Emmerdale fans were left on the edge of their seats as Ray Walters shot Marlon Dingle dead
Emmeline Saunders Features Writer, Tom Kershaw Content Editor and Christine Smith
07:55, 05 Nov 2025Updated 07:55, 05 Nov 2025
ITV Emmerdale viewers were left on tenterhooks tonight as Marlon Dingle was seemingly shot dead by drug dealer Ray Walters. The chilling scene unfolded as Ray, portrayed by Joe Absolom, stormed into Marlon’s home where he was sharing a cosy moment with his daughter, April, and shot him in the chest.
As Marlon collapsed, a distraught April, played by Amelia Flanagan, attempted to comfort her father’s lifeless body. However, fans breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed that the entire ordeal was merely a vivid dream of Marlon’s!
In the dramatic episode, April also comes close to confessing to Marlon, played by Mark Charnock, about her horrific experiences with the villainous Ray.
Joe, 46, expressed his relief that the shocking scenes were only a dream, stating that he had no wish to be held responsible for killing off one of Emmerdale’s most beloved characters.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “When I first read the episode, my immediate thought was ‘Oh no! I have been here ten minutes and now I have got to shoot the legend that is Marlon Dingle in the chest’. I knew it was bad. Shooting a Dingle when you haven’t been in the Dales for very long is pretty high up there on how not to join a soap. The Dingles are hallowed!”, reports the Mirror.
Joe is no stranger to playing villains, having portrayed real-life serial killer Christopher Halliwell in A Confession; corrupt businessman Shay Nash in The Level and more recently, gangster Braden Moore in Code is Silence – all ITV shows.
Off-screen, however, he’s quite different and has formed a close friendship with co-star Mark since arriving at the soap in July. He reveals: “Mark is genuinely a lovely guy. He was so welcoming with me when I joined.”
Upon first viewing his shooting scenes without knowing the ‘murder’ was merely a dream sequence, he worried that Mark was being axed from the show.
He admits: “I started to worry and think ‘oh no, he is going to have to ring his mortgage company, he will be back auditioning like me’. I didn’t want to bump into him in the canteen!”.
(Image: WireImage)
Upon discovering it was all a dream, he recalls: “I was so relieved, as I really did not want to have to come in and shoot him dead.”
Joe feels protective towards his fellow cast members, noting how they immediately embraced him into the Emmerdale fold.
“I was very aware when I came into such an established show, people could be wary,” he explains. “When I was in EastEnders (as Matthew Rose), I remember new characters coming in and other actors, who shall remain nameless, were jarred by the new arrival. People would be like ‘oh they are coming on my territory’. But I have had none of this at Emmerdale, it’s all been so positive and it’s also another reason why I am glad Ray’s shooting of Marlon is a dream.”
Whilst Ray may not be a killer, he remains a deeply troubled character.
He has coerced April and Dylan into dealing his drugs and has left April, particularly, terrified for her family’s wellbeing. Joe has committed himself fully to the role – particularly during the shooting storyline.
During filming, he handled a rubber gun, whilst a real firearm, supervised by an armed security guard, remained on set to capture realistic shots.
“When they turned up on set, the gun was locked in a case, within a case and in another case, ” Joe explains. “A man was in armour and I was given a rubber gun, as there was no way they were going to let me have a real one.
“But it is fun doing scenes like these.” Thoroughly enjoying his stint working in Yorkshire, even the lengthy journey from his Cornwall home hasn’t dampened Joe’s enthusiasm.
“I really don’t mind it,” he maintains. “Ray is such a fun person to play. Since I’ve been here, I’ve sold drugs, pimped out April and taught Dylan to drive.”
Fortunately, his three children – Lyla, 18, Casper, 14, and Daisy, 12, whom he shares with ex-wife Liz – are understanding about the considerable time he spends away in Leeds, where Emmerdale is filmed.
“I am usually away a lot, but with this job, I have been away a particular lot of time and I do feel like I need to go and see my kids,” he says. “But they are like ‘dad it’s fine, you have to work'”.
He acknowledges his children are typical teenagers, adding: “When I do get back, they say: ‘can I go out and can you pick me up at 12?'” Joe isn’t the sole Absolom family member to join the Emmerdale cast – his son Caspar works alongside Gracie, daughter of Kevin Mathurin who portrays vicar Charles, at the same Cornish café.
He chuckles: “Gracie and my son work together in a little café on a beach.
“It’s so weird but they both find it funny their dads are in Emmerdale.
“I didn’t know Kevin before I joined, but we’ve had a nice chat about our children.”
Viewers can expect some particularly sinister storylines involving Ray in upcoming episodes – and this time there’ll be no mistaking them for dreams.
“We’ve been working with the Salvation Army on what modern slavery looks like with the relationship between Celia, Ray, April and Dylan,” Joe explains.
“What viewers will find out is cruel, horrible and it’s done with such a vicious streak.”
Ray is also set for a romantic storyline with Marlon’s former partner, Laurel.
“Ray is going to get a love interest,” Joe reveals. “He then gets split into two different worlds.
“When her family finds out about him, they are naturally going to be very worried for her.
“The secrets will catch up on Ray and he will start to unravel..”
Joe is thoroughly enjoying his time in the Dales. He concludes: “It’s great to be part of Emmerdale. Anything can happen!”.
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