Emmerdale viewers were left reeling on New Year's Day as the ITV soap delivered a brutal double death twist, seemingly confirming the demise of two characters in a shocking hour of drama.
A Mother's Confession and a Son's Revenge
The episode saw the terrifying reign of villainess Celia Daniels come to a bloody end at the hands of her own son, Ray Walters. The dramatic turn of events unfolded after Celia, portrayed by actress Jaye Griffiths, made a horrifying confession to Ray. She revealed that his friend, Bear, was already dead, claiming she had killed him "slowly" and that he had suffered in pain.
Bear had not been seen on screen since Celia's initial threat against him days earlier, and her grim details appeared to explain his sudden absence. She mocked a distraught Ray as he wept for his pal, stating she had made sacrifices to prevent their scheme from being exposed.
The Fatal Embrace
As the pair discussed their plan to flee the village, Celia reminded Ray they were "on the same side" and urged him to hug her. During the embrace, Ray whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," before Celia was shown gasping and jolting. The camera subtly revealed a knife missing from a block, strongly implying Ray had stabbed her.
Celia, with her final breaths, told her son she was proud of him before collapsing to the floor, lifeless. While her death is expected to be confirmed in Friday's episode, the fate of Bear remains a mystery, with no details yet on how Celia allegedly carried out the murder or if the village will ever discover the truth.
An Exit Foretold
The dramatic exit aligns with recent reports that Jaye Griffiths had filmed her final scenes for the soap. The actress had previously hinted that Celia's dark storyline meant her time in the Dales would not be permanent, suggesting an exit was imminent.
From next week, Emmerdale will air weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service. This devastating double blow is set to send shockwaves through the community, leaving Ray to grapple with the horrific consequences of his actions and the loss of his friend.
