Emmerdale actor Joe Absolom has hinted at a potential romance between his character Ray and Laurel Thomas, which could offer a path to redemption for the villain. In recent episodes, sparks have been flying between the pair, though Laurel remains unaware of Ray's criminal activities and his connection to Celia.
Absolom told The Mirror that Ray sees in Laurel a family life he never had, having been adopted by Celia at age eight. 'I think when he meets Laurel, there's something that brings a side out of him that he didn't know he was going to have,' the actor said. 'He sees a family, he sees her with her kids and sees a family life that he never had.'
The star also revealed that future episodes will feature Ray interacting with other villagers, including Marlon Dingle, Rhona, and eventually Cain Dingle, as the County Lines plot expands. 'People start tweaking that this isn't just a sort of mother and son. These people are new to the village and these people are bad news,' he explained.
Absolom, who is enjoying playing a baddie, added: 'It's good to be evil. It's easier to be snidey and horrible than it is to be happy.' Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
