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Emmerdale airs return of twisted villain 21 months since last appearance in early ITVX release

Warning: Contains spoilers for Thursday's episode of Emmerdale, which airs at 8pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.

Emmerdale logo over a scene of some darkened woodland

ITV

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 7:30 am

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Tom King (James Chase) has returned to Emmerdale in today's (Thursday 4 November ) instalment.

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The vile character's return was confirmed in September, almost two years since he made his last appearance. Between 2023 and 2024, fans of the ITV soap watched in horror as Tom physically, verbally and psychologically abused his wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper).

Despite initial warning signs during their engagement, she proceeded with their wedding. His behaviour spiralled from cruel comments to forcing her to have sex with him, before turning violent and leaving Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) for dead.

He smashed late mother Lisa's urn, faked the death of their beloved family pet Piper and recorded her every move using hidden CCTV cameras that he planted in her house.

Tom was eventually sentenced, but as episodes have shown over the last week, he's due for imminent release.

Kammy, Sam and Cain look at a wreath made of dead flowers in a scene from Emmerdale

Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq and James Hooten and Jeff Hordley as Sam and Cain Dingle. ITV

In today's episode, Belle's boyfriend Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) was spooked to find a wreath of dead flowers on the doorstep of Wishing Well Cottage. The card attached was addressed to Belle, and her elder brother Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was convinced that Tom had sent it as a threat.

Kammy suggested telling her, but Cain was firmly against it - worried that it would only make her more concerned about his potential return to the village. Sam Dingle (James Hooten) then suggested that it was unlikely Tom would ruin his chance of freedom just weeks before release.

Under the guise of attending a hospital appointment, Cain went to the prison to visit Tom. It was clear that he wasn't a changed man, and made a pointed comment about knowing that Cain is battling prostate cancer.

When the wreath was mentioned, Tom said that he had no knowledge of it, and reaffirmed what Sam said about not wanting to jeopardise what was lying ahead.

Tom King stood behind bars in a scene from Emmerdale

James Chase as Tom King. ITV

Little did Cain realise, back at home, Belle's wedding client Caz was apologising for the wreath. Her controlling fiancé Jordan had sent it to her after they clashed during a meeting the previous day, and it signposted to her that he might not be a good man.

Belle asked her to open up about what seemed to be a controlling relationship, offering her support and guidance. For the first time, Belle was looking at the situation from the other side of the table, and it was proving cathartic.

But given Tom clearly hasn't changed, should she be worried about his eventual return?

Read more:

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Authors

Michael Adams wearing a white t-shirt and beige gilet against a white background

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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