There were a lot of worried Dingle faces at the start of Wednesday (December 18)’s

episode of Emmerdale. It was the day of the start of Tom King (James Chase)’s trial

and the star witness, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), was nowhere to be found. She’d left a note and vanished.

The family knew that Belle had been struggling as the trial approached, specifically because manipulative Tom had staged a ‘suicide’ attempt which had had the desired effect of making Belle scared that, if he died, she would be responsible.

She’s ready (Picture: ITV)

Charity (Emma Atkins) told her family that Tom was most definitely not suicidal, and had to admit that she knew this for certain because she’d tricked her way in to see him in hospital.

She also had to confess that she’d told him things that made him realise how much Belle was struggling – and she’d probably made things worse.

The family all dispersed to look for Belle. Meanwhile, Ollie (Alistair Toovey) was telling Tom that Belle was a no-show at court.

Triumphant Tom said that he’d be able to ‘destroy’ Belle in her absence and he was absolutely confident that he could persuade the jury that he’s an innocent man.

Ollie was disturbed to hear Tom say that when he was acquitted he would be heading straight back to Emmerdale to ‘take great pleasure in rubbing each and every one of their noses in it.’ He laughed as he declared, ‘I’m getting my life back!’

Everyone was assembling at the court for the trial to begin. Amelia (Daisy Campbell) was panicking, realising that the whole weight of the prosecution’s argument might fall on her shoulders if Belle wasn’t there to testify. She was scared she would say the wrong thing and Tom might walk free because of her.

We saw some of the jurors enter the court, and you may have recognised a few famous faces among them. Tomorrow’s hour-long special will feature guest stars Denise Welch, Charles Dale and Jack Ellis, all legendary TV and soap stalwarts.

Parts of the trial episode will contain stories taken from real-life cases, with the charity Refuge being involved in the research. As jurors, Denise, Charles and Jack will show the deliberations of the jury as they try to reach a verdict.

‘Like many I’ve been gripped by the Belle and Tom storyline so to play a head juror in the story’s culmination was an honour,’ Denise Welch said.

‘My character Heidi was more emotionally involved so I felt that maybe she had experienced some form of domestic abuse herself. The subject matter is one I’m passionate about and to share the jury scenes with Charlie Dale and Jack Ellis and also to see lots of my Emmerdale mates made it a job to remember.’

But before the jury can reach a verdict the evidence has to be heard. Right at the end of tonight’s episode, as the Dingles were giving up hope of Belle showing up, she finally appeared.

Prepared to face whatever Tom’s lawyers could throw her way, Belle was resolute.

‘It’s time for me to tell my story,’ she told Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Charity.