Emmerdale airs at 8pm on ITV1
Over the years Emmerdale has seen many secrets, but few have been as chilling as the revelation of Ray’s true nature. Charlotte Bellamy is talking Laurel’s descent from “bewitched” lover to a woman caught in a web of betrayal and danger.
For Laurel, falling for Ray wasn’t just a whirlwind romance; it was a total deception. Charlotte explains that despite the darkness lurking beneath, Laurel was completely taken in by his charm. ‘She definitely was falling for him, without a doubt. She thought he was full of charisma and everything she was looking for.’
Despite Ray’s suspicious behavior and the constant interruptions from his past, Laurel remained blissfully unaware of the danger she was in.
‘No suspicions at all. There were a couple of times when the phone kept ringing, and she’d thought the “combine harvest business” side of his life was busy, but she didn’t really ponder on it. She was so bewitched by him: She thought that Celia was constantly contacting him, which was often the case.’
The turning point comes when the reality of Ray’s life is finally exposed to her in a moment of pure shock.
‘Dylan tells her in the cafe, which is not seen on screen. Laurel feels absolute disbelief, like the rug has well and truly been pulled.’
As Ray tries to justify his actions by pointing to his history with Celia, Laurel is forced to confront a man she no longer recognizes. ‘Initially, she is so shocked she can’t comprehend the Ray she knew versus the Ray in front of her. He gets quite angry, knowing he will lose her, and she sees a side she hasn’t seen. However, he is genuine about his feelings for her.’
The departure of Joe Absolom marks the end of a significant chapter for the show, and Charlotte was full of praise for her colleagues.
‘Yes, he’s a joy, an absolute joy, brilliant, a great actor, and a good all-rounder. Both Joe and Jaye were brilliant and passionate about the story, show, and characters.’
‘Soaps have a lot of villains, but Jaye’s character Celia went up a level because nothing was off-limits. Celia and Ray did things that were so cold-blooded, like real gangsters or drug cartels. It was really good that Emmerdale pushed those boundaries.’
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