Eden Taylor-draper
“Lachlan is a weirdo – but so is Belle!”
Belle is in dangerous territory with Lachlan – but it’s exciting!
It’s hard to believe that Belle Dingle is close to falling in love with twisted Lachlan White. They’ve been friends for a long time, but can Belle really forget that this is the boy who shot his own grandfather at point-blank range and sexually assaulted Alicia Metcalfe? It seems so, because there’s a connection between them, and Belle has started to see Lachlan as boyfriend material. And the development is going to come as a horrible shock to those who love her…
“Lachlan is such a weirdo, but Belle considers herself to be one, too!” says Eden Taylor-draper, who plays her. “They are both very different and isolated from the rest of the village. Don’t forget, Belle has a past just like Lachlan – she killed her best friend Gemma, after all!”
It’s true that Belle has a dark history, but Lachlan is in a different league. Since he’s been home from prison, it doesn’t appear that he has been rehabilitated at all. Instead, he treats his mum Chrissie and others with more contempt than ever – but the way he’s changed has won Belle’s heart.
“Lachlan is causing drama as soon as they get close again,” admits Eden. “But when Belle saw him for the first time after he got back, when it was clear he’d been working out, something new was sparked in her. She finds Lachlan very attractive now. He’s always had a thing for Belle – remember, he used to stalk her back in the day! But this is the first time she’s considered it.”
They’ve already shared a kiss, which was interrupted by horrified Zak. Since then, Belle and Lachlan haven’t had the courage to say how they both really feel – and Chrissie has given her son some dodgy dating advice by telling him to play off new intern Sookie against Belle.
“Belle finds herself trying to compete with Sookie, who she thinks is much prettier and cleverer than her,” explains Eden. “She doesn’t realise that Lachlan is just trying to make her jealous. In fact, he’s lying about the real situation with Sookie, and that puts her off.”
Emmerdale viewers seem to be hoping that Belle steers clear of Lachlan – but are their fears about what he could be capable of well-founded?
“Belle is in dangerous territory with Lachlan,” muses Eden. “She finds the situation quite exciting, an adrenalin rush. After seeing Dr Bailey, she wants someone her own age – and someone who doesn’t have a wife! She really likes the fact that she and Lachlan are interested in the same things. So I’d say people should be nervous for Belle, but I’m hoping she’ll be okay.”
Rumours abound that Lachlan is about to turn completely evil and that his killer antics will spell the end of grandad Lawrence.
Emmerdale bosses are keeping tight-lipped on whether the reports are true, but it’s clear that some big trouble lies ahead for the White family, and for Belle by association.
“There’s lots of drama and upheaval to come,” teases Eden. “It’s a turbulent, rocky time for Belle, with some real highs and some real lows. And it’s nice working with Thomas Atkinson, who plays Lachlan, because he’s so different from his character – thank God! He’s just a chilled, normal guy…”