Ever since James Chase arrived on our screens as Thomas ’Tom’ King back in April 2023, the 28 year old actor has quickly become a firm favourite among Emmerdale fans.
Whether it was his swoon-worthy looks or his enigmatic personality, James’ portrayal quickly intrigued many viewers about what may lay in store for the character in the coming months.
Fast forward a year and regular viewers will already know that since returning to the village Tom has rekindled his relationship with Belle Dingle, with the pair even going so far as to tie the knot as part of a fairytale ending.
Yet while things may seem perfect to onlookers around them, in recent weeks Tom has showcased his darker side, with many fearing for Belle’s safety given his abusive and gaslighting behaviour.
Thankfully however, despite playing a mysterious villain on screen, actor James couldn’t be further from his on-screen alter ego, with the kind-hearted star living a far less chaotic life away from the cameras.
Here, we take a closer look inside the much loved actor’s life off screen…
Career Highlights
Prior to joining the cast of Emmerdale, James had only just started out in the entertainment industry but had already begun to carve a name for himself across radio, TV and even voiceover work.
Fans may recognise him for his performance in Robin of Loxley which was directed by Andrew Walkington, or from his impressive voiceovers for the Saint Kitts and Nevis investment programme in the Caribbean as well as for the Dominica citizenship administration.
In addition he has also appeared in The Beginning and End of Everything and in Art of Love, an award winning action thriller which hit our screens earlier this month.
Emmerdale Stardom
James is best known however for playing Tom King in Emmerdale, a role which he proudly took over from Mark Flanagan, who had previously played the character between 2012 and 2013.
Sharing the news of his casting in April 2023, James took to social media to write: “Absolutely buzzing to finally announce that I'm playing Tom King in @emmerdale!! I want to thank my incredible agents at @redtalent @kelseybing @cheekychappy for getting me in the door, and the awesome casting department for giving me this opportunity. It's been crazy fun already filming this last month, with everyone cast and crew alike humbly welcoming me into the Emmerdale family. Tune into to ITV 1 on 27th April. Bring the Popcorn!!”
In a further interview, James later went on to tease what fans could see in the future from his character as he discussed Tom’s return to Emmerdale and added: “Tom is (now) a vet. He’s been working as a vet in Leeds. The things that happened in his life when he was younger, like when his father died and he found out the sort of man his father was, I think after his initial outburst of rage and confusion – he went back to Saudi Arabia to figure things out.
“It put Tom on a new path to become the best man he could be and just to be there for the people that he loves.”
Personal Life & Unusual Hobby
Although very little is known about James’ personal life, we do know he currently resides in Leeds and is an avid collector of Funko Pops! The unique hobby came to light in a post shared at the end of January 2024, when James was opening up about his busy month so far.
In the background of the photograph, several Funko pops could be seen stacked on the shelf, hinting that the actor may himself be a big fan of pop-culture.
This is further reinforced by his own social media description, in which he affectionately refers to himself as an “all around goofball” a clear sign that he possesses a wicked sense of humour!
In addition to his home life, we also know that when he's not busy on set, James is also a big fan of travelling and previously delighted fans with a glimpse inside his trip to Sicily, Italy last year.
