Emmerdale airs a tense showdown for Belle Dingle and Tom King in Wednesday’s episode.
James Chase has reprised his role as evil Tom for a brief return, which brings closure to the ITV soap’s domestic abuse storyline.
This week, viewers have seen Belle confide in her loved ones about how she wants to divorce Tom now that they’ve reached their one-year wedding anniversary.
Belle is hoping to make a fresh start with her life now that Tom is in prison, but she fears that he’ll cause more trouble by dragging the divorce out for as long as possible.
Meanwhile, Tom has been brooding in prison during the first weeks of his three-year sentence.
Viewers have seen Tom in conversations with the jail’s chaplain about wanting to see Belle – while secretly hoping to find a way to regain control.
In Wednesday’s episode, Belle goes ahead and visits the prison to talk through the divorce with Tom in person.
Understandably, it’s a frightening moment for Belle as she comes face-to-face with her abuser for the first time since December.
Tom believes that he’s holding all the cards, but fans have seen Belle’s self-confidence return since his imprisonment. How will the meeting go?
Fans can see how the drama unfolds in full on ITVX right now, or tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1.
James Chase left Emmerdale as a regular cast member late last year, after Tom was found guilty of assault and coercive behaviour at his trial.
Speaking afterwards, James commented: “I always knew to some extent he was going to lose, because we had always had that conversation. Months ago, the producers and I spoke and I agreed with them that Tom had to get his comeuppance.
“So I always knew he was going to [face justice], to some extent. I didn’t initially know in what form the justice would take. At one point, I thought maybe he’d get killed off, but I knew it would be either killed off or sent to prison.
“It was really important that Belle got justice, because Tom has just done so many things to her. Not only was it important for Belle but it was important for the viewers to see that it can happen. Obviously, there are so many people affected by this kind of thing.
“Unfortunately, I believe it’s all too rare in real life for the victim to get through the system and get the justice they deserve. So I think it was nice to see and hopefully give hope that it can happen.”
