Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor Draper)

[maidmarian]

Lachlan and Belle take legal highs to forget their troubles but the teens are in serious bother after Lachlan collapses and Belle leaves him for dead

Oh dear- a bit of inaction replay - like she
did with Gemma- a bit much for one
previously normal girl.!!

[maidmarian]

Lachlan and Belle take legal highs to forget their troubles but the teens are in serious bother after Lachlan collapses and Belle leaves him for dead

Oh dear- a bit of inaction replay - like she
did with Gemma- a bit much for one
previously normal girl.!!

[Perdita]

Emmerdale delved deeper into Belle Dingle's ongoing storyline in Tuesday night's episode (December 9) as viewers were finally given an explanation for her recent problems.

Belle thinks that she can still communicate with her late friend Gemma Andrews and has been secretly following 'her' instructions in recent weeks.

Belle flees the church
© ITV
Emmerdale's Belle Dingle

In the closing moments of Tuesday's episode, an emotional and distressed Belle was seen talking to herself under the illusion that Gemma was there.

Belle's outburst confirmed that she has been responsible for all of the recent incidents in which someone had appeared to be targeting her. This included abusive graffiti, a smashed window, a damaged painting and even the 'attack' she had seemingly suffered last month.

The on-screen reveal forms part of an ongoing mental health storyline for Belle, who is still traumatised after accidentally killing Gemma and spending time in a youth offenders' institute.

The situation closes in on Belle
© ITV
Belle recently damaged her own painting

Digital Spy understands that Emmerdale's team are taking great care in their handling of the story as they aim for an accurate and sensitive portrayal in the months ahead.

The ITV show has previously won a Mind Media award for its portrayal of a mental health storyline involving Belle's father Zak.

Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle, commented: "Gemma is tormenting her, bullying her but from within her own mind. It's not like she sees Gemma as a ghost, but Gemma is surrounding her.

"Belle is doing things because she is being told to. Everyone thinks she is being bullied and then attacked by Lachlan but it's not, it's her. It's coming from Gemma, but the audience don't find that out at the time."

Cain confronts Belle
© ITV
Belle's troubles have left her family concerned

She added: "I was honoured to be given such an important storyline but also excited, as it would no doubt be challenging. I'm glad that they have given me a storyline that really means something.

"I have been working closely with the researcher at work and the team has been very supportive. I also spoke to someone who had personal experience of this, and it seemed that the writing of our story was quite similar. They said those things would happen, which was good to hear."

As Belle's storyline continues this week, she breaks into Edna Birch's house as she thinks that Gemma has told her to do it. Her disruptive behaviour will then continue in the build-up to Christmas and into the new year.

Belle is struggling to keep it together
© ITV
Belle will break into Edna's house

Taylor-Draper explained: "Gemma is telling Belle that Edna hates her and that she should hurt her. Belle knows deep down that she doesn't have a problem with Edna or vice versa, but this build-up is tormenting her and she feels obliged to attack Edna in some way - just to make Gemma calm down.

"Belle steals from Edna, sabotages her house and takes her brooch, which is something that is really important to Edna."

[tammyy2j]

Eden is playing the role very well, great actress she is

[xx_Dan_xx]

The dingle family are left with some tragic news later this month which leads to Belle relapsing...

The tragic news is being kept under wraps but Emmerdale bosses have said this leads to Belle not taking her medication.



The news leaves Belle feeling numb and emotionless and in a bid to get some emotion back she stops taking her pills.


But the consequences of not taking her medication leads to her hearing her late friend Gemma leading her to slip back into her old ways.

The voice of 'Gemma' tells Belle to sneak out of the house and Belle ends up climbing to the highest point she can.

Belle's family manage to find her and with Harriet taking control of the drama everything looks like it may be okay.

But when Belle hears the sirens coming closer she loosing her balance and slips. Will she be okay?

[tammyy2j]

The tragic news is being kept under wraps but Emmerdale bosses have said this leads to Belle not taking her medication

Katie's death

[tammyy2j]

.

