Emmerdale’s beloved character, Belle Dingle, played by Eden Taylor-Draper, has bid farewell to the Dales after a tumultuous few months.
Born in 1998, Belle, who is the daughter of Zak, portrayed by Steve Halliwell and Lisa, played by Jane Cox, quickly became a fan favourite. She was at the centre of several major storylines, particularly her recent domestic abuse plot with on-screen husband James Chase who plays Tom King.
Fans will remember how Tom subjected Belle to months of verbal and physical abuse, even mistreating her cherished dog Piper. Thankfully, Belle managed to break free from Tom’s grip and confided in her family about her ordeal, Leeds Live reports.
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 investigation.
The couple are legally obliged to avoid each other, but Belle violated her bail conditions this week when she suspected Tom had sent her roses following Zak’s death.
Tom denied sending the flowers, leading to an exasperated Belle throwing the bouquet at him. Tom subsequently reported Belle to the police for breaching her bail conditions, resulting in her arrest.
Before her release, Belle was cautioned by the police that she would face prison if she approached Tom again. Subsequently, it became evident that her mental health had deteriorated when she was seen conversing with her deceased father, believing she could hear his voice.
In Thursday’s episode (October 24), the storyline took a poignant turn as a distressed Belle attempted to exhume Zak’s grave for assistance. A concerned Sam (James Hooton) and Lydia (Karen Blick) discovered Belle and offered their support, agreeing to contact the crisis team once more regarding her mental collapse.
Later, it was confirmed that Belle had departed the village and been admitted to a secure unit.
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