Emmerdale: Dylan Fights Back Against Ray to Save April — But It Could Cost Him Everything
Tensions reach breaking point in Emmerdale this week as Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) takes a brave — and potentially fatal — stand against Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) to protect April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan).
After months of being manipulated and exploited by Ray and his mother Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), the teens finally begin to see through the lies — but Dylan’s growing defiance could seal his fate.
Dylan Turns the Tables on Ray
Under the pretense of working off a debt they can never repay, Dylan and April have been trapped in Ray’s web of intimidation. But with each new “job,” Dylan starts to realise that Ray has no intention of ever setting them free.
“Ray’s a complex guy,” actor Joe Absolom explains. “He’s got this difficult dynamic with his mum, Celia, and that’s really twisted his sense of right and wrong. But he’s still human — in his mind, everything he’s doing makes sense.”
Despite knowing how dangerous Ray can be, Dylan decides he’s done playing by his rules.
When Ray insists that Dylan perform a cash handover in broad daylight, the teen seizes the chance to act. But as fate would have it, DS Carter (Jane Hazlegrove) spots Ray just as the deal goes down. Trying to throw her off the scent, Ray ditches the money-filled bag behind a wall and walks over to casually talk to the detective — leaving his stash exposed.
The Missing Money
In a twist of bad luck for Ray, Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) unknowingly pick up the bag while helping Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) move. When Ray realises what’s happened, he orders Dylan to retrieve it — or face severe punishment.
But after Ross catches him snooping, and Vinny refuses to let him in, Dylan is forced to get creative. Buying flowers as a distraction, he manages to steal Vinny’s keys — but when he gets inside, the bag is gone.
When Dylan returns empty-handed, Ray explodes in fury, berating and threatening him in a terrifying scene.
What Ray doesn’t know is that Dylan has already found the bag and stolen the cash, determined to use it to run away with April.
April’s Ordeal and Dylan’s Desperation
While Dylan deals with the fallout, April faces her own nightmare. Ray orders her to meet one of his “clients,” telling her to do “whatever’s necessary” to keep him happy — a chilling echo of her earlier ordeal.
April hides her fear from Dylan, not wanting to burden him, while he senses something’s wrong but can’t get her to open up.
With both teens desperate and scared, Dylan makes a bold decision — they’ll take the money and run.
“It’s the perfect crime,” says an insider. “Dylan thinks he’s finally outsmarted Ray. But what he doesn’t realise is that Ray is always one step ahead.”
Ray’s Revenge
Just as Dylan and April start to believe freedom is within reach, their illusion shatters. Ray sends them a chilling video message, reminding them who’s really in control.
The warning is clear: he knows what they’ve done — and he’s coming for them.
As Dylan prepares to defend April at all costs, fans are bracing for a violent showdown that could have deadly consequences.
Joe Absolom teases: “It’s all coming to a head soon. When April’s family — especially Cain — finds out what’s been going on, things are going to explode. Ray and Celia aren’t just random newcomers. They’re serious bad news.”