Emmerdale fans 'work out' Denise Welch character's long-lost Dales sibling- and it's icon

Emmerdale viewers believe they have figured out a connection between Denise Welch's character and a well-known resident.

The actress made her first appearance on Emmerdale this week, portraying Heidi, a juror in the high-profile court case involving Tom King (James Chase) and Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper). As viewers will remember, for the past 18 months, Tom has been tormenting his wife Belle with gaslighting and abuse.

Luckily, Belle was able to escape and report his abuse. During Thursday's episode (December 19), Tom's trial took place - with Tom facing charges of coercive controlling behaviour and assault. On the witness stand, Belle disclosed the truth about the abuse she endured. Tom, on the other hand, continued to lie, creating a 'false' narrative whenever possible.

Throughout the intense episode, viewers saw jurors Heidi - played by Denise - and Karl (Charles Dale), disagree over who was telling the truth, reports Leeds Live. Heidi was firm in her belief that Belle was telling the truth, while Karl seemed sympathetic to Tom.

Fortunately, Karl realised his mistake and the jury returned a guilty verdict - with Tom receiving a three-year sentence. It's safe to say that Denise's stint on Emmerdale has been well received by fans, who are insistent that she becomes a regular. Moreover, fans are convinced that her character could be related to a Dales legend.

On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, praise was heaped upon Denise Welsh for her performance in the show with a fan commenting, "Denise Welsh was amazing in Emmerdale tonight what a fantastic believable performance."

In the comments section, enthusiasts concurred and speculated on potential plot developments.One admirer commented, "She was brilliant! I hope they