Emmerdale fans reckon they’ve sussed out who will save Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) after a telling scene involving Tom King (James Chase) on Friday night. The ITV soap is currently delving into a coercive control storyline with Tom and Belle, showing the vet isolating and manipulating his partner Belle.

His vile and violent behaviour took a turn for the worse recently when he whisked Belle off to Wales under the pretence of a holiday, but in reality, he planned to relocate there without telling his wife, even going as far as applying for a job.

Adding to the tension, Tom stopped Belle from letting her family know about their ‘getaway’ and hid her mobile to limit her communication. However, Belle’s relative Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) has been wary of Tom’s actions, and upon learning about Belle’s sudden departure, she decided to dig deeper in Tuesday’s episode alongside Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).

They turned up at the trashed cottage in Wales, finding it empty. In Wednesday’s flashback episode, it was revealed that Tom’s disgusting behaviour had escalated in chilling scenes.

After targeting their dog, Piper, and locking Belle in the cottage, the brave character decided to make a run for it with Piper while Tom was in the shower, reports the Mirror.

Belle managed to get on a bus and made her escape just as Tom chased after her. On Thursday’s episode, Belle made a nail-biting comeback to her family’s place while Tom was busy spinning a web of deceit. He told the Dingles a bunch of lies, claiming Belle’s unpredictable antics were down to her missing her meds and painting himself as Mr Innocent.

Emmerdale: Vinny finally confronts Tom (Image: (Image: ITV))

But Belle wasn’t having any of it, and later on, she marched back home to grab her stuff. That’s when Tom gave her the creeps with his dark threat: “I will kill you before I let you leave this house.”

Defying Tom’s menacing words, Belle bravely walked out on him, leaving viewers cheering her on from their sofas.

The next night’s show brought another twist when Tom crept around the Dingles’ place. It was at that moment Sam Dingle (played by James Hooton) let Piper the dog have a wander in the garden.

Tom played the knight in shining armour, pretending to be helping by returning Piper who appeared to have escaped.

Has Tom King’s fate finally been sealed? (Image: (Image: ITV))

However, Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) sniffed something fishy. Later, he gently confronted Belle about Tom being possibly abusive. A heart-wrenching scene unfolded as Belle finally crumbled, admitting Tom’s manipulative and verbally abusive nature.

But the drama didn’t stop there. Over at The Woolpack, Vinny overheard Tom bad-mouthing Belle and decided it was time to confront him. In an explosive response, Tom dropped a bombshell in public spilling the beans on Belle having had an abortion just as she walked into the pub at the worst possible moment.

And if that blow wasn’t enough, Tom then outrageously accused Vinny of having an affair with his wife. In a nail-biting final scene down at the Woolpack, Tom played mind games with Belle, sweet-talking her into keeping schtum about his dodgy dealings.

As the episode hit fever pitch, Belle gave Vinny a right telling-off, pleading with him to keep his nose out and avoid getting caught up in her messy life.

Emmerdale fans have been all over Twitter, buzzing with the theory that Vinny might just be Belle’s knight in shining armour and expose Tom for the villain he is. One eagle-eyed fan tweeted: “Vinny knows Belle is being abused #Emmerdale”, while another was quick to post: “Ooooooh Vinny could be onto him #emmerdale”.

Another chimed in with: “Vinny can see Tom for who he is #Emmerdale” and one more viewer added their two pence, saying: “Vinny is the kindest soul in the village. He’ll help Belle, no doubt.#Emmerdale.”