ITV Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle star issues plea for character return after Tom King attack

Emmerdale favourite Piper has been missing from the village after falling victim to abusive Tom King in a dark storyline and now her devastated owner Belle is calling for her return

Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle Dingle, has confessed she’s rooting for Piper the dog to make an unexpected return to the ITV soap. The village has been left with a gaping hole after the beloved canine was seemingly taken out by evil Tom King (James Chase) in a vile scheme.

In scenes that had viewers recoiling in horror last month, the dastardly Tom ran over Piper with his car and then duped his on-screen wife, played by Eden Taylor-Draper, into believing he stumbled upon the injured pet.

The plot thickened when Belle was heartbroken at the vet’s, where Tom chillingly agreed to put down the severely injured Piper, claiming she couldn’t be saved.

However, in a sinister turn of events, Tom secretly gave Piper away to another family, pinning the blame on “an abusive owner” for her rehoming. This shocking development is just one piece of the larger, harrowing domestic abuse storyline that Belle has been enduring at the hands of her cruel husband.

The twisted vet has been subjecting Belle to emotional and physical torment for months, even spinning lies to their loved ones to paint himself as the aggrieved party, reports Leeds Live.

**Tom ran over Piper in a sickening act** (Image: ITV)

Soap enthusiasts have also witnessed Tom using Piper as a pawn in his manipulative games, including locking the poor pooch outside to control Belle.

In a chat with Digital Spy, actress Eden Taylor-Draper expressed her eagerness to see Piper trot back to Belle’s side sooner rather than later.

The 26-year-old Emmerdale star gushed about her character’s bond with the beloved dog Piper: “I would love that more than anything, because Piper meant everything to Belle. When Belle and Tom are in the holiday cottage in Wales, Belle didn’t leave because she was hurt she left because Piper was hurt and that is huge.

**Tom gave Piper to another family** (Image: ITV)

“Piper is Belle’s little lifeline and has saved her. For her to know her best friend is there, of course, she would fight to get her back and I hope that happens.”

In a twist away from the Yorkshire Dales, the real-life Piper, played by canine actor Minnie, is in the running for the Best Pet accolade at the glam Inside Soap Awards 2024 this month.

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV.