Emmerdale's Belle Dingle faces new Tom King horror as Cain speaks out

Emmerdale spoilers follow from Wednesday's episode (21 October), which is available to watch now on ITVX and YouTube but hasn't aired on ITV1 yet.

Emmerdale's Belle Dingle is horrified tonight when she realises that her brother Cain expects evil Tom King to strike again.

The Dingles have been thrown into fresh turmoil following the news that Belle's abusive ex-husband is due to be released from prison soon.

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Belle is determined that she won't let Tom control her life again, but Rhona Goskirk has privately warned Cain that the family should keep their guard up and expect the worst.

Tom was a master manipulator when he was in the village last time, and although he'll be released under strict licence conditions, it's unclear whether he'll actually stick to these.

In tonight's episode, Cain gives Belle's boyfriend Kammy Hadiq some home truths, fearing that he's too complacent about the Tom situation.

Cain warns: "You don't understand – Tom King is dangerous. Knowing him, he'll probably turn up here and start causing bother. We need to be ready – all of us."

The village hardman is mortified when he realises that Belle has overheard every word. Will Cain's panic have an impact on Belle, or will she stick to her stance that she can't keep worrying about Tom?

Related: 13 huge Emmerdale spoilers for next week (25 to 30 October)

Although Tom hasn't reappeared on screen yet, James Chase – who plays the villain – will return in the coming weeks.

"Stepping back into Tom's shoes is a responsibility I don't take lightly," James said recently. "He is a character driven by obsession and a desperate need for control, and it is both fascinating and challenging to step back into that mindset.

"The audience knows exactly who he is and what he is capable of, so the challenge now is to show the lengths he is willing to go to in order to get what he wants, even if it means dismantling Belle's life all over again. It’s a dark path, and I'm ready to see how far Tom will push it."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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