[Perdita]

Emmerdale teenager Belle Dingle suffers a worrying relapse next week after she stops taking her mental health medication.

Once Belle has ditched the pills, she is once again haunted by the 'voice' of her late friend Gemma Andrews, which leads to her running away from home and placing herself in serious danger at the derelict Wylie's Farm.

Here, Eden Taylor-Draper - who plays Belle - delves into her character's troubled state of mind and what's to come next.

Eden Taylor-Draper as Belle Dingle in Emmerdale
© ITV
Eden Taylor Draper as Belle Dingle

Why does Belle stop taking her medication?
"Belle gets some traumatic news from Sam which should affect her, but because she is taking her medication, she feels very numb to it. She doesn't feel what she knows she should be feeling, so she stops taking her pills in order to have some emotion. Belle does understand that she still has a mental illness, but I think she's in denial again by this point."

What are the consequences of Belle not taking the pills?
"Once Belle stops taking her pills, she thinks that Gemma is there again and that's really hard for her. Belle has been totally fine while she's been on the pills and hasn't been hearing Gemma's voice, but now she's back again.

"Being on the medication and then coming off it again has also made it worse for her. This time, Gemma is more angry and frustrated, so Belle's problems are on a bigger scale. What Gemma is saying this time is a lot more serious…"

Is Belle aware that the pressure of this situation is making Lisa ill?
"Absolutely and I think Belle is scared about that, but she's also worried that if anyone gets too close, Gemma is going to hurt them. Belle starts distancing herself from everyone she loves because she doesn't want them to get hurt."

Belle creeps downstairs in the dark, with a bag over her shoulder.
© ITV
Belle creeps downstairs in the dark

Is that why Belle leaves home?
"Yes, Belle decides that she needs to leave home because she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She just can't deal with it anymore, so she decides to get out and let everyone crack on with their lives without her. She goes to Wylie's Farm and she spends a couple of nights sleeping rough there."

What happens when Samson finds Belle?
"When Samson finds her, it really shocks Belle. That's when Gemma takes over and Belle is scared for Samson's life. She shouts at him and scares him by saying things that aren't nice, but it's for his own benefit. He ends up running off and Belle can't really cope with what she said to him, but she knows she had to do it."

How does Belle end up in danger?
"Belle climbs up onto the roof of Wylie's barn and when her family track her down, everyone is staring up at her. Everything has built up for Belle due to Gemma's voice and the traumatic news that she's recently heard. I think in her head, Belle is there for a reason - she knows that she doesn't want to deal with this anymore."

Everyone looks up at Belle who is dangerously close to the edge
© ITV
Everyone looks up at Belle

Belle alarms everyone who gathers
© ITV
Belle alarms everyone who gathers

What does Harriet do to try to talk Belle down?
"Harriet's great. She tries to connect with Belle and says, 'Can you just tell Gemma to sit down and be quiet for a couple of minutes so we can have a chat?' She talks to Belle as if Gemma is there and I think that's why Belle understands it. It's the best way of dealing with Belle in that moment."

But then Belle loses her footing…
"Yes, there's a second where Belle thinks that Harriet is right and it's time to sort herself out, but that's when her foot suddenly slips. It's very dangerous and you just don't know what's going to happen to Belle."

If Belle makes it out unscathed, what are the chances of her getting well again?
"It's a hard one because at times Belle really wants to get better and at other times it's just such a struggle. It's going to be difficult for her no matter what and I think it's going to be a while before we see Belle being herself again, if we ever do! The recovery process is going to be long."

[mariba]

She's a really good actress-whatever I understand of acting that is..but plays her part really well. Belle is one of my top favourite characters in Emmerdale-always been..including Cain, Lisa&Zak, Ross, Kerry, Bob, Jim&Nicola..and Laurel is getting back there.. Donna used to be-sad she's gone

[lizann]

what age is belle, look young with kirin