Emmerdale’s Tom King (James Chase) is being released early from his three-year stint inside for assault and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) has been working hard to rebuild her life since Tom nearly destroyed it with his abuse. She’s back on track with her business and her relationship with Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) is going great guns – perfect time for Tom to rock back up and destroy it all.
Belle’s devastated and terrified when Victim Liaison Office arrives to deliver the bad news that Tom will be released soon. Belle’s somewhat reassured that he legally can’t come anywhere near her, but Kammy isn’t convinced she’s ok.
It doesn’t help when the local vicar pokes his nose in – Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin) overhears Belle chatting with Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler), Tom’s aunt, about it all, and Charles steps in to say Tom is a changed man after forgiveness. He’s been lending his ear to the criminal as the prison chaplain. His comment hints that Tom is keen to see her again.
Belle feels disgusted that Tom is already trying to worm his way back in via the vicar. There’s only one thing for it – to see him for herself.
It’s a balsy, if not brash move, and thankfully she has the sensible heads of Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and Kammy to talk her down. But she’s terrified Tom will come and find her anyway – perhaps meeting him face to face would have given her some control rather than him pop out of the shadows at the Homestead like he’s done before.
It’s Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) who comes to her rescue, chatting about her own experiences with Pierce and it helps Belle to see that she hasn’t lost her control at all. She still holds the power, and she walks away feeling miles better.
But Rhona holds a dark truth. She secretly warns Cain that if Tom comes back, he’ll be more dangerous than ever. Her reassurances to Belle were just platitudes.
Producer Laura Shaw has already confirmed that there are dark times ahead for Belle, having said that the storyline will be ‘reigniting a complex and challenging story’, suggesting Belle’s efforts to keep him away will likely be unsuccessful and that the danger Rhona refers to could quickly become real.
Kammy feels seriously protective of Belle and overwhelmed by his feelings, he blurts out that he loves her. Belle is stunned into running away, unable to cope with this new massive set of emotions. Will just the thought of Tom coming back ruin things for her and Kammy? Can Kammy save her from Tom?
Laura Shaw said of this story: ‘When Belle gets the news that Tom is up for parole she’s forced to confront a trauma she battled hard to overcome.
‘With her family and new partner Kammy by her side, we explore the lasting impact of Tom’s abusive actions on Belle as she fights to keep Tom away from the village.’
Discussing his return to the show, James added: ‘Stepping back into Tom’s shoes is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. He is a character driven by obsession and a desperate need for control, and it is both fascinating and challenging to step back into that mindset.
‘The audience knows exactly who he is and what he is capable of, so the challenge now is to show the lengths he is willing to go to in order to get what he wants, even if it means dismantling Belle’s life all over again. It’s a dark path, and I’m ready to see how far Tom will push it.’