Emmerdale airs shock exit as fan-favourite character leaves village after 26 years and devastating news
EMMERDALE aired a shock exit as a fan-favourite character left the village after 26 years.
Fans have been left devastated at the recent direction of the long-running ITV soap character.
Eden Taylor-Draper, 26, has portrayed the role of Belle Dingle since 2005.
The character has been a mainstay of the soap since her birth in 1998 and has won the hearts of Emmerdale fans.
Throughout her years on the show, she's been at the centre of huge storylines which have included numerous traumatic relationships and a schizophrenia diagnosis.
In recent months, viewers have been both terrified and heartbroken as her character was the main subject of a coercive control storyline.
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Belle's spouse Tom King (James Chase) subjected her to months of verbal and physical abuse.
After secretly filming her in her house, he also tricked her into thinking her beloved dog Piper was dead, only for Belle to see the truth behind her marriage.
She eventually put an end to her relationship as she told the truth to her family and loved ones in an attempt to break free.
However, Tom made life very difficult for Belle in the village and has been flaunting his relationship with Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell).
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Earlier this month, viewers tuned into the soap to see Belle attack her estranged husband with an axe as the police maintain scrutiny.
Although they are required to maintain distance under her bail conditions, Belle suspected that Tom had sent her condolence roses.
She thought he was once again trying to emotionally manipulate her after the death of her father Zak (Steve Halliwell).
Although he denied sending her the flowers, Belle did not believe him as she threw the bouquet at him.
He then went straight to the police which led to Belle's arrest and a stern warning.
The authorities warned her that she would be sent to jail if she did not stay away from Tom.
Belle Dingle's biggest Emmerdale storylines
Mineshaft fall
One of her first storylines occured when the character was just seven-years-old. She was under the care of her uncle Shadrach Dingle (Andy Devine), who fell asleep. Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor) paid them a visit where he brought his pet ferret Spike. Although she was sternly warned against it, Belle let the animal out the cage and chased it through the fields. She she pursued the animal, she accidently fell down a mine shaft and had to be rescued.
Killing of Gemma Andrews
Gemma Andrews was played by actress Tendai Rinomhota. She was initially best friends with Belle before boys got in the way. After various dramatic moments, they got into an altercation. Belle pushed her to the ground in anger and Gemma hit her head. Belle was apologetic and she tried to help, but Gemma told her to stay away and they walked off in different directions. However, Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) was left horrified after she found Gemma's body near a hedge and she later passed away in hospital. Although Belle confessed her actions to Lisa (Jane Cox), her mother told her not to go to the police. But she later left the funeral to hand herself in, where she was charged with murder.
Jermaine Bailey affair
Belle first encountered Dr. Jermaine Bailey (Micah Balfour) when she needed treatment after she cut her hand on some glass. She was initially attracted to him, although she soon found out that he was already married. They could not stay away from each other as they met up at a factory to have sex. However, they accidentally started a fire when a candle was knocked into a bin. When he found out she was just 17-years-old, he tried to end their relationship, but they soon got back together. Belle later confessed the details of the affair to Jermaine's wife, Angie Bailey (Nina Toussaint-White), after she became suspicious. Although he revealed plans to leave, she told him that she was pregnant. However she was actually faking it in an attempt to prevent him from leaving.
Schizophrenia diagnosis
After the details about the affair were revealed, Belle had a breakdown in the café. After paramedics were called, Belle went missing. A body was found by the police, but Zak (Steve Halliwell) and Lisa were relieved when they went to identify the body to discover that it was not Belle. After living rough, she collapsed from malnutrition and dehydration and was taken to hospital. When Zak and Lisa visited, Belle lashed out as she thought they would kill her. Belle was later assessed by doctors and after she claims that she could hear more than one voice, Jermaine thought she might have schizophrenia. The Dingle parents are informed that it might be best to send Belle to a unit in Surrey to recover from the episode. Six weeks later she returns to the village to visit her family.
Lachlan White
Belle was known for her relationship with Lachlan White (Thomas Atkinson). The actor was known amongst soap fans for his portrayal of the serial killer from 2014 until September 2018. During his killing spree, he committed a number of murders. These included his mum and grandfather, Chrissie and Lawrence White, his best friend Gerry Roberts and a conman who pretended to be Gerry’s uncle. He attempted to kill rival Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) and Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele) when he believed she discovered him. Many viewers also believed he had killed his aunt Rebecca, but both times she was revealed to be alive. When his crimes were discovered, he tried to go on the run where he kidnapped his girlfriend Belle Dingle. She then tried to escape, but was run over by Robert and Ross Barton (Michael Parr) who were looking for the duo.
Tom King
Belle married Thomas King (James Chase) in 2024, but soon after the marriage descended into chaos as Belle became part of a coercive control storyline. He locked her inside the house, secretly filmed her using CCTV, and subjected her to severe mental and physical abuse. He would also emotionally manipulate her too as he regulated and disposed of some of her mental health medication. After he made her think her beloved dog piper was killed in a road accident, she soon discovered his true nature. She tied to break free of his grip by telling her family. After he then tried to make her life hell in revenge, she attacked him with an axe in an act of desperation.
The storyline took a poignant turn on Thursday as a distressed Belle continued to spiral after her father's passing.
She attempted to exhume the grave of Zak as she desperately wanted his assistance.
Sam (James Hooton) and Lydia (Karen Blick) discovered her and offered their support.
They decided to contact the crisis team as they noticed the deterioration of her mental health once again.
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Much to the horror of fans, it was later revealed that Belle had departed the village as she had been admitted to a secure unit.
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