“ITV Emmerdale’s James Chase ready for rival soap stint after Tom King exit”. Television & Radio | Showbiz and television

Emmerdale’s James Chase could be heading to a rival soap after his departure from the village.

The actor first appeared in 2023 as the son of the infamous Carl King (Tom Lister) and quickly became involved with Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper).

However, last year saw a disturbing domestic violence storyline where viewers witnessed Tom’s manipulative and controlling behavior towards Belle. In a shocking scene, Belle fought back against Tom with an ax and eventually reported him to the police for his months of abuse.

Believing he could evade justice, Tom hastily disposed of his tablet containing the damning evidence. But this week, justice was served when Tom was arrested and charged.

Although he tried to flee the country, police managed to arrest him. Now, with James’ exit from the soap imminent, there is speculation that he could join a rival soap.

Exclusive odds from Betway Casino suggest James has a 10/1 chance of joining EastEnders and 20/1 odds of joining Coronation Street.

Additionally, a PR expert suggested that another soap could be an ideal fit for James, perhaps even becoming part of an iconic family on one of the shows, reports Leeds Live.

“James’ impending exit from the Dales opens up a wealth of exciting opportunities,” noted Dom Aldworth, head of brand marketing at Slingo. He went on to say that moving to a rival soap “seems like a logical next step, especially for an actor who has already proven his ability to anchor compelling storylines.”

Dom believes EastEnders would be an ideal platform for James, saying it offers “the chance to delve into a darker, high-stakes drama.” Elaborating on this, he said: “James’ natural intensity could see him playing a mysterious newcomer to Albert Square, perhaps someone connected to the Mitchells or the Panesars.”

Adding to the speculation, Dom suggested ITV’s Coronation Street could also be a good fit, describing it as a “fantastic fit” for James. He said: “It could thrive in the mix of relatable, down-to-earth narratives and larger-than-life characters. Maybe he could make a splash by joining the Barlows or the Platts and bring a new dynamic to these iconic families.”

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

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