Emmerdale: Belle strikes Tom with an axe
Emmerdale viewers are speculating that a notorious villain may have made a return to the village, being the 'true' perpetrator behind Tom King's (played by James Chase) stabbing.
In Friday's episode, Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) was seen rushing to the hospital to check on her husband's condition post-attack. However, she was intercepted by Vinny (Bradley Johnson) and Sam (James Hooton), who were determined to prevent her from making any rash decisions.
Belle, confused, asked: "What is going on? " to which Vinny responded: "You shouldn't be here."
When questioned about Tom's status, Sam expressed his hope that Tom would not survive, stating that it would be "the best for all of us."
"I need to go in there," Belle insisted, attempting to push past her family members. Vinny pleaded with her: "You need to go home, I am begging you, Belle," reports Leeds Live.
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"Vinny is right, you are going to blow everything," Sam warned.
"I already have, haven't I, Sam? If Tom dies, that is another life I have taken, how do I live with myself? " Belle questioned, adding: "And if he survives, if he lands me in it, then my life is over. So whatever happens I am screwed."
"He has won, hasn't he?" A distraught Belle cried.
Despite Belle's confession to her family that she was responsible for Tom's stabbing, fans aren't entirely convinced and believe someone else might be the actual culprit.
While some suspect her brother Cain (Jeff Hordley), others think Lydia (Karen Blick) could be involved. However, a significant number of fans are pointing fingers at Lachlan (Thomas Atkinson) as the potential offender.
Lachlan, played by Thomas Atkinson, was notorious for wreaking havoc in Emmerdale, concluding with the murders of his on-screen mother Chrissie Sugden (Louise Marwood) and grandfather Lawrence White (John Bowe). His reign of terror came to an end when he was captured in 2018.
Devoted fans on a dedicated Facebook fan page have been concocting theories about the soap's latest plot twist involving Tom. A user speculated: "I think it's Lachlan who got to Tom. Ross comes back to search for the killer of his wife who is in the village and I think it's Lachlan."
Curiosity spurred another to ponder: "Why Lachlan? I think somehow it was Cain."
An additional voice chimed in: "Lachlan could have escaped or got an early release."
Another fan mused: "Lachlan, now that would be interesting, wasn't he worse than Tom?"
The debate continued as one proposed: "Could be Ross," and another predicted: "I think it's Lydia."
The fate of Tom hangs in the balance and with it the future of Belle; if Tom succumbs to his injuries, she may find herself off the hook, but if he survives, it could spell disaster for the Dingle family mainstay.
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV.
