Belle Dingle
Encyclopedia
Belle Lisa Dingle is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 from the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

 soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...

 Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...

. She was originally played by Emily Mather
Emily Mather
Emily Mather is a young British actress who played Belle Dingle in Emmerdale from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, Mather left Emmerdale, and later, Eden Taylor-Draper took over the role.-External links:...

 from 1998 until 2005, but is now played by Eden Taylor-Draper
Eden Taylor-Draper
Eden Elenor Taylor-Draper is an English child actor. She plays Belle Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role she took over from Emily Mather in 2005.-Emmerdale:...

.

1998-2005

Belle was born on Christmas Day 1998 to Zak
Zak Dingle
Zachariah Bartholomew "Zak" Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Steve Halliwell. He first appeared on 20 October 1994 and has remained since except for a brief break from 2002-2003. On his time in the show he has been involved in a testicular cancer...

 (Steve Halliwell
Steve Halliwell
Steve Halliwell isan English actor best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as smallholder Zak Dingle, a role he has played since 1994....

) and Lisa Dingle
Lisa Dingle
Lisa May Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Jane Cox.-Casting:Lisa Clegg was first introduced by producer Mervyn Watson in 1996 who cast Jane Cox for the role...

 (Jane Cox
Jane Cox
Jane Cox is an English actress well known for her part in ITV's Emmerdale as farmer's wife Lisa Dingle.She lives in the former mill town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire and trained at Rose Bruford College....

). Lisa had no idea she was pregnant. Local vet Paddy Kirk
Paddy Kirk
Patrick Frederick "Paddy" Kirk is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Dominic Brunt. Paddy demonstrates the dedication of the soap's writers towards maintaining a comedic tone in plotlines. While he has appeared at the centre of some grave storylines, Paddy is often...

 (Dominic Brunt
Dominic Brunt
Dominic Brunt is an English actor known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as vet Paddy Kirk. He was educated at Accrington Moorhead Sports College....

) delivered Belle as he was spending Christmas Day with the Dingles.

2005—

Belle goes missing on Christmas Day 2005. She was at home alone with her uncle Shadrach
Shadrach Dingle
Shadrach Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Played by Andy Devine, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 30 March 2000. Since early 2010 the character appeared from time to time on an episodic basis after Devine felt he could not...

 (Andy Devine
Andy Devine
Andrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...

), when Daz Eden
Daz Eden
Darren "Daz" Eden is a fictional character in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, portrayed by Luke Tittensor until April 2009. He made his first appearance in the show on 9 October 2003....

 (Luke Tittensor
Luke Tittensor
Luke James Tittensor is an English actor best known for playing Daz Eden in the ITV soap Emmerdale.-Television career:...

) visited, bringing his pet ferret. Although Daz told her not to, Belle let the ferret out of his cage and in a panic, chased him through the fields. Tragically, as Belle ran to get Spike, she fell down a mine shaft. Daz dived in to help her but they were trapped and it looked like they would either freeze or drown.

It was a nightmarish time for them and their families who were beside themselves with worry. Brave Daz managed to keep Belle afloat for hours and they were eventually saved.

Back with her family, Belle flourished and was overjoyed when her brother Sam
Sam Dingle
Samuel Jonah "Sam" Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by James Hooton.-Storylines:Sam first appears in 1995 and he demands ransom money from the Sugden family. After his release from prison, he worked as a dogsbody for Eric Pollard and was constantly conned...

 (James Hooton
James Hooton
James Hooton is an English actor best known for his role as Sam Dingle on the popular ITV1 soap Emmerdale who he has played since 1995. He started his career with the Carlton Junior Television Workshop.-Career:...

) and his fiancée, Alice
Alice Dingle
Alice Edith Rose Dingle was a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Ursula Holden-Gill.-Introduction:The death of her father left Alice Wilson alone on the family farm, trying to make ends meet...

 (Ursula Holden-Gill
Ursula Holden-Gill
Ursula Holden-Gill is an English actress best known for her role as cancer sufferer Alice Dingle on ITV's Emmerdale....

) had a baby, Samson (then played by Bradley Milnes and Ben Shooter). Surrounded by the madness of the Dingle clan, Belle is one of the more grown up members.

In February 2006, she was ring bearer at her cousin Marlon Dingle
Marlon Dingle
Marlon Sebastian Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Mark Charnock. -1996–:...

's (Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock is an English actor best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as lanky chef Marlon Dingle.-Biography:...

) wedding to Donna Windsor (Verity Rushworth
Verity Rushworth
Verity Rushworth is an English actress who is best known for her role as Donna Windsor-Dingle in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale, having taken over the role from Sophie Jeffery in 1998.- Life and career :...

).

