Emmerdale has flashed back to the events leading to Ray Walter’s murder, confirming Paddy Dingle as a new suspect after he discovered Bear had been killed. In tonight’s episode, the ITV soap looked back at Marlon Dingle’s possible involvement in Ray’s death as part of the flashback week episodes. The Woolpack chef had a pretty good reason for wanting revenge on Ray after discovering he’d been forcing his daughter April Windsor into drug dealing and prostitution.

Emmerdale followed a jumpy Marlon as Paddy invited him out for lunch. Marlon was evasive as he drove off, while Rhona watched on from the window.

With April disappeared, Marlon confronted Ray, threatening to kill him “with [his] bare hands” if he didn’t tell where his daughter was. After a scuffle, Marlon stopped as Ray remarked he didn’t “have it in [him]” to be a killer.

Elsewhere, Paddy caught up with Dylan Penders, who was on edge after telling Laurel Thomas about Ray’s crimes. Begging Paddy to stay in the village, Dylan admitted: “I said something I shouldn’t have.”

Paddy tried to calm him down, asking the teen to come clean so he could help him. A panicked Dylan told Paddy he’d lied to him about Ray. “He’s not who you think it is,” he said.

Dylan told him Ray was the one who’d run him over and was behind April’s disappearance. Paddy put two and two together about Marlon’s strange behaviour earlier. “He probably wants to kill Ray. I know I do,” Paddy said.

Dylan then made the hardest confession of all, telling a distraught Paddy that his dad, Bear, was working for Ray at the farm together with others.

“They’re keeping them as slaves, Paddy,” Dylan said.

Later on, Marlon followed Ray as he broke into Laurel’s. Ross Barton spotted Marlon holding a knife and made him reason. “Look, I have absolutely no idea what’s gone on, but I do know that it is not worth doing time for,” Ross said.

Marlon told him that April was missing and Ray was responsible. Ross was confused about why Marlon wanted to kill Ray, as he was the only one who knew where his daughter was.

“I wasn’t thinking,” Marlon conceded, in an admission that could exonerate him as a suspect.

“Then we need to find Ray, and we need to make him start talking,” Ross said, hinting at getting the truth out of him with any means necessary.

Back at Paddy’s, the vet was still wrapping his head around the fact that Bear was so close but refused to leave the farm. Dylan told him Ray and Celia had brainwashed his dad into loyalty and that he shouldn’t go to the farm — or else he’d get killed.

“I can’t stand around and do nothing,” the vet said, storming out.

Paddy bumped into Ray and confronted him about his dad. The baddie taunted him, finally telling Paddy that Bear was dead. Paddy broke down in tears and asked Ray if he’d killed his father, but Ray said he couldn’t.

“I liked your dad. He was a good friend,” he said. “And you have no idea what I’ve done to get revenge for his death. He was like a father to me.”

Ray’s manipulating words angered Paddy, who reminded the villain that he’d taken advantage of a vulnerable man and so many others. Paddy was ready to attack Ray, but stopped when he threatened to hurt Dylan. The vet took a step back, promising Ray he would face the music sooner or later.

Before Paddy left, Ray told him that it was Celia who had killed Bear. “And it wasn’t quick,” Ray said.

Could Ray’s admission turn Paddy into a murderer? And was Ross planning to use the shotgun he loaded in the final scene against Ray?

Emmerdale is set to reveal all as Flashback Week continues.