Things get awkward! (Picture: ITV)

Previously, it was an elephant in the room that threatened Belle (Eden Taylor Draper) and Tom’s (James Chase) relationship in Emmerdale, and now it’s a big old gooseberry.

Belle and Tom have had their ups and downs lately, what with Tom’s fragile nature about his dad’s murky past and Belle’s revelations of accidental murder and schizophrenia, it’s been a struggle for them to see their way through.

Tom’s had difficulties in accepting his family’s past and because of this he started off his time in the village rejecting his uncle Jimmy (Nick Miles) and flinching at any mention of the name Carl. But Belle stuck by him and helped him accept that he is not his dad.

But then he came within inches of throwing away a good thing with Belle when he reacted badly to her honest admission of accidentally killing Gemma, and when she laid bare her mental health struggles.

Not attractive qualities, so Belle gave him the elbow.

But as the saying goes you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, and Tom sat up and took notice when Belle pulled the plug, vowing to remain in the village to get things with her back on track. So then arose the problem of where he would live.

Let’s hope he gets the message (Picture: ITV)

Enter, that big old gooseberry – Rishi (Bhasker Patel) comes to the rescue and invites Tom to stay at Holgate. With Rishi cracking under the weight of loneliness and with Tom in need of a roof over his head, it’s the perfect solution.

But this creates a whole new frustrating situation that threatens their relationship. Rishi is so thrilled to have a houseguest, Belle and Tom now get no privacy. Rishi becomes their third wheel and refuses to leave them alone.

Tom has to think fast of a way to get some time with Belle. When he hears Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) is in need of a sitter, he spots an opportunity. But is the situation with Rishi just another bad omen for Belle?

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No-one likes a gooseberry.