Emmerdale announces special episode amid domestic abuse plot

'Emmerdale' is to show viewers two different perspectives of the same storyline in a special episode, amid a domestic abuse storyline.

The ITV1 soap opera will broadcast scenes on Tuesday 7 May that will depict two different viewpoints of the same dinner party, and the event unfolds in two halves.

Rhona (Zoe Henry), Marlon (Mark Charnock), Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Tom (James Chase) will reveal the intricate dynamics and simmering conflicts in their relationships.

Producer Laura Shaw said: “The dinner party episode puts a sharp lens on the relationships of the gathered people and gives the audience a unique view into their lives.

"Stepping away from the usual 'Emmerdale' format, it offers our viewers the chance to see how some relationships like Rhona and Marlon's can very publicly unravel and fall apart, whereas other relationships, like Tom and Belle's, can present in public as perfect and behind closed doors tell a very different, much darker story.”

Actress Eden - who has played Belle since 2005 - was "so grateful" for the opportunity to tackle a unique element of the soap, and teased there is "a lot going on" with her and her on-screen husband.

She said: "I've never done an episode like this and I’ve never really been part of a special episode in that way, with a focus on my storyline.

"So I’m grateful for the opportunity. I also think this episode is such a representation of Belle and Tom.

"There’s a lot going on and Belle's not actually aware at this point of any of those things happening.

"So the viewers obviously see what Tom is doing and what Tom's capable of.

"Belle knows something isn’t quite right, but whenever there’s any situation she completely blames herself and he does a great job gaslighting her into feeling that way.

"I think before this episode, all she wants to do is make him happy and keep the peace and just keep it calm."

'Emmerdale' airs weekday nights at 7.30pm on ITV and STV with episodes available for streaming on ITVX and STVPlayer.