Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has opened up about her character Belle King’s reaction to her pregnancy news.
In scenes airing next week, Belle worries when she finds out that she is pregnant during an appointment with nurse Wendy at the surgery, unsure whether starting a family with her husband Tom is the right thing to do given his physically and emotionally abusive behaviour towards her.
"She feels apprehensive as it’s not what she wants at the moment but she's also worried as she knows it’s the only thing Tom wants. She doesn’t want him to know as he will be so excited," Taylor-Draper explained.
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She continued: "When she gets home and is reading the pamphlets, Tom walks in so she hides them. He quizzes her over where she has been and why she didn’t answer his calls. She explains she managed to get an appointment but keeps the pregnancy a secret."
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The soap star went on to explain how Belle tries to hide her feelings from Wendy at the surgery, though Wendy does "definitely pick up on the fact that Belle is not pleased about the news."
Wendy even visits Belle the next day to check in on her but "can tell something is wrong" upon learning that Belle still hasn’t told Tom. However, when Tom arrives home, "Wendy goes before anything more can be said."
Tom eventually finds out about the pregnancy after Belle’s half-brother Cain rebukes him for selling her car, with Belle blurting it out before a furious Tom tries to hit her for bad-mouthing him.
"So she only tells him to stop him hitting her. She didn’t mean to tell him," said Taylor-Draper.
On if Belle really believes that Tom will make good on his promise of being a better husband, the actor added: "Belle is holding onto a glimmer of hope this can truly change him and becoming a dad will mean he will be a better person to her."
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However, it's not long before Tom betrays his wife's wishes of keeping the pregnancy a secret as he proceeds to spread the news throughout the village.
"Belle knew he would do this... I think that is why she just wanted to have some time - to put the brakes on a bit. She is aghast when she walks into the cafe and Jimmy, Nicola, Paddy are all congratulating her," she continued.
"Later Tom has booked her another appointment. Wendy is very surprised to see her again and I think queries what is going on. She tries to talk to Belle alone."
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
