“This week, Emmerdale will uncover the identity of Ray Walters’ killer, as Joe Absolom talks about his departure from the show.”
In an exciting week of “whodunnit” episodes beginning tomorrow (January 19), Emmerdale viewers will finally discover who killed Ray Walters through a series of flashbacks.
Ray, widely disliked for the chaos he caused during his time in the Dales, leaves only one person truly mourning—Joe Absolom, the ITV actor who portrayed him.
Reflecting on his exit, Joe said: “I’ve started to think, ‘why did I say kill me off?’ That said, Ray needed to get his comeuppance. I think the audience is happy. He couldn’t stay in the soap. There has to be moving on, but as an actor, I’ve loved it and I could have stayed forever.”
As the episodes unfold and Ray’s killer is revealed—prime suspects include Laurel Thomas, Rhona Goskirk, and Marlon Dingle—the 47-year-old admits he feels a little down.
Joe, who is also known for roles in EastEnders, Doc Martin, Code of Silence, The Bay, and The Level, has spoken warmly about his time on Emmerdale.
He told The Mirror: “It’s been really good, but I’ve definitely got the blues. That’s a compliment to Emmerdale. It’s been such a positive place to work, and I’m going to miss it.
“When you’re a jobbing actor, the fear of finding your next role is always there. It can be terrifying not knowing what comes next. But now that I’m older, I feel like I’ve earned a bit of karma, and I know I’ll be alright.”
As Emmerdale explores the motives of the prime suspects in Ray’s murder, viewers may also wonder if Dylan—who was pressured by Ray into drug dealing—could be involved, or perhaps Ross Barton, who has ties to April, another character who suffered at Ray’s hands.
Fans will have to wait until Thursday to finally discover the identity of Ray’s killer. Joe commented: “It’s a great twist, and it’s very fitting. He’s not a popular guy, and it could be any number of characters who did it.”
For Joe, playing such a manipulative villain has been an exhilarating challenge. From drawing April and Dylan into his drug-dealing scheme and holding Bear captive, to deceiving his new love interest Laurel about his true identity, Ray has been the embodiment of pure evil—a fact not lost on fans, as Joe has experienced firsthand.
He said: “I’ve loved playing Ray, and it’s been great when people come up to tell me they didn’t like him. It means I’ve hopefully done it right. I usually prefer playing the nasty characters. I can be quite fearful when it comes to the natural, loving roles.”
Taking on such a demanding soap role, however, is no easy feat. Joe admits: “There can be a snobbery about soaps, but filming them is really tough.”
“They often have to cover 25 pages of scripts on a soap, whereas in dramas I’m used to, it’s only three to five pages. It’s an exhausting process, but everyone working on the soap is incredible.
“They’re young, diverse, full of energy, and it’s been really eye-opening and enjoyable to work with such a talented team. Their enthusiasm is constant.
“I’ve worked on dramas where people start to get bored after four weeks—but not on Emmerdale. Even when they’re standing out in the rain all day, people are still laughing. As a workplace, Emmerdale is truly one of a kind.”
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