Ray’s killer is revealed in Emmerdale in a gripping week of ‘whodunnit’ but Joe Absolom who plays Ray says there’s a great twist coming
Flashbacks will finally reveal who murdered Ray Walters as Emmerdale examines the main suspects in a gripping week of ‘whodunnit’ episodes.(Image: )
Flashbacks will finally reveal who murdered Ray Walters as Emmerdale examines the main suspects in a gripping week of ‘whodunnit’ episodes, starting tomorrow.
Hated for the havoc he wreaked during his time in the Dales, only one person has been devastated by Ray’s death – and that’s Joe Absolom, who plays him.
Joe says: “I’ve started to think ‘why did I say kill me off?’ That said, Ray had to get his comeuppance. I think the audience is happy. He couldn’t stay in the soap. There has to be a moving on but, as an actor, I have loved it and I could easily stay forever.”
As next week’s episodes promise to unmask Ray’s killer – with the main suspects including Laurel Thomas, Rhona Goskirk and Marlon Dingle – Joe, 47, admits to feeling blue.
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The actor, whose TV credits include EastEnders, Doc Martin, Code of Silence, The Bay and The Level, says of his time on the soap: “It’s been very good and I’ve definitely got the blues. It’s a compliment to Emmerdale. It’s been such a nice, positive place to work and I am going to miss it. When you are a jobbing actor, the reality of that fear of finding a new role also steps in. It can be terrifying wondering what is next. But, as I have got older, I feel like I have got a bit of karma and I know I will be alright. “
As Emmerdale presents the motives for the main suspects in the hunt for Ray’s killer, fans will also be wondering whether Dylan, who he bullied into selling drugs for him, might have had a hand in it. Or even Ross Barton, who has links to April – another character who fell foul of Ray. But viewers will have to wait until Thursday for Ray’s killer to be revealed. Joe says: “It is a great twist and it is very fitting. He is not a popular guy and it could be one of many characters who murdered him.”
Playing such a calculating baddie has been a great challenge for Joe. From coaxing April and Dylan into selling drugs for him and taking Bear prisoner, to lying to his new love, Laurel, about who he really was, Ray has been evil through and through – as fans have told Joe to his face. He says: “I’ve loved playing Ray and it’s been nice when people have come up to me to tell me they didn’t like him. It means I’ve hopefully got it right. I tend to prefer playing the horrible characters. I can be quite fearful when it’s natural, love stuff.”
Paddy is in the frame for Ray’s murder but he’s not the only suspect.(Image: )
But playing such an intense role, with a demanding soap schedule, is no mean feat. Joe says: “There can be a snobbery about soaps, but filming is really difficult. They often have to do 25 pages of scripts on a soap, but I’m used to dramas where you only have three to five pages. It’s an exhausting process, but everyone working on the soap is phenomenal.
“They are young, diverse, full of beans and it has been really eye opening and enjoyable to work with such a talented crew. They are always so enthusiastic. I’ve worked on dramas before where people are bored after four weeks – but not Emmerdale. Even when they are standing out in the rain all day, people laugh. As a place to work, Emmerdale is unique.”
He formed a particularly strong bond with Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel, Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon, and Fred Kettle, who plays Dylan. He says: “Charlotte is a revelation, she is exceptional. She can do any storyline and she has been so welcoming. You sit in the canteen and think ‘wow you’ve been here nearly 25 years.’ It’s the same with Mark and Fred.”
Ray was in Eastenders in 1999 when he played Matthew Rose.(Image: Press Association)
Refusing to be drawn on the identity of Ray’s killer, the one thing Joe does reveal is that their character is staying in Emmerdale – whether they are found guilty or not. He says: “I keep joking and saying ‘now I have gone, think of me when you are still working and I am unemployed! My death has given your character the chance to move on.’ I will be on the compost heap, while they are still eating. But giving them lots of work is something I am very happy about. They are all great and they even held a leaving party for me – something I don’t normally do. Normally I just leave straight away.”
After filming his exit storyline before Christmas, Joe spent the festivities in Cornwall with his three children, Lyla, 18, Cass, 14 and Daisy, 12, who he shares with his ex-wife, Liz. He says: “It’s been nice to be at home with my kids over Christmas. I have been away a lot with this job and so it’s been nice to hear about everything they have been up to and to have a nice break before the re-evaluation of what I want to do next kicks in this month.”
Already attending auditions, Joe says he fancies playing a detective, rather than a villain. He says: “I do like the bad people, but I would like to be a detective – asking the questions and looking for people. They’ve often got a dark side too.” But Ray’s dark side was his downfall. Joe says: “He’s got blood on his hands with the murder of Celia.” Again, refusing to reveal more, he adds: “It’s a great ending.”
Ray is hated for the havoc he’s wreaked during his time in the Dales.(Image: )
Who’s in the frame for killing Ray?
Laurel Thomas.
Shortly before Ray’s murder, Dylan told Laurel the truth about him. Ray thinks killing Celia will give him a chance to change and live happily ever after with Laurel but, knowing what he’s really like, she dumps him. Joe says: “It’s pretty brutal. It was a chance for him to have a new, lovely life and not be shrouded in misery and crime. What he didn’t know was that she [Laurel] had discovered the truth and subsequently told Ray he was a monster. This was a big slap for him and he knew it wouldn’t be possible for them to ever be together.”
Rhona Goskirk
Rhona has been left heartbroken by Ray’s reign of terror. Joe says: “Rhona never liked Ray – especially when he took April and started extorting money out of both her and Marlon. He had been threatening towards them and it was a challenging time for them.”
Marlon Dingle
Like Rhona, Marlon despises Ray and wants revenge for everything he did to April. Joe says of him and Rhona: “They paid my character a lot of money each week. They have had to keep everything quiet while watching Laurel and Ray canoodling. Marlon was furious with Ray.”
Dylan Penders and Ross Barton
Given the hell he has gone through at Ray’s hands, Dylan Penders is an obvious murder suspect. But Ross was also furious with Ray. He was once in a relationship with Donna Windsor, April’s mother. Joe says: “It could be Dylan and when Ross found out about April, he got involved too.”
*Ray’s murderer will be exposed on Thursday 22nd January at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1. Episodes can be downloaded on ITVX.
