Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale villain Celia Daniels drips poison in Laurel Thomas’ ear later this month, with the intention to destroy Ray Walters’ budding romance. Will Celia’s cunning plot succeed in driving the two lovebirds away from each other?

While joining Laurel and Ray for dinner at Mulberry Cottage, Celia realises that her son is far too infatuated with Laurel for her liking. As a result, Celia thinks on her feet and advises Laurel that Ray is a manipulative, emotionally-distant playboy who will do her no good. Will Laurel take Celia’s words as gospel?

“Celia can’t bear the idea of Ray being close to anyone but her,” our Emmerdale source explains. “Ray knows this, so when he first learns that Celia plans to join him and Laurel for a meal, he begs her to play nice.

“It’s a pointless plea, and Celia laps up the fact that she’s pulling back control over her son. Surely Ray could’ve guessed that she wasn’t going to be on her best behaviour…

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After spitting out her nasty remarks, Celia leaves Laurel and Ray to hash things out by themselves. In front of Ray, Laurel can’t help but show how much Celia’s words have altered her feelings towards him.

Heartbroken, Ray angrily storms out of Mulberry Cottage, which Rhona Goskirk spots from a distance. As Rhona worries for Laurel, is there no going back for her and Ray?

Later in the week, Ray continues to feel both furious and humiliated by his mum, knowing that her actions were motivated by pure jealousy.

Regardless, Celia shows no mercy and makes Ray vow to cut things off with Laurel sooner rather than later.

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“Celia won’t back down over this,” our spy adds. “Without knowing it, Laurel is a threat for countless reasons. Not only does Laurel jeopardise Celia’s relationship with Ray, who is the only person she can count on, but she has the potential to soften Ray’s outlook on life.

“It’s a possibility that Celia can’t even begin to imagine, so she is determined to make sure that Ray walks away before he’s in too deep.”

With Ray torn between Celia and Laurel, will he follow his head or heart? And can he convince Laurel that he’s not the man Celia made him out to be?