Emmerdale schedules special flashback week to reveal Ray Walters murderer – as Paddy struggles with Bear’s fate

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The killer of villainous Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) will be revealed on Emmerdale later this month.

The ITV soap opera began 2026 with shocking scenes: Ray killed his mother, Celia Daniels (played by Jaye Griffiths), who was a crime boss. He was then found dead in the episode right before a major storyline connected to another soap opera, Corriedale.

The events leading up to Ray’s death remain unclear, and the show has introduced numerous potential suspects. These include people connected to the teenagers he harmed – April Windsor and Dylan Penders – as well as his romantic partner, Laurel Thomas, and others.

Now, series producer Laura Shaw has confirmed that answers will be on the way regarding Ray’s exit.

Shaw stated that the investigation into Ray’s death will expose the hidden secrets of the villagers as the truth comes to light.

During a special week in January, viewers will see events leading up to Ray’s murder unfold, ultimately exposing the killer among the list of suspects.

A recent promotional image for the show has revealed five people who are considered key suspects in the case: Paddy Kirk, who is Dylan’s guardian and the son of Bear Wolf – a man Ray previously held as a slave; Rhona Goskirk, April’s stepmother; Marlon Dingle, April’s father; Laurel Thomas, Ray’s girlfriend who found out about his cruel behavior; and Ross Barton, who was in a relationship with April’s mother, Donna Windsor, before she passed away.

Is one of these five villagers the person who killed criminal Ray?

If things weren’t already complicated, Paddy will discover a disturbing secret while trying to find out what happened to his father, Bear. Earlier, Celia bragged to Ray that she was responsible for Bear’s death, and Ray later appeared to be watching Bear’s body.

According to Shaw, Paddy continues his search for his father, unaware that Celia has already killed Bear.

I’m really worried that what’s happening now, this difficult search and the heartbreaking news, is going to make things much harder for Paddy and bring all his old mental health struggles rushing back. It feels like a really tough time for him.

Many people are aware that Paddy has faced mental health challenges recently, even contemplating suicide at one point. Will those harmed by Celia and Ray ever be able to heal and move forward?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX from 7am.

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Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis heads up news and trending content at TopMob, ensuring we deliver what our audience wants. He’s a huge TV and movie buff – especially a fan of Nicole Kidman – and loves everything from sci-fi and independent films to the newest HBO hits. With a background in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-01-07 03:35