Belle has finally left Tom in Emmerdale, but we know this is far from over. Suddenly everyone thinks she’s at fault and he’s a good guy, never mind that she’s the quivering wreck, it’s all her fault for having mental health problems. Poor Tom, eh?
Fortunately we know the storyline does have an end point. Unfortunately that end point is still a fair way off.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw recently confirmed to Entertainment Daily!: “We said right from the beginning that we wanted to tell this story as truthfully and as authentically as we can.
“Let’s face it, for people who are subjected to domestic abuse, this isn’t something that’s over in a couple of weeks. This is something that goes on for a long length of time and we wanted to be truthful to that.”
Addressing the length of the storyline, Laura confirmed: “It’s going to run until the end of this year.”
James Chase on the end for Tom in Emmerdale
Meanwhile actor James Chase has confirmed Tom getting his comeuppance is inevitable.
He recently revealed: “He can’t get away with it. She needs justice for what happened to her and I think also the viewer needs that. From all the hell we’ve seen Belle get put through, we have to see her win in the end or at the very least, for him to lose.”
So, what would this mean for Tom? James suggested: “I think definitely at least prison, there needs to be at least that.”
How do Emmerdale fans want it to end for Tom?
It’s a mixed bag for fans of the soap – some want him to die a horrible death. Others are determined he should face justice.
When Tom was recently electrocuted after he had an almighty tantrum and smashed up Moira’s barn, some fans had been hoping he would be killed off and end Belle‘s suffering then and there. But others disagreed.
Tom needs prison
“Tom deserved that, but so glad he’s not been killed off, that would be the easy way out for him. When the truth gets out, Tom needs to be arrested. Feel so sorry for Belle, she nearly managed to escape,” one Emmerdale fan posted on Instagram.
A second agreed: “Hope he doesn’t lie and gets his comeuppance the proper way to set a good example to those who are actually going through something so abhorrent (the good example being that they can get proper justice).”
“Villagers need to know what he has put Belle through and what a nasty piece of work he is. So they can tell him to his face. Apart from that most of them won’t believe it after he has died. They still think he is Mr Wonderful,” one more added.
Piper to eat Tom?!
After last night’s thrilling episode that saw Tom leave Piper outside all night before she and Belle eventually made their escape boarding a bus away from Tom, fans have come up with a different idea of what should happen.
“I predict that Belle kills Tom then feeds his body parts to Piper as final revenge,” said one. A little bit sick, but okay…
It seems someone else agreed: “Stab him in the neck Belle, then dispose of his body by feeding him to Piper.”
“POSION HIS DINNER BELLE!!!!” screamed one more.
Cain to kill Tom
On Tuesday night (July 23) Cain made the threat: “Whatever he’s done, he’s a dead man.” And now viewers are desperate for him to make good on that.
“He’s a dead man!’ PROMISES, PROMISES CAIN! You better deliver!” one fan wrote on X.
Another urged: “Go get the creep Tom, Cain. Knock him out!” A third said: “Make sure you finish him Cain, but not before you make him suffer!”
Finally, another person contributed: “Cain ‘If Tom has hurt Belle, he’s a dead man.’ Just what we’ve wanted to hear for months. Just do it, Cain.”
However one more mused: “Don’t think I want Cain to kill Tom, I want him to torture him the way he’s tortured Belle.”
The Emmerdale Insider team on what should happen to Tom next
We’ve certainly got our opinions here at Emmerdale Insider on how Tom’s comeuppance should be served. In fact, it’s a point of much discussion most days!
Kaggie Hyland, Editor-in-Chief
“I want Tom dead and I want Belle to kill him. Or Piper to rip his throat out.”
Carena Crawford, Editor
“Tom needs to go to prison, but not before Cain has dealt out some justice. But I agree with Belle – I don’t want Cain to go to jail for someone like Tom, so perhaps he could set Moira’s murderous moos on him! Tom definitely needs to suffer before he goes down for a long, long time.”
Tamzin Meyer, Assistant Soap Editor
“I want Tom to go to prison. Justice for Belle!”
Laura Morgan, Freelance Writer
“Tom should rot in prison for what he’s done to Belle. And with any luck he’ll end up in a cell with Matty’s prison bully, Robbo!”
Joel Harley, Freelance Writer
“If I had my way, I’d see Piper the dog chew his nether regions off while he writhes on the floor begging an unsympathetic Belle for mercy… but I’d settle for having Cain, Charity and the Dingles give him a good hiding.”
Read more: The King family tree: Tom King, sons Jimmy, Matthew, Carl and Max and their tragic demise
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.