Emmerdale is set for a week of explosive drama as Ross Barton takes a deadly step towards revenge, arming himself with a gun in the wake of Ray Walters' murder. The ITV soap will air a series of flashback episodes starting the week of January 14, 2026, to unravel the mystery of who killed the villainous Ray and left his body in Jai Sharma's van.
A Village Full of Suspects
The list of people with a motive to kill Ray Walters is long and growing. After the truth emerged about his involvement in people trafficking, slavery, and drug dealing, many villagers were left seething. The key question is which one had the nerve to not only kill him but also brazenly dump the body in a vehicle that would soon be discovered.
Among the prime suspects are Laurel Thomas, the church-going former girlfriend, and April Windsor's confidante, Ross Barton. The flashback episodes will meticulously piece together Ray's final moments, leading to the ultimate revelation of the killer. Fans have noted this whodunnit is airing exactly six years after the mystery surrounding Graham Foster's death, who is also making a return to screens.
The Aftermath of Celia's Death
The episode plunges viewers into the immediate aftermath of Celia Daniels' death, with Ray standing over her body, confronted by his handiwork. After a moment of heavy silence, he coldly wipes his fingerprints from the knife and prepares to flee. However, before leaving, he is drawn to see Bear Wolf, a man he viewed as a father figure, in a moment of unexpected poignancy.
Meanwhile, the village is in turmoil. April is still missing after being lured by Ray, though he ultimately let her go. Her father, Marlon Dingle, is consumed with rage, grabbing a knife and vowing to confront Ray. Unbeknownst to Marlon, Ross has already found April and learned the full, horrifying truth of what Ray did.
A Tipping Point for Revenge
The horror continues to spread as Paddy Kirk learns the agonising truth about Bear's fate, with Ray cruelly confirming the man's death. Overcome, Paddy is also pushed to the brink, feeling a murderous rage that is entirely out of character for him.
Yet, while both Marlon and Paddy grapple with violent impulses, it is Ross Barton who takes the most decisive and dangerous action. In a chilling scene, Ross arms himself with a firearm, raising the terrifying question: will he be the one to carry out the revenge that others can only contemplate?
As the flashbacks unfold, Emmerdale promises a tense and gripping exploration of guilt, motive, and the violent consequences of Ray Walters' terrible crimes, with Ross Barton firmly at the centre of the storm.