She moved in with Marlon briefly just before Alice died. When she was there, she refused to have a bath, so Toni Daggert
Toni Daggert
Tonicha "Toni" Daggert was a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Kerry Stacey.-Background:Toni Daggert caused trouble from the moment she set foot in Emmerdale in 2005....

 (Kerry Stacey
Kerry Stacey
Kerry Stacey is an English actress who is best known for playing Toni Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale.Kerry has had a role on BBC1's Doctors, she commented "I play a character whose sister has committed suicide and she is reeling from that. She's very mixed up about the suicide...

) challenged her to a duck race. If Toni's duck won, Belle had to have a bath but if Belle's duck won, she didn't. The whole village joined in and Belle was thrilled when she won the race. Sadly, her happiness was short lived as Zak arrived and told Belle that Alice had died.

Belle started playing truant and asking Shadrach to cover for her. She claimed to be ill but her teacher visited and told Shadrach that Belle hardly ever went to school and didn't apply herself when she was there. Shadrach claimed he was her dad and the teacher asked Belle and her parents to come to a meeting at the school so Zak, Lisa and Belle went. Zak and Lisa were told that Belle was disruptive and she complained she was bored but was told that school wasn't meant to be fun. At home, she promised to try harder.

Lisa and Zak returned for a second meeting after Belle shocked her teachers by disabling the ‘nanny guard' on the computer network. Belle said she didn't realise but the headteacher didn't believe her. Zak defended her, claiming Dingles don't lie, and Belle was suspended.

With Belle at home all day, Zak became her teacher but wasn't very good. All he taught was maths - problems that involved either horse racing or fishing. Zak had trouble so Lisa suggested he teach her botany but he took her to strip building materials from a derelict property. No one was impressed as Donna said the materials were stolen and Lisa was annoyed that Zak was teaching her to steal. Realising Belle needed professional help, Zak and Lisa asked Jasmine to teach her. Jasmine was shocked by the lack of resources when she arrived for the first session but made do, and had Belle recite a Japanese haiku about Shadrach.

The Home Education Inspector visited to discuss Belle's future and suggested Belle see an educational psychologist to find out why she was so disruptive. Zak initially said no but changed his mind as Belle had nightmares about Tom King's death – which she witnessed. Her fear peaked when Jasmine took her to Home Farm so she could talk to Pearl. Later, when Jasmine looked for Belle, she found Belle had vanished. She ran home, terrified. When the psychologist visited, Belle hid to avoid him but Lisa coaxed her out and Belle was delighted to fly through the psychologist's "easy" questions but still needed Zak's reassurance that she'll always be a Dingle. Belle's test results showed she was amongst the cleverest 2% of children her age. “I'm a priggin genius!” she announced, while Zak and Lisa wondered what this meant for her education. The inspector suggested private school but Lisa wasn't keen. Zak was excited at the prospect of “the first Dingle to go to Heaton” and Belle dreamed of magic wands and capes.

Zak and Lisa took Belle to sit her public school entrance exam and were awe-struck by the establishment. A pupil showed them around and she told Zak and Lisa how disenchanted she was with the school, saying she wanted to marry a footballer and be like Victoria Beckham! Belle left the examining room, downcast, telling her parents and Mrs Burgess that she had not done well. Zak cheered her up by promising to take her for ice cream.

Belle had good news and bad news from her teacher, Mrs Burgess. She'd passed the exam with 98%, winning an automatic place. Unfortunately Belle didn't get a full scholarship – the Dingles would have to pay £2,000 a term. Sadly, Mrs Burgess was unaware they couldn't afford that. Zak and Lisa argued about it. She argued that if Belle went, she'd forget her roots and be embarrassed by her family. Zak claimed it would be the best education but had to tell Belle that she was unlikely to go. However, Rosemary King
Rosemary King
Rosemary Venitia King is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Linda Thorson. She made her last appearance on the show on 13 September 2007-Character's background:...

 (Linda Thorson
Linda Thorson
Linda Thorson is a Canadian actress, most famous for her work as Tara King in The Avengers.-Personal life:...

) took a liking to Belle and offered to pay the fees. Zak struggled to convince Lisa to accept Rosemary's offer. Lisa refused to even consider it until Samson got meningitis. Worried about the little boy, no one took any notice of Belle complaining she felt unwell until the doctor checked her. When Rosemary heard Belle was in hospital, she visited, taking flowers and truffles. Her arrival coincided with the doctor's, diagnosing Belle with a bad case of flu – she'd be fine. Zak and Lisa knew she was getting better when she complained she was hungry. Relieved, Lisa agreed to Rosemary paying Belle's fees.

On Belle's first day, Lisa and Zak donned their Sunday best as they would meet the headmistress. Lisa was anxious about Belle fitting in but Belle was assigned a ‘welcome buddy' called Ayesha, who would keep her company and show her where everything was. The girls got on like a house on fire, with Ayesha even convincing Belle to talk about Shadrach in class. The teacher listened disapprovingly as she described Shadrach's hygiene and flatulence issues. In other words, none of one and lots of the other!

When Belle came home, she gave Lisa a note about a school trip to Germany. Lisa said no so Belle went to see Rosemary. Initially Rosemary said, “Maybe next time” but on seeing her sad face, gave her a cheque but Zak returned it, saying Belle shouldn't have asked. Rosemary said she had offered and Zak said he'd discuss it with Lisa. This led to Rosemary, Zak and Lisa agreeing Rosemary would pay the fees but anything else was down to Zak and Lisa.

Belle attended a spa day with her school friends. Lisa felt guilty at not having Belle's friends to visit and suggested she throw a party. She wasn't keen and told Rosemary she was embarrassed about the Dingle house. Rosemary suggested holding the party at Mill Cottage and Belle invited her friends, but didn't tell Zak and Lisa. Rosemary said she needed their permission so Belle "persuaded" Shadrach to phone Rosemary, pretending to be Zak. At the party, Belle impressed her posh friends, claiming to live at Mill Cottage with her "auntie" Rosemary and "cousin" Grayson
Grayson Sinclair
Grayson Sinclair is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by Christopher Villiers.-History:Grayson is part of the wealthy Sinclair family. He was married to Perdita Hyde-Sinclair, he is the eldest son of Rosemary King and brother of Alasdair Sinclair.He first...

 (Christopher Villiers
Christopher Villiers
Christopher Francis Villiers is an English actor.He is known for his part in the top rated ITV1 soap opera, Emmerdale in which he plays the role of the solicitor Grayson Sinclair. He also played the part of Captain Nigel Croker in Mile High from 2004 to 2005...

). However, Lisa found out when she phoned Ayesha's mum to organize a sleepover. When Belle returned, she received a good ticking off. Belle was later upset to hear her parents discussing taking her out of private school.

Following Rosemary's confession that she had poisoned Perdy to get her sectioned, Zak was horrified. He ended his friendship with her, warning her to stay away from his daughter. Zak and Lisa worried about how they could afford to send Belle to private school. Belle’s head teacher, Mrs Kennedy, told them the governors weren't prepared to give Belle a free place. Zak and Lisa were devastated and knew they would have to tell Belle. The Dingles told Belle she would have to leave, lying that Rosemary couldn't afford the fees.

Back home, Zak decided to compete in the bare-knuckle fight against O’Shea to raise the funds needed for Belle to stay at school. Zak had all but beat O'Shea when the police raided the building, ending the fight but Zak couldn't claim the money. Fortunately Debbie lent them the money, allowing them to send Belle back to school.

Belle watched Rosemary King's funeral and was the only person, apart from Grayson, who indicated genuine sorrow at her death.

In May 2008, the family again struggled to pay Belle's school fees. They refused to borrow any more from Debbie, selling stolen manure instead but Matthew took the money when he found out. Belle covered his car in manure, and Zak made her apologise.

Eli accidentally backed the van into a plasma TV Matthew had bought for a presentation. The money for the replacement came out of the bonus Matthew was going to give Zak. When Jimmy convinced Matthew to change his mind, Matthew refused to give him the money until the new TV arrived. A furious Zak quit his job. Lisa and Zak hoped Belle would remain in the dark, but another student found out from her father and told Belle. Belle was crushed, but a few days later, told her family that she was sick of the school anyway, as she was a Dingle and Dingles weren't supposed to be "posh".

In November 2008, she auditioned for the choir but was slammed by Nicola De Souza (Nicola Wheeler
Nicola Wheeler
Nicola Wheeler is an English actress, best known for playing the role of Nicola King in ITV's Emmerdale.She was born Nicola Hodge, but raised with the name Nicola Palmer...

), causing Ashley
Ashley Thomas
Ashley Michael Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by John Middleton.-1996–99:Ashley soon began developing feelings for the landlady of the Woolpack pub, Bernice Blackstock. He tried putting them aside as Bernice was engaged to Gavin, despite suspecting that...

 (John Middleton
John Middleton (actor)
John Middleton is an English actor well known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Reverend Ashley Thomas...

) and Laurel Thomas
Laurel Thomas
Laurel Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Charlotte Bellamy. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 3 September 2002. Laurel has been off-screen at various times while Bellamy has taken maternity leave.-Casting:In 2004, Bellamy announced she...

 (Charlotte Bellamy
Charlotte Bellamy
Charlotte Bellamy is an English actress.-Early life:Bellamy attended Middlesex University studying Performance Arts, graduating in 1993.-Acting career:...

) to tell her that she was too young.

Later that month, she decided to try to see what it was like to be blind. That phase didn't last long.

In December 2008, she and her uncle Shadrach stole Christmas presents from under the Woolpack Christmas tree but eventually got found out.

In February 2009, she developed a friendship with Will Wylde (Oscar Lloyd
Oscar Lloyd
Oscar Lloyd is a young British actor from Seaford. In early 2009, at the age of 12, he started starring in Emmerdale as the character of Will Wylde, son of Mark and Natasha Wylde; he left in January 2011...

), who had just moved to Home Farm with his family.

In April 2009, Zak leaves and does not come home for Easter as he was supposed to, which makes Belle upset and so she calls a Dingle Court in which Zak gets ex-communicated from the family. Zak returns a couple of days later after a bender and carrying an enormous brand new TV.

As Belle and Will's Friendship develops they grow closer and Belle comforts Will when he finds out the shocking news about his fathers' death.

Maisie Wylde
Maisie Wylde
Maisie Wylde is a fictional character in the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Alice Coulthard. The character was introduced by series producer Anita Turner and first appeared in 2009...

 (Alice Coulthard
Alice Coulthard
Alice Coulthard is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Maisie Wylde in ITV soap opera Emmerdale.-Education:Born in London, Coulthard graduated in English Literature from University of Liverpool.-Career:...

) and Nikhil Sharma
Nikhil Sharma
Nikhil Sharma is a fictional character, from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Rik Makarem. He made his first on-screen appearance on 11 September 2009.-Character creation and casting:...

 (Rik Makarem
Rik Makarem
-Career:Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Makarem is currently known for playing cast regular Nikhil Sharma in Emmerdale. He has also starred in BBC's Torchwood- Children of Earth alongside John Barrowman and has featured in ITV period drama Foyle's War...

) announce that they are engaged and this news affects Will, when Belle comforts him he snaps at her. Belle is left devastated. Maisie later tells Nikhill that she is calling off the engagemet and is leaving the Village, with Will.

Will immediately goes to say goodbye to Belle, he gives her his Nintendo DS and they part good friends, Belle gives Will a goodbye kiss on the cheek and when he walks away she is left crying. Belle talks to her mum and Lisa encourages her to see him off. Belle rushes up to the taxi just as Maisie and Will are leaving, she shouts that she loves him and Will shouts that he loves her too, Belle is happy that he loves her and decides to let him leave.

In 2011, Belle overhears Amy Wyatt
Amy Wyatt
Amy Wyatt is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Chelsea Halfpenny. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 October 2010. Since her inception Amy has been central to main storylines and has been played as the serial's rebellious teenager. Halfpenny...

 (Chelsea Halfpenny
Chelsea Halfpenny
Chelsea Halfpenny is an English actress, best known for her role in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, as Amy Wyatt.-Career:...

) and Victoria Sugden
Victoria Sugden
Victoria Anne Sugden is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale originally played by Jessica Heywood, then Hannah Midgley and currently Isabel Hodgins.-1994–:...

 (Isabel Hodgins
Isabel Hodgins
Isabel Victoria Hodgins is an English actress.She is best-known for portraying tearaway teenager Victoria Sugden in the ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, produced by ITV Yorkshire. As of 2011 she continues to play the role and attend St. Patrick's R.C...

) talking about holding a party, and sees them stashing alcohol in the barn. She hides the drinks, and blackmails them to let her come along, but drinks too much cider, and throws up all over the floor, causing an angry Lisa to have to come and collect her.

Belle forms a friendship with Amy, and when Amy collapses, Belle rushes to get help, but is stopped by Amy, who tells her she is pregnant, but doesn't want anyone else to know. So Belle goes to the hospital with Amy, pretending to be her sister when the nurses are around, and skips classes to go and see Amy. However, the school phone Lisa to tell her that Belle never turned up at school, and when confronted, Belle tells Zak and Lisa she was with Amy, but doesn't say anything about being at the hospital. Later, Belle goes to see Amy, who has been discharged, but Amy grabs Belle and threatens her to stay away from her.

See also

  • List of soap opera recasts
  • List of Emmerdale characters
  • Dingle family
    Dingle family
    The Dingles are a family in the British soap Emmerdale. They all seem to have Biblical names, and get into trouble with the law.The current family consists of:* Zak Dingle* Lisa Dingle * Belle Dingle* Sam Dingle* Samson Dingle...

  • Eden Taylor-Draper
    Eden Taylor-Draper
    Eden Elenor Taylor-Draper is an English child actor. She plays Belle Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role she took over from Emily Mather in 2005.-Emmerdale:...

  • Emily Mather
    Emily Mather
    Emily Mather is a young British actress who played Belle Dingle in Emmerdale from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, Mather left Emmerdale, and later, Eden Taylor-Draper took over the role.-External links:...


External links

  • Belle Dingle at itv.com
    Itv.com
    itv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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