Emmerdale’s newest villain, Celia Daniels, may be about to lose her grip on her most dangerous weapon — her son, Ray Walters. The latest episode, now streaming on ITVX ahead of its ITV1 broadcast, sees the cracks forming in Celia’s twisted criminal partnership as Ray begins to defy her control.

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Ray’s Attention Shifts — From Crime to Laurel

For weeks, Celia (Angela Griffin) has been running a sinister drugs and exploitation ring, using local teens April Windsor and Dylan Penders as pawns in her operation. Her son Ray (Joe Absolom) has handled most of the dirty work — until now.

In Thursday’s episode, Ray’s focus moves away from Celia’s criminal schemes and toward an unlikely new connection: Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy). The pair grow closer after an emotional encounter at the grave of Laurel’s late husband, Ashley, on what would have been their 20th wedding anniversary.

Moved by his kindness, Laurel invites Ray back to Mulberry Cottage for tea and conversation. When Marlon Dingle and Rhona Goskirk later drop by, the atmosphere lightens — until Ray accidentally reveals that the “scary” woman everyone’s been joking about is, in fact, his mother.

Despite the awkward slip, Ray’s charm wins over the locals. But his budding relationship with Laurel could mark the beginning of a dangerous rift between him and Celia.

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Celia’s Power Slips Away

Watching from the shadows, Celia immediately senses something’s wrong. When she calls Ray and demands to know where he is, he lies — claiming he’s working a job in Hotten.

For a woman used to absolute control, Ray’s dishonesty lands like a betrayal. Her expression hardens as she realizes he’s starting to think — and act — for himself.

Could Ray’s growing independence, and his unexpected connection with Laurel, be the spark that turns him against his mother’s empire? Or will Celia strike first to reassert dominance before her son slips away completely?

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Joe Absolom Hints at a Softer Side

Speaking on Lorraine, actor Joe Absolom teased that fans may soon see a new layer to Ray.

“Because it’s a soap, you get to tell so much more about each character,” he explained. “So there is a different side to Ray. He meets Laurel, who runs The Hide, and he finds a relationship with her that’s blossoming and hopefully very good. You will see a different side — but it’s quite good to be evil!”

Absolom’s comments suggest Ray’s journey may evolve into a complex battle between redemption and corruption — a man torn between love and loyalty to a mother who thrives on manipulation.

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What Comes Next

With Laurel unknowingly falling for a man tied to some of the village’s darkest crimes, Emmerdale is setting the stage for a volatile chain of events. As Celia tightens her grip and Ray drifts further away, one thing is certain — when this mother-son power struggle explodes, no one in the Dales will be safe.