Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) has been pulled in two different directions on Emmerdale in recent weeks. On one side is his adoptive mother, the absolutely terrifying Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths). And on the other, Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy).
When we first met Ray in the village it quickly became clear that he was a manipulative character who used his charm to get people to trust him, and then he got them to work in his and Celia’s illicit drugs operation.
There was already an association between Ray and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle), who believed that Ray had his best interests at heart. Gradually Dylan has come to realise that’s not the case.
Ray is actually capable of thuggish violence and, as well as being involved in trafficking and dealing drugs, he’s also in charge of the people who are being used as cheap labour on Celia’s farm.
These people, who include Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), are being kept in squalid conditions and are subjected to violence and even death.
As well as all this, there’s another side to Ray. He’s absolutely smitten by Laurel, and it’s clear that his feelings for her are absolutely genuine.
He was devastated when she tried to call a halt to their relationship after he stood her up on what was supposed to be their first date.
Laurel speaks to Celia over a table at Mulberry Cottage in Emmerdale
Celia starts to fear that Ray’s feelings for Laurel could impact her plan (Picture: ITV)
As Jaye Griffiths told us, ‘He’s had lots of girlfriends! But this is something else. He is so circumspect around her, he’s so quiet about her… he doesn’t brag, he barely speaks about her, and that is a concern. That means she is something real.’
Recognising that Ray’s feelings for Laurel could undermine their whole set-up, Celia invites herself to join him and Laurel for dinner. She decides to wreck things for her son by destroying his chances with Laurel, making him out to be an emotionally distant playboy. Then, job done, she leaves.
Laurel is devastated by her words, and tells Ray it’s changed everything about how she views him because she had believed he was genuine. He realises that Celia could have ruined his chances of having a meaningful relationship with Laurel and he’s furious and heads out.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.
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