Emmerdale is set to deliver a dramatic week of episodes focusing on the death of villain Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), with one instalment centring on a shock murder plan from Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock).
A Father Pushed to the Brink
In a special week of episodes airing from January 15, 2026, viewers will see the usually mild-mannered chef take drastic action. Marlon, armed with a knife, sets out with the clear intention of ending Ray's life for good. This comes after weeks of torment, where Marlon discovered Ray and Celia (Jaye Griffiths) forced his daughter, April (Amelia Flanagan), into dealing drugs and pressured her into sleeping with men for money.
This horrific situation culminated in a terrified April believing she had killed a man who attempted to rape her. With his daughter's safety and mental anguish at the forefront of his mind, Marlon sees no other path forward.
'The Only Answer Left Is Murder'
Actor Mark Charnock explained his character's desperate mindset. "There comes a point where he can no longer see where to go, and it leads into very desperate measures," he stated. "I think he has lost all hope. He's tried everything else. There are no options left to him."
Charnock elaborated that Marlon truly believes Ray has April and that killing him is the only way to end his daughter's torment and the family's suffering. "All he can see is ending Ray," the actor said. "He can't see any other option but killing him. That's mixed with the logic of 'if I get rid of him, maybe he'll stop,' but also the rage he feels for what this man forced upon his daughter."
Stunned Reaction and Multiple Suspects
While Charnock was careful