push her head against the coffee table.
Wracked with guilt, Belle forced herself to plan a perfect proposal, which Tom accepted.
Ahead of their wedding day, he berated her ‘cheap’ wedding dress and later called out her family’s slobby behaviour.
After consummating their marriage, all she longed to do was to read a letter from her much-missed late mum Lisa (Jane Cox), but he didn’t take too kindly to it and made her spend the rest of the night on the sofa.
Eden Taylor-Draper has warned that as this storyline plays out, Tom’s manipulative behaviour is going to get much worse.
In tonight’s (15th March) instalment, Tom’s uncle Jimmy King (Nick Miles) was upset that he and wife Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) had nobody to look after his sons Elliot (Luca Hoyle) and Carl (Charlie Joyce) whilst they visited daughter Angelica (Rebecca Bakes) at her youth detention centre in Bristol.
Coming to the rescue, Tom agreed that he and Belle would mind the lads – much to her annoyance as she had an important business proposal to write up.
At Victoria Cottage, Elliot and Carl ran rings around the pair, with Belle struggling to concentrate on her work.
Tom noticed her annoyances and said that it would be good practice for when they have kids of their own, something which he said they look at doing soon.
Belle seemed dismayed at the idea, and even more so when he questioned why she was working so much as he could support them both.
Citing that she wanted to retain her independence, she began clearing up the mess that the boys had made and discovered that a pizza box had leaked grease through onto her laptop – with her hard work lost forever.
Will Belle be able to escape before it’s too late?
