Emmerdale will air a format-breaking ‘alternate realities’ episode in Belle and Tom King’s coercive control story.

An episode airing next Thursday (September 5) will involve glimpses of what Belle’s future may look like following her split from abusive husband Tom.

This instalment takes place after Tom warns Belle that he will never let her go, as viewers see three potential futures for the estranged couple.

Belle experiences a dreamlike day where she sees strands of what may happen and what certainly won’t happen to her in years to come.

These glimpses into the dark implications of Belle’s potential future force her to reevaluate why she’s hidden Tom’s emotional and physical abuse from friends and loved ones.

This episode was conceived with guidance from the domestic violence charity Refuge. Tony Higgins has penned this hour-long special, while Tim O’Mara directs

“In this stylised episode we explore Belle’s worst fears and see the true extent of the impact her abusive relationship with Tom has had on her,” Emmerdale Producer Sophie Roper said. “If one person seeks help for a situation they are in because of seeing Belle’s plight it will be an achievement.

“Domestic abuse can be undetectable from outside a relationship and hopefully the scenes of Belle and then Amelia’s relationships, though difficult viewing at times, may shine a light on some aspects of domestic abuse. Charity Dingle told Belle she would be available to listen whenever Belle was ready to talk. Could now finally be the time for Belle to open up about the extent of her abusive relationship?”

Belle actor Eden Taylor Draper added that the episodes should be “a great representation of what’s going on” in her character’s mind following months of abuse.

“It was a very special episode to film, I understand viewers will find it distressing and uncomfortable but I am so proud we are exploring this to its full potential to give people a real insight to what can go on,” she said.

The soap has twice before devoted special episodes to the coercive control story. In May, viewers watched a dinner party at the Kings’ home where Tom’s abuse of Belle nearly came to light.

More recently, Belle decided to finally walk away from her marriage after Tom took her to a remote Welsh cottage in hopes of isolating her from her family for good.