Eden Taylor- Draper Julie Lordan chats to the Emmerdale star about her compelling storyline
We catch up with Eden Taylor-Draper of Emmerdale, who tells us about the dramatic twist for her character, Belle, and how her secret affair with Jamie is exposed
Jamie Tate was happily married to Andrea until he had an affair with his co-worker, Belle Dingle, and even though Jamie was not to be trusted, Andrea desperately wanted to give their marriage a try, mostly for the sake of their young daughter. However, Jamie also decided to give his marriage another go and then suggested to his boss that Belle should be let go from her job. Paddy, the boss, who needed to cut costs, agreed but did not know that Jamie had personal reasons for choosing Belle. Meanwhile, Jamie and Belle find it difficult to resist one another and they are soon back with one another. And Belle is confident that they can have a future together. As Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle, tells it; “In the beginning, I think she thought it couldn’t be possible, but Jamie has changed her mind on all of that and I do think they both see a happy future even with all of what’s going on.”
Jamie’s wife might have other ideas, but Belle remains adamant that she and Jamie are the real deal. “They know what they want and Jamie has to break up with Andrea to achieve it, but I don’t think they’ve thought through the logistics,” says Eden. If Belle thought that Jamie might not get a divorce would she continue? “No, she truly believes that is what he wants and will do,” says Eden with confidence.
Unknown to Belle though, Andrea has found out about them. But Belle’s focus is on Jamie and she is unaware of any change in Andrea’s manner towards her.
A quiz night is coming up, where Jamie and Belle are on the same team and Andrea is also attending. Trouble ahead? “Well,” says Eden, “They’re both quite reluctant to attend, but they go anyway. I don’t think she really cares about the fact Andrea is there. She’s having fun.”
Immediately, it becomes obvious what could go wrong when everyone’s mobile phones are taken away, which is fair enough during a quiz, but since Belle and Jamie have intimate and revealing test messages on theirs, giving them up isn’t a great idea. “I think if Belle had a few minutes, she would’ve made an excuse to keep hold of it and delete the texts but she doesn’t want to look suspicious,” explains Eden. A pity she didn’t, and she will regret this lapse, as during the evening the affair is exposed. “Yeah, it’s awful,” says Eden and explains what happens. “It’s a few hours into the quiz and it’s time for the picture round, but what pops up on the projector screen are Belle and Jamie’s private messages. A few seconds after it sinks in, Andrea starts crying and screaming at Jamie and Belle is left feeling like a disgusting person in complete shock.”
And of course, with hard evidence like that, there can be no denying the facts. Belle has to deal with the reaction of her own family, too. “Charity backs her but most of the Dingle family are at home, so she’s yet to deal with them. Lydia is disappointed, which hurts Belle, while Sam is just saying the most unhelpful things. Zak is trying his best to help his daughter, but can’t understand why she is going for a married man – and a Tate!” adds Eden.
What is Belle’s immediate response? “I think she instantly wants to curl up in a ball and disappear. The reaction from the pub makes her realise what she’s actually done to a family. She can’t believe what’s happening and feels sick to the core. I think Belle feels she has let her family down and has a massive amount of guilt. She tries to be a good person, but in this case love and lust overtook that. I do believe she will try to do what’s right to fix this.”
But things only get worse for Belle as Eden explains. “Yes, Jamie assumes Belle has done this on purpose. Belle wants Jamie to protect her and be on her side, but he does the opposite and says no one else would be this crazy. Belle is so hurt. Obviously he knows about her mental health problems and for him to throw them back in her face really makes her question the person he is. He shouts at her in front of everyone and Belle is left totally alone, feeling she is to blame for everything.”
So, it’s not looking great for the happy-everafter that Belle was hoping for. “I think it’s hard. Jamie has a wife and child and a mother who sticks her nose in and hates Belle. I don’t know if it’s possible now to see how everyone could be happy and getting along. So goodness knows!”
And it’s going to be difficult for Belle to face the judgemental villagers now. Eden agrees. “I can only imagine the shame. Everyone knows her business! Obviously she and Jamie still work together, so it’s so awkward. I don’t know how it will all pan out,” sighs Eden. Watch this space.
Belle feels she has let her family down and has a massive amount of guilt. She tries to be a good person, but in this case love and lust overtook that
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