Emmerdale reveals if Tom King is dead tonight after character is brutally axed

Emmerdale viewers saw Tom King, played by actor James Chase, literally axed in the back on Thursday night by Belle Dingle with it teased he's dead, with the dramatic fallout set to air on Friday

Emmerdale will confirm the fate of Tom King on Friday night after his apparent death in the previous episode.

His wife Belle Dingle appeared to kill her abusive husband with an axe after he attacked her, and threatened to kill her with a shotgun. Tom was shown lifeless on the ground with an axe in his back, with Belle reeling in horror.

Friday night will air the immediate aftermath, as we find out what happened to Tom and whether Belle will face trouble, amid speculation it was someone else who attacked him. The episode synopsis doesn't give anything away other than the fact an ambulance arrives in the village.

Tom's fate is not currently known but spoilers and spoiler images confirmed an ambulance would arrive, with it clearly for Tom. But will they be able to save him or has he died?

Actor James Chase is leaving the role, with it confirmed recently he had filmed his final scenes. Other reports suggested he could be on the show for months to come, but now there's every chance this is how he will leave.

It comes as fans speculated Vinny Dingle would be revealed as Tom's attacker, and not Belle. One viewer shared online: "He's not dead. I think the camera may swing around and Vinny is standing there after putting the hatched in him." Another agreed: "No... hope he is paralysed though. I think Vinny did it, I don't think it was Belle."

A third fan posted: "For a minute I thought Sam or Vinny had attacked Tom." Other fans were baffled as to how Tom had snuck past Belle's brother Sam Dingle and pal Vinny at the house to terrorise Belle.

The pair hadn't seen him despite him being in view. Some viewers were left divided over Tom's fate on Thursday night, with many sure regardless of what happens Belle wouldn't face trouble.

Could this be the moment Tom is finally exposed? One fan said: "If Tom survives, which I suspect he will, he’ll have no defence against Belle acting to defend herself. Tom’s fingerprints are all over the shotgun, including the safety catch but then again, this is soap land so, who knows!"

Another said: "Hopefully Tom isn’t dead and they’ve set the perfect scene, Belle’s cut & bruised, he’s lying on a gun, compelling evidence." A third fan commented: "Tom turning up as the house like that he’s such a c redo and then using a axe to break through the door like that and then him getting an axe to the back hope Belle doesn’t get in trouble for it she was defending herself."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .