ITV Emmerdale exit sealed as fans 'work out' Tom King's next move after villager framed

In Friday's episode of the police released villain Tom King (portrayed by James Chase), much to the delight of his uncle Jimmy (Nick Miles), but not so much for Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler), who remained sceptical of his deceit.

The authorities discovered a shattered iPad belonging to the vet, which held crucial evidence of his abusive behaviour towards his wife, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper).

However, due to the iPad's damaged screen, the police had to delay accessing its data, resulting in Tom's release.

Jimmy warmly received his nephew, but Nicola was far from pleased, particularly as she was the one who reported him to the police initially.

Tom attempted to maintain a harmonious family facade to keep Jimmy on his side, but when he went to collect their daughter Angelica (Rebecca Bakes), who had returned to the village, Nicola confronted the vet, reports .

As Tom tried to persuade Nicola that Belle had fabricated everything, the mother retorted: "You're wasting your time, Tom.

"You see, I can see right through you and your lies, and you're not going to sweet talk your way out of it."

Nicola playfully slapped Tom on the face before walking away, leaving him fuming.

As the episode concluded, tensions flared once more between Jimmy, Nicola, and Tom - with Nicola informing her husband that she and the children would not live with Tom.

In a dramatic turn of events, Nicola declared to Jimmy: "They're not coming back."

Jimmy, clearly agitated, retorted: "Don't be ridiculous," insisting, "This is where they belong, this is their home."

Unmoved, Nicola responded: "Not if they have to share it with him," adding, "I have tried to make you see sense, but you won't listen. So we are not coming back while he is still living here."

Despite Tom offering to leave, Jimmy remained loyal to his nephew and refused to send him away. The tension escalated the previous day when Tom discovered his car window shattered, immediately suspecting the Dingles were to blame. Yet, fans speculate otherwise.

Eager viewers took to social media to debate who was behind the vandalism, with some suggesting Nicola or her son Carl (Charlie Joyce) as the culprits. One fan speculated: "Who thinks it was Nicola that smashed Tom's windscreen?" Another countered with: "I think Tom did it himself to frame Nicola."

Others theorised: "I think it was Carl," with another concurring: "I think the boy Carl."

And one more chimed in: "I think it was Nicola or Carl."

The question on everyone's lips is whether Tom will blame Nicola for the crime or if Nicola will ultimately abandon the village after Jimmy sides with the vet.

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV.