Emmerdale has released a first look at Tom and Belle King’s upcoming special episode, which will be told through a series of flashbacks.

Viewers have witnessed Tom’s increasingly controlling and abusive behaviour towards his wife Belle. In recent episodes, Tom secretly agreed to a job interview in Wales, convincing Belle that the relocation wouldn’t be permanent.

In next week’s special episode, Tom further isolates Belle from her family by taking his wife to a remote holiday cottage in Wales.

The couple’s trip will begin with a happy arrival at the secluded cottage. But things go sour when Belle overhears her husband arranging to extend their stay.

The full extent of their week away will be shown through various flashbacks. The worrying scenes will reveal Tom’s physical and emotional control over Belle and their dog Piper.

So far away from home, Belle will be completely helpless against Tom’s actions. Though she will try to keep him happy, manipulative Tom will continue to blame all of their troubles on Belle.

Physically separated from her loved ones, will Belle be able to escape?

Emmerdale has been working with the domestic abuse charity Refuge on this important storyline.

“The behaviour Tom King is exhibiting is typical of a coercive controlling relationship and at times will prove difficult and uncomfortable to watch. The assistance the charity Refuge has given us whilst researching this storyline has been enormously helpful in bringing this incredibly important storyline to our screens,” said Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper.

“We really wanted to capture the isolation and control that we know underpins domestic abuse. That is illustrated in a very literal sense in this cottage episode, but we know often survivors are isolated from their families and communities over time in a deliberate act from their perpetrator to remove them from support systems,” added Emma Pickering, Head of Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment at Refuge.