The word ‘monster’ is chucked around a lot in soap, but Emmerdale’s Tom King (James Chase) certainly fits the bill.
While the King family were known to have a deep pool of darkness bubbling under their pristine, well-to-do surface, no other member of the family ever reached the sheer heights of evil that Tom did.
His campaign of terror against wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) was vicious, vile and utterly unrelenting, and eventually landed him behind bars when Belle summoned the courage to fight back, though Tom is due to be released imminently, and the news that her abuser is soon to be free is set to shake Belle to her core, as she understandably worries about her safety.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said of his comeback: ‘James’ return isn’t just about bringing back a familiar face; it’s about reigniting a complex and challenging 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.’
Who is Tom King?
Tom is the son of Carl and Colleen King (Tom Lister and Melanie Ash).
He was initially kept from his dad as his parents navigated a bitter divorce, though he and sister Anya (Ceryen Dean, Millie Archer and Lauren Sheriston) were eventually allowed to visit the village on occasion.
Colleen eventually sent the kids to live with Carl for a while, though they immediately proved to be trouble causers and played havoc in the village, with Tom not returning again until the murder of his dad.
Orchestrating a sinister stalking campaign against Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter), his dad’s ex partner and who he believed had struck the killing blow, he also struck up a brief relationship with Belle Dingle, before his true nature was exposed and he fled to Dubai.
What did Tom King do to Belle Dingle?
A decade later, Tom returned as a qualified vet, having shed his teenage angst and reinvented himself as a charming, suave young man who instantly recaptured Belle’s attention, leading to them rekindling their romance.
Despite his incredibly polished veneer, red flags appeared early, and after he and Belle married, he forced her to sleep on the sofa after she wanted to spend time with her family and read a letter from her late mum, Lisa (Jane Cox).
His behaviour continued to flip between obvious love-bombing and pure vitriol as he’d wound her confidence with cruel comments, before showering her with gifts and apologies, keeping her in a constant state of confusion.
He began to isolate her from the rest of the Dingle clan, while installing tracking software on her devices, and placing hidden CCTV cameras throughout their home, using these tactics to maintain knowledge of exactly what she was doing at all times.
Things got progressively worse; Tom locked Belle in the house when a fire broke out, and she was forced to terminate her pregnancy due to her fear of bringing a child into such a poisonous and abusive atmosphere, while he turned his attention to her beloved dog Piper, faking the pet’s death.
As he became more physical and his abuse became fuelled by violence, Belle reported him to the police, though he tracked her down in a further attempt to terrorise her, leading to her striking him with an axe.
When the trial got to court, Belle bravely stood up and reclaimed her power, speaking out about all that Tom had inflicted on her during their time together, despite his best attempts to continue manipulating the narritive.
The jury saw through him and found him guilty, resulting in him being sentenced to three years in prison for assault and coercive controlling behaviour.
What happens next?
Despite Reverend Charles Anderson’s (Kevin Mathurin) insistence, Tom hasn’t changed in his time locked up.
Actor James Chase said of his return: ‘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.’