Emmerdale’s newest villain, Ray Walters, gave viewers one of the soap’s most chilling moments when he appeared to shoot Marlon Dingle in cold blood. But as star Joe Absolom admits, even he was horrified when he first read the shocking scene in the script.

The Nightmare Scene That Fooled Everyone

In Tuesday night’s episode, Ray burst into Marlon’s home, where he was sharing a quiet evening with his daughter, April. Without warning, Ray pulled a gun and fired, hitting Marlon in the chest as April screamed in terror. Millions of fans were left stunned, believing one of the village’s most beloved characters had been killed.

But in a twist worthy of the Dales, it was soon revealed that the horrifying shooting was just a dream. Marlon, played by Mark Charnock, woke up safe and sound — though viewers were still recovering from the shock.

“I Thought I’d Just Shot a Legend”

For Joe Absolom, who joined the soap earlier this year, the fake shooting came as an unexpected surprise. “When I first read the episode, my immediate thought was, ‘Oh no! I’ve been here ten minutes and now I’ve got to shoot the legend that is Marlon Dingle,’” he told The Mirror. “Shooting a Dingle when you haven’t been in the Dales for very long is pretty high up there on how not to join a soap. The Dingles are hallowed!”

At first, the actor didn’t realize the killing was a dream sequence. “I started to worry and think, ‘Oh no, he’s being written out!’ I didn’t want to bump into him in the canteen,” he joked. “When I found out it was all a dream, I was so relieved.”

From Killer Roles to Compassionate Co-Star

Known for playing dark and dangerous characters — including real-life murderer Christopher Halliwell in A Confession — Joe is nothing like his on-screen persona. He describes Emmerdale’s cast as “warm and welcoming,” especially Mark Charnock, who immediately made him feel part of the team.

“I was very aware coming into such an established show that people could be wary,” he said. “But it’s been the complete opposite. Everyone’s been so positive. It’s another reason I’m glad Ray didn’t really shoot Marlon!”

Guns, Grit, and Realism on Set

Joe revealed the gun used in filming was tightly controlled for safety. “The real gun was locked in a case, within a case, and in another case,” he said. “A man in armour was in charge of it. I was only given a rubber one!”

Despite the dark material, he admits the intense scenes are some of the most exciting to film. “It’s fun doing scenes like these,” he added.

Life Beyond the Dales

Away from the screen, Joe balances filming in Yorkshire with family life in Cornwall, where his three children live. “I do feel like I need to go and see my kids more, but they’re fine about it,” he said. “They just tell me, ‘Dad, it’s fine, you have to work.’”

And in a small-world twist, Joe’s teenage son Casper even works at the same Cornish café as the daughter of his co-star Kevin Mathurin, who plays vicar Charles. “It’s so weird, but funny,” Joe laughed.

What’s Next for Ray Walters

Ray may not have actually killed Marlon, but his reign of terror in the village is far from over. Upcoming episodes will see him grow even more dangerous as Emmerdale explores a disturbing storyline about modern slavery.

“We’ve been working with the Salvation Army on what modern slavery looks like, especially in Ray’s manipulation of Celia, April, and Dylan,” Joe revealed. “It’s cruel, horrible, and done with a vicious streak.”

And just as things couldn’t get darker, romance enters the mix — with Ray reportedly growing close to Marlon’s ex, Laurel. “He gets split into two different worlds,” Joe teased. “When her family finds out about him, they’re going to be very worried. The secrets will catch up with Ray, and he’ll start to unravel.”

For now, Joe is simply enjoying every unpredictable turn. “It’s great to be part of Emmerdale,” he said. “Anything can happen!”