Ray’s Criminal Empire Begins to Unravel

The tension in Emmerdale is reaching breaking point as Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) finds himself cornered by DS Carter (Emma Willis) in upcoming scenes — and the pressure leads to desperate and dangerous decisions.

For months, Ray has manipulated teenagers Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) and April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), forcing them to deal drugs on his behalf. His cruelty peaked when he tricked them into believing they owed his boss a fortune after April lost a bag of drugs. In truth, the debt was a lie, a twisted way of keeping them trapped and terrified.

Now, as the police close in and his lies start to crumble, Ray’s grip on the teens begins to slip — and Dylan finally decides to take matters into his own hands.

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DS Carter Turns Up the Heat

Next week, Ray’s criminal world begins to unravel when DS Carter turns up in the village to question Kev (Chris Coghill). Their conversation leaves Carter suspicious, and when she later spots Ray nearby, she approaches him directly.

Panicked, Ray hastily ditches a backpack — one that Dylan had handed to him earlier — and tries to act calm as Carter questions him. Unfortunately for Ray, his quick decision to abandon the bag only creates new problems.

When he later tries to retrieve it, Ross Barton (Michael Parr) accidentally picks it up while helping Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) and Lewis (Bradley Riches) move some bags at Dale View. By the time Ray realises the mix-up, it’s too late.

Desperate to avoid discovery, he orders Dylan to retrieve the bag — no matter the cost.

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Dylan and April See a Way Out

With the pressure mounting, Dylan’s nerves begin to crack. When charm and persuasion fail to win Vinny over, he steals the keys to Dale View while Vinny is at the shop.

Meanwhile, Ray summons April to meet one of his “contacts,” and though she’s terrified, she knows she can’t refuse.

Inside Dale View, Dylan searches frantically but finds nothing. Later, when Ray demands answers, Dylan claims he recovered the bag — and that it was full of money.

Seeing a rare opportunity, Dylan hatches a daring plan. He tells April they can finally escape Ray’s control. Together, the terrified teens start plotting their getaway, hopeful that freedom is within reach.

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A Sinister Twist

Just as Dylan and April prepare to flee, their phones light up with a new message — a chilling video from Ray himself.

Has he caught them out? Is this his revenge for their betrayal?

The suspense is set to build even higher as Emmerdale’s drugs ring storyline takes a dark turn. With DS Carter closing in and Ray’s paranoia growing, it’s only a matter of time before his crimes come crashing down — but who will get caught in the fallout?

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Joe Absolom on Ray’s Troubled Past

Actor Joe Absolom recently opened up about the complexity behind his character’s dark behaviour. “I think Ray’s had a troubled life,” he said. “He’s got a complicated relationship with his mum, Celia Daniels, and when he comes to Emmerdale, he finds people who challenge him — people who make him question everything.”

As the walls close in, Ray’s control over Dylan and April is slipping fast — and the stage is set for one of Emmerdale’s most gripping showdowns yet.