Emmerdale fans hit out at ITV soap and rant it’s ‘turned into a comedy’ after ‘ruined’ Belle Dingle plot

EMMERDALE fans have been left furious with the show after 'ruining' the long-running Belle Dingle abuse plot.

For months, fans of the ITV soap opera have witnessed on-screens how Belle has been subjected to vile abuse at the hands of her deeply evil husband Tom King.

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Tom has repeatedly controlled her, abused her and subjected her to his cruel ways of torment.

In shocking scenes last week, his ways drove Belle to breaking point after he locked her insider her own home with him.

Belle was then seen brandishing a gun at Tom as she finally snapped and took aim at her husband.

Amid a cat and mouse chasing game, Tom eventually wrested the gun off Belle before she ploughed an axe into his back.

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In the following episode, convinced that she had killed him, Belle and the rest of the Dingle clan came up with a plan to hide Tom's body and to cover-up his 'murder'.

Lydia, Sam and Vinny all helped with the plan to get rid of Tom's body and ensure his death was not linked to the family.

Nervous Vinny repeatedly insisted that they should phone the police and say Belle acted in self-defence but Lydia knew that the cops would not take it seriously and that Belle would be jailed for the crime.

But fans have since branded it a 'farce' that the storyline quickly turned into how best cover up a murder rather than focus on the actual abuse at hand and what Belle had been going through.

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They were left reeling after suggesting that Emmerdale bosses had made a mockery of what was really going on.

Hitting out online, one enraged soap superfan said: "What the f*** is Friday's episode of #emmerdale. It's turned belles serious storyline into a fucking comedy with Sam Lydia and Vinny trying to hide a body which goes on a walkabout.

"I feel like I'm watching a slasher movie from the 80s."

Another added: "Emmerdale have officially lost me now. They’ve taken a really important topical storyline and turned it into a farce/slapstick comedy. I’m done."

A third went on to say: "The way this episode has panned out so far is a total insult to victims. What a farce."

A fourth could not hide their anger as they penned: "It’s turned into a comedy episode. The editing is terrible.

"What a s****y ending to a storyline that is so serious that so many people go through daily 

Before someone else echoed: "Anyone else kind of feel they have ruined all the hard work they did by doing this with Belle and Tom?"

It was later revealed that Tom had actually survived the brutal axing and was recuperating in hospital.

It left Belle on the edge of a confession as she felt she had to confess to what she had done in order to feel free.

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock...

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) - Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly's drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) - In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale's first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke's rape (2000) - Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs - who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) - Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

Speaking to Sam and Vinny, a distressed Belle said: "I need to go in there [Tom's hospital room] and see what's going on."

As they insisted she should go home and she could "blow everything", Belle replied: "But I already have, haven't I?

"If Tom dies, that is another life that I have taken - how do I live with myself?

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