Emmerdale fans were left stunned this week when Ray Walters appeared to shoot Marlon Dingle dead in a horrifying scene — only for it to be revealed as a dream sequence. But according to actor Joe Absolom, the moment was just as shocking for him when he first read the script.

“I Thought I’d Just Shot a Legend”

Joe, who joined the ITV soap earlier this year as the ruthless drug dealer Ray, admitted that the script left him panicking about his new role. “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 in the chest,’” he told The Mirror.

“I knew it was bad. Shooting a Dingle when you haven’t been in the Dales very long is pretty high up there on how not to join a soap. The Dingles are hallowed!”

Fans watched in horror as Ray burst into Marlon’s home and opened fire while the beloved chef shared a quiet moment with his daughter April. The haunting scene — which ended with April cradling her father’s lifeless body — sent social media into meltdown. Relief came moments later when it was revealed to be a dream, showing Marlon’s fears for his daughter’s safety amid her trauma.

From Panic to Relief

Joe admitted he was “so relieved” to learn the shocking twist wasn’t real. “I started to worry and think, ‘Oh no, Mark [Charnock] is being written out. He’ll have to ring his mortgage company!’” he joked. “When I realised it was all a dream, I was very glad. I really didn’t want to have to come in and shoot him dead.”

Despite his character’s menacing nature, Joe described his co-star Mark Charnock as “one of the loveliest people” on set. “Mark was so welcoming when I joined. Everyone at Emmerdale has been, which is a relief because you never know how an established cast will react to a newcomer,” he said.

Life Imitates Art

Joe, who’s no stranger to villainous roles — having previously played real-life serial killer Christopher Halliwell in A Confession — said filming the violent scene required special safety measures. “When they turned up on set, the gun was locked in a case within a case, and in another case!” he recalled. “A man in armour had to guard it. I was only given a rubber one — there was no way they were letting me near a real gun.”

Still, he admitted that performing such intense scenes is part of what he loves about the job. “It’s fun doing scenes like these,” he said. “Ray is such a fun person to play. Since I’ve been here, I’ve sold drugs, pimped out April, and taught Dylan to drive. It’s a wild ride.”

Dark Storylines and a New Romance Ahead

While Marlon’s death turned out to be a dream, Ray’s reign of terror in the village is far from over. Joe revealed that the show is now exploring darker themes involving modern slavery, with help from the Salvation Army to ensure accuracy and sensitivity. “What viewers will find out is cruel and horrible, and it’s done with such a vicious streak,” he teased.

There’s also romance on the horizon for Ray — with a surprising connection to Laurel, Marlon’s ex. “Ray is going to get a love interest,” Joe confirmed. “When her family finds out about him, they’re naturally going to be very worried for her. The secrets will catch up with Ray, and he’ll start to unravel.”

A Dales Experience to Remember

Despite the heavy material, Joe said he’s loving his time on Emmerdale. “It’s great to be part of the show. Anything can happen!” he laughed. “Even a dream about shooting a Dingle.”