Emmerdale twist as Belle arrives at Tom King trial to tell her story | Soaps

There were many concerned Dingle faces at the start of Wednesday’s (December 18) episode of Emmerdale. It was the day of the start of Tom King’s (James Chase) trial and the star witness, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), was nowhere to be found. She had left a note and disappeared.

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

Charity (Emma Atkins) told her family that Tom was definitely not suicidal and had to admit that she knew for sure because she had tricked herself into seeing him in hospital.

She also had to admit that she had told him things that made him realize how much Belle was struggling – and she had probably made things worse.

The family spread out to look for Belle. Meanwhile, Ollie (Alistair Toovey) told Tom that Belle was a no-show at court.

Triumphant, Tom said that he would be able to ‘destroy’ Belle in her absence, and he was absolutely certain that he could convince the jury that he is an innocent man.

Ollie was alarmed to hear Tom say that once he was acquitted he would go 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 gathered at the court for the trial to begin. Amelia (Daisy Campbell) was in a panic, realizing that the entire weight of the prosecution’s argument could fall on her shoulders if Belle was not there to testify. She was afraid she would say the wrong thing and Tom might go free because of her.

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

Parts of the trial will feature stories taken from real-life cases where the charity Refuge is involved in the research. As jurors, Denise, Charles and Jack will show the jury’s deliberations as they try to reach a verdict.

“Like many people, I have been captivated by the Belle and Tom story, so it was an honor to play a juror in the culmination of the story,” said Denise Welch.

‘My character Heidi was more emotionally involved, so I felt she might have experienced some form of domestic violence herself. The subject is one I’m passionate about and sharing the jury scenes with Charlie Dale and Jack Ellis and also seeing many of my Emmerdale mates made it a job to remember.’

But before the jury can reach a verdict, the evidence must be heard. Right at the end of tonight’s episode, when the Dingles had given up hope that Belle would show up, she finally did.

Belle was prepared to face anything Tom’s lawyers could throw at her, and she was resolute.

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

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