Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle star Eden Taylor-Draper recently shared the sweet way that the Dingles cast celebrate milestones on the iconic ITV soap

Emmerdale fans have been gripped by the Dingles’ dramatic storylines recently and there’s more heartache on the horizon for the iconic soap family.

Next week’s episodes will deliver a poignant moment as the Dingles come to terms with the loss of their patriarch, Zak Dingle. The show has hinted at an emotional return of a long-lost relative for Zak’s funeral.

Steve Halliwell, who portrayed Zak, tragically passed away last December at the age of 77. The actor had been playing the iconic Zak since 1994 and quickly became a beloved figure among viewers. Following Zak’s demise, the soap’s creators have incorporated a death storyline for the beloved actor and character.

Elsewhere in the village, Belle Dingle, portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper, has been at the forefront of a harrowing abuse plot involving Tom King, played by newcomer James Chase. Earlier this year, Eden opened up about her character’s intense storyline during a chat that also touched upon her tenure on the popular ITV series, reports the Mirror.

Eden, who has been a fixture on Emmerdale as Belle since 2005, is gearing up to mark two decades in the Dales in 2025. During a recent appearance on Lorraine, stand-in host Christine Lampard quizzed Eden about her upcoming anniversary and how she plans to celebrate.

Reflecting on her 20-year milestone with the ITV soap, Eden shared: “I feel like, as the Dingles, we’ve kind of started this thing where when you get to a big anniversary, you get an engraved bracelet from the Dingles. So I really want, I want that bracelet!

“There’s only a few, James [Hooton, who plays Sam Dingle], Jeff [Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle], Jane [Cox, who played Lisa Dingle] had one, so I feel like I want to be in the gang, I’m nearly there!”

The popular ITV soap has been delving into a harrowing coercive control storyline involving Belle this year, with viewers witnessing Tom’s isolation and manipulation of his now former partner. In gripping recent episodes, Belle turned herself in to the police after defending herself against Tom with an axe when he attempted to end her life, subsequently reporting his abuse.

Yet, in a chilling move typical of Tom, he has wiped all evidence of his abusive behaviour towards Belle, including erasing surveillance footage that showed him spying on his spouse. As Belle desperately searches for proof to support her claims, a confident Tom is working overtime to convince everyone that Belle is fabricating the abuse and is suffering from a breakdown.

Emmerdale airs every week night at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.