Emmerdale icon ‘chaIIenged Iike never before’ as she tackIes ‘difficult to watch’ scenes

Emma Dale legend Emma Atkins reveals that her co-star Eden Taylor-Draper has faced unprecedented challenges with her gripping domestic abuse storyline. Fans of the ITV soap know that Belle Dingle is currently under the control of her manipulative husband, Tom King. Upcoming scenes confirm that Charity Dingle becomes suspicious of their relationship.

Emma Atkins opened up about her character, Charity, being involved in this difficult-to-watch storyline and her experience working with Eden, who has portrayed Belle since 2005. Emma shared, “I love Eden with all my heart. Working with her, especially since we also see each other socially, is fantastic. We have some intense scenes coming up, and she’s going to stay over so we can really dive into the material and make it meaningful.”

Emma praised Eden’s performance, saying, “She’s truly remarkable and has come into her own, facing challenges like never before and stepping up beautifully. I’m really proud of her as a friend. Watching her work, especially in such strong and emotional scenes, has been intense. I spend a lot of time screaming at Tom. It’s tough to watch, but it’s a great opportunity for Charity to be there for Belle.”

The storyline with Belle and Tom has dominated the soap since they tied the knot on Valentine’s Day, with their relationship deteriorating over the past few months. Producer Laura Shaw revealed she has been blown away by the audience’s reaction and hinted at when Tom might finally be exposed. Laura told the press, “We wanted to tell this story truthfully and authentically. For those subjected to domestic abuse, this isn’t something that resolves quickly. It goes on for a long time, and we wanted to reflect that reality.”

Laura confirmed that the storyline is expected to run until the end of the year. She added, “While some characters might start questioning things, it’s often difficult for outsiders to piece everything together. The audience reaction has been phenomenal, and we’re receiving letters and comments from people who have found the courage to speak out. That’s our goal.”

She concluded by saying, “We will see Tom finding new ways to manipulate and control Belle, leading to an escalation in their storyline.”

Stay tuned to Emmerdale for more gripping episodes and see how this intense storyline unfolds.