A Troubled Past Comes to Light

Fans recently learned that Ray’s partner-in-crime Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) isn’t just his accomplice — she’s his mother. The shocking twist redefined Ray’s story, revealing how Celia raised him in a life of deceit and forced him into the same criminal world she built.

Speaking to The Mirror, Absolom admitted that this twisted family dynamic is key to understanding Ray’s psyche.

“Yeah, I think he’s had a bit of a troubled life,” he shared. “He’s got an interesting setup with his mum, and when he comes to Emmerdale, he finds characters that challenge that and make him question it. He’s slightly more human at times — there are many different facets of everybody.”

It’s a hint that even amid his cruelty and manipulation, Ray might not be completely beyond saving.

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Redemption or Ruin?

Currently, only Ray, Celia, April, and Dylan are directly involved in the village’s County Lines plot. But Absolom teased that the storyline will soon spiral outward, pulling in more Emmerdale residents and threatening to expose everything.

“I’m intrigued how that sort of comes out because basically April is a Dingle, so she has all that weight with her,” Joe explained. “I have stuff with Marlon and Rhona, and eventually that leads to scenes with Cain. People start twigging that this isn’t just a mother and son. These people are bad news.”

That revelation means the Dingles — one of the soap’s most powerful families — will likely become central to Ray’s downfall.

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From Villainy to Vulnerability

Despite his sinister edge, Joe admitted he’s enjoying every second of playing one of Emmerdale’s most complex villains.

“It’s been good, yeah. It’s good to be bad,” he laughed. “It’s good to be evil. It’s good to be a little bit snidey. It’s easier to be snidey and horrible than it is to be happy.”

But viewers shouldn’t expect Ray to stay a one-dimensional villain for long. The actor’s comments suggest that Emmerdale may soon peel back the layers of Ray’s past, exploring how his mother’s influence shaped him — and whether he’ll ever break free from her control.

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A Storm Brewing in the Dales

With April’s secret life on the verge of exposure, and Marlon, Rhona, and Cain all becoming aware of Ray’s presence, the coming weeks promise explosive confrontations. If Ray’s criminal web unravels, it could change the Dingle family forever.

And as Joe Absolom teases, Ray’s next chapter might not be as straightforward as good versus evil — but something far more unpredictable.