In a brutal and shocking conclusion to one of Emmerdale's darkest storylines, the village's most monstrous resident, Celia Daniels, has met her end at the hands of the person closest to her. The New Year's Eve episode, available to stream early on ITVX, delivered a final twist that left fans reeling.
A Web of Enemies and Abuse
Since her arrival, Celia Daniels, played by Jaye Griffiths, has woven a web of misery in the Dales. Operating a modern slavery ring and drug trafficking operation from her farm, she amassed a long list of enemies desperate for her downfall. Key among them were April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and her boyfriend Dylan, after Celia forced April into prostitution and psychological torment.
April's horrified parents, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry), were blackmailed into paying Celia £2,000 a week to protect their daughter. The formidable Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) was another victim, groomed and forced into labour on her farm. Even fellow farmer Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) clashed violently with Celia after uncovering her fraud.
The Unlikely Catalyst for a Killer's Change of Heart
Despite this roster of foes, Celia's undoing came from within her own twisted family unit. Her adoptive son, Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), was raised without love and conditioned into a life of crime, acting as the charming front for Celia's operations. However, Ray's unexpected romance with the kind-hearted Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) gave him a glimpse of a normal life, much to his mother's disapproval.
This conflict reached its peak over the festive season. Planning to flee the village, Celia ordered Ray to execute one final task: kill April Windsor. In a tense scene on December 31st, Ray had a cowering April at his mercy but found he could not commit the act. In a moment of mercy, he gave her cash and told her to disappear.
A Final, Fatal Confrontation
Ray's disobedience sparked a furious confrontation with his mother. Years of psychological abuse, trauma, and control finally boiled over. In a moment of explosive rage, Ray plunged a knife into his adoptive mother, killing the villain in his arms. The scene marks a horrific end for a character who terrorised the Dales, and a devastating turning point for Ray.
The episode, which aired early on ITVX on January 1, 2026, leaves viewers with a monumental question: what will Ray do now he is finally free from Celia's toxic grip? His act of patricide liberates him from a lifetime of coercion but also plunges him into a new, uncertain future laden with guilt and consequence.
