Emmerdale Belle Dingle star opens up on co-star heartache during wedding filming
Emmerdale's Belle Dingle is all set to marry Tom King but actress Eden Taylor-Draper revealed their wedding scenes were tinged with sadness following the death of Steve Halliwell
The filming of Belle Dingle and Tom King’s Emmerdale wedding wasn’t all happy.
This week, Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) will walk down the aisle and tie the knot with Tom (James Chase). When their big day arrives, the couple are at odds due to the absence of their parents.
However, they manage to put their differences aside as they become husband and wife. Eden revealed their wedding scenes were tinged with sadness following the death of her on-screen father Steve Halliwell.
The actor, best known for his role as Zak Dingle, passed away in December last year aged 77 and his funeral took place the day before Eden filmed her wedding scenes. The 26-year-old told OK!: “We had the funeral yesterday and all the Dingles went, it was beautiful.”
Eden, who worked alongside Steve for nearly two decades, added: “Steve is obviously such a big part of our lives and it’s lovely being here on set because he’s still with us in every single moment.”
Announcing Steve’s death, a statement from his family said: “He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him.
“We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn’t want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived.”
Also missing from Belle’s wedding is her mum Lisa Dingle (Jane Cox), who died in 2019 after being diagnosed with a terminal heart condition. But she does appear in spirit as Sam (James Hooton) brings a letter written by Lisa for Belle as he prepares to give her away.
Earlier in the week, Tom was thrown when he learned Belle didn’t want to take his surname. But eager to make her husband-to-be happy, Belle agreed to become Mrs King. Eden, who has portrayed Belle since 2005, admitted she wasn’t best pleased that her character has given up her iconic name.
“The Dingles are the best family and I think Belle wanted to be a Dingle through and through,” she explained. “But she’s been pushed into becoming a King. But when I read in the script that I would be a King, I was very sad – especially after 18 years.”
