In the world of Emmerdale, there’s never a shortage of suspense—and this time, all eyes are turning once again to Tom King, whose twisted legacy might be far from over. Though the character has been off-screen since earlier this year, whispers of his past cruelty are echoing back into the village, especially now that Chas Dingle is being targeted once more. Could Tom still be pulling the strings even from behind bars?

Let’s rewind. Tom King became a central figure in the soap last year for all the wrong reasons. His harrowing manipulation and psychological abuse of Belle Dingle shocked viewers and became one of the most gripping storylines in recent memory. Portrayed by James Chase, Tom’s reign of terror reached a boiling point when Belle finally found the courage to stand up against him—leading to Tom’s long-overdue comeuppance. In early 2024, justice was served when he was sentenced to three years in prison for his abusive behavior.

But that wasn’t the first time Tom stirred chaos in Emmerdale. Long before his disturbing marriage to Belle, Tom had already left a trail of trauma, especially for Chas Dingle. In his earlier stint in the village, Tom stalked Chas in truly chilling scenes. He anonymously sent her disturbing photos of her and Carl with the eyes scratched out. He called her repeatedly from a withheld number and even hurled a glass bottle at her outside the Woolpack. At the time, his actions were terrifying—and unforgettable.

Now, with a new mystery unraveling in the village, Chas and Liam Kavanagh have once again become the focus of a sinister campaign. Strange happenings have fans speculating about the culprit’s identity. While some point fingers at Ella, others can’t shake the feeling that Tom’s dark influence may not be over just yet. After all, his past obsession with Chas adds a deeply unsettling layer to the unfolding events.

Despite being locked away, viewers can’t help but wonder: is Tom really out of the picture? The actor behind Tom, James Chase, spoke candidly about his exit, explaining that justice for Belle was always part of the plan. He shared that he and the producers had discussed the importance of Tom facing consequences. “I always knew he was going to lose,” Chase said, adding that while he initially didn’t know how it would happen—be it death or prison—he agreed that justice needed to be seen. “It was really important that Belle got justice… Not only for her but for the viewers who have experienced something similar. It’s rare in real life for victims to see justice, so we wanted to offer that hope.”

And yet, the past has a funny way of resurfacing in Emmerdale. Even though Tom is physically behind bars, the psychological wounds he left may be far from healed. Could his prior obsession with Chas be playing out through a copycat? Or is there more to Tom’s story that we’ve yet to uncover?

Whatever the truth, one thing is clear—Chas Dingle is once again in the crosshairs, and the village is bracing for whatever comes next. With new twists around every corner and old enemies casting long shadows, Emmerdale is proving once again that the past is never truly buried.