Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has weighed in on the aftermath of
Belle Dingle’s story following the verdict of Tom King’s trial.
Tom was recently charged with assault and coercive behaviour on his
wife Belle for over a year, but Taylor-Draper said the Emmerdale team was adamant not to let Belle’s story end after the guilty verdict. “I don’t think there’ll be an end-point to that journey or that healing,” she told Digital Spy and other media.
“Speaking to the producers and the research team, everyone’s so passionate that this story doesn’t end when this side of the story ends,” she continued.
“There’s a whole other world to explore with it. I guess this is the side that you don’t often see, the aftermath and the healing. I’m really proud that it’s something they’re so focused on getting right as well.”
Draper-Taylor looked at possibilities for Belle to move forward, highlighting the importance of continuing her story as a survivor.
“For Belle to go and speak to women’s refuges or however she deals with it, I think that’ll be great to show,” the soap star said.
“So I don’t think there’ll be an end-point to that. A bit like her psychosis, that’s always going to be a part of her. Instead of it being something she feels is holding her back I think hopefully it’ll be a strength.”
Taylor-Draper also celebrated Belle’s dog Piper, who played a crucial role during Tom’s abuse and is likely to continue being a part of Belle’s recovery storyline.
“100% I think Piper will be a part of that journey,” she said, recognising how Tom’s violence towards Piper prompted Belle to expose his abuse.
“In the cottage, I spoke to the writers about it at the time and they said in certain situations like this often it’s when someone else is put in danger, that’s when the victim feels they need to do something,” she said.
“It’s not about themselves necessarily. So when Piper was tied up outside, that’s when Belle was like, ‘That’s enough now.’ Piper is everything to her and I do think in a way she’s saved her from this situation. I guess it’s like her little therapy dog throughout all of it. “
