Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) decided to seek help from the mental health
team in Emmerdale, admitting herself to a secure unit after she started to hear voices
in her head. The former events planner, as viewers know, was has been through
a devastating ordeal this past year at the hands of husband Tom King (James Chase), who abused her for months on end. Belle tried to dig up Zak’s grave, believing that he was speaking to her (Picture: ITV) Belle bravely told her loved ones about what she’d been subjected to at Dale Head while married to Tom, with the Dingles vowing support her in whatever way they can as she thought about pursuing justice. Tom, meanwhile, played the victim and continued to taunt Belle, leaving her terrified for her life – so much so that she attacked him with an axe, something which Tom attempted to use to his advantage, agreeing to keep shtum about her involvement if she dropped the abuse allegations. Belle, however, refused to do so and instead reported him to the police for abuse.
The axe incident meant that she had to keep her distance but, following the death of her beloved dad Zak (Steve Halliwell), she came to believe that Tom was toying with her once more and thus she confronted him outside Victoria Cottage. Tom used this to his advantage as well, reporting Belle for breaking her bail conditions, which resulted in her being arrested. DS Foy made it clear that he believes Belle is telling the truth about Tom’s abuse but urged her to stay away from him, otherwise she risks prison. Belle broke down over the incident and subsequently headed to Zak’s grave, where she started speaking to him. It became clear that she believed that Zak was responding to her – and that she was hearing voices.
Lydia (Karen Blick) was concerned for her mental health, as was Sam (James Hooton), with both characters aware that Belle was suffering more than she was letting on. In emotional scenes, Belle struggled to silence the voices in her head and, unable to hear Zak any longer, she proceeded to dig at her dad’s grave. Lydia witnessed the scene unfold and swiftly notified Sam, as the pair of them offered her support. Realising that Belle was hearing voices again, Lydia recommended notifying Rachel from the mental health team and Belle agreed, knowing that she needs help. Belle admitted herself to a secure unit and Cain (Jeff Hordley) was riddled with guilt for not spotting how much she was struggling – especially when he went to visit Belle and she didn’t see him. Tom, meanwhile, believed that he could use Belle’s decision to go to a secure unit to his advantage, claiming to anyone that would listen that this backs up his version of events. Will Belle get justice? Or will Tom get away with his crimes?
