‘Well what an honour to join such a talented team at Emmerdale! It’s an iconic show and I’m grateful to be part of it. I can’t wait to see what’s in stock for Ray!’

Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw added: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Joe Absolom to the cast. ‘It’s fantastic to have such a high calibre and immensely talented actor join our wonderful team to play the role of Ray.

He first visited the village after being contacted by Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb).

Ray was interested in the weed plants Mack, Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) were growing, but was sent on his way when the Barton brothers told him the products were no longer for sale.

The plants disappeared because Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) stole them and gave them to Ray for money. In recent weeks, Ray has been seen talking to Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle). These scenes confirmed that he’s been paying him to do ‘drugs drop offs’.

Joe, who is 46, is best known for his role as Matthew Rose in EastEnders. He recently appeared on Good Morning Britain to talk to Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley about his new role, and the difference in working at Emmerdale over EastEnders.

‘I did EastEnders a long time ago and it was fun but Emmerdale is genuinely a very nice place to work. I keep waiting for someone to tell me that this isn’t the real job.

‘The crew is really good and the set is basically a proper place. They can film anywhere. That means you can work quickly but you don’t feel rushed. EastEnders was rushed and it just feels nicer.’

Joe went on to confirm that his contract for Emmerdale will end this November, meaning Ray will cause trouble in the village for quite a while.

‘When I did EastEnders, there wasn’t anything else to do. So, I’ve got kids now, and they won’t sit down at seven and watch telly in the same way I did or my friends did. So I think there’s a duty to find where the television now fits’, he added, discussing the current changes in how we consume TV.

‘It changes, and it is changing. We’re streaming and stuff like that, I don’t know if that’s gonna carry on forever because that does get a little boring.

‘I think it will [come round again], I think there will always be a place for it but if it’s where it once was, I don’t know.’

This week, Ray will find Dylan in the village again and tempt him with another job.

The difference this time around though, is that Dylan’s friend April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) will find out about it.

She gives him permission to go ahead but is hit with a shocker when Dylan reveals it’s her Ray wants to complete the job, not him.!

This was not on her 16th birthday bingo card and April is left terrified but torn as to how to help Dylan. Ray manipulates her into doing the drug drop, and just like that, April is now involved in a dangerous drugs ring.

Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) is oblivious and gives April and Dylan’s relationship his blessing. She hugs her dad but is filled with dread as she eyes the backpack full of drugs just over his shoulder.

April might think she knows what she’s getting into, but she has no idea the risks she faces. How will Dylan save her?

When Joe left EastEnders, he went on to land roles in The Bill, New Tricks, Doc Martin, Death in Paradise and A Confession – and recently appeared in Silent Witness.

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