‘s James Chase might be heading to a competing soap after his departure from the village.
The actor first appeared in 2023 as the son of notorious Carl King (Tom Lister), and quickly became involved with Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper).
However, the past year has seen a distressing domestic abuse storyline unfold, with viewers witnessing Tom’s manipulative and controlling behaviour towards Belle. In one shocking scene, Belle defended herself against Tom with an axe, and eventually reported him to the police for his months of abuse.
Believing he could evade justice, Tom hastily disposed of his tablet containing damning evidence. Yet, this week saw justice served as Tom was arrested and charged.
Despite attempting to flee the country, the police managed to apprehend him. Now, with James’ exit from the soap imminent, speculation is rife that he may join a rival soap.
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James’ character has been abusing his on-screen wife (Image: ITV)
Exclusive odds from suggest James has a 10/1 chance of joining , and 20/1 odds for .
Furthermore, a PR expert suggested another soap could be an ideal fit for James, potentially even becoming part of an iconic family on one of the programmes, reports Leeds Live.
“James’ upcoming exit from the Dales opens the door for a wealth of exciting opportunities,” remarked Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at . He further elaborated that switching to a rival soap “seems like a logical next step, especially for an actor who’s already shown his ability to anchor compelling storylines”.
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James could be set for another soap stint (Image: ITV)
Dom believes would be an ideal platform for James, saying it “offers the chance to lean into grittier, high-stakes drama”. Expanding on this, he said: “James’ natural intensity could see him playing a mysterious newcomer in Albert Square, maybe someone tied to the Mitchells or the Panesars.”
Adding to the speculation, Dom suggested that ITV’s might also be a good match, describing it as a “fantastic fit” for James. He said: “He could thrive in its mix of relatable, down-to-earth narratives and larger-than-life characters. Perhaps he could stir things up by joining the Barlows or the Platts, adding a fresh dynamic to these iconic families.”
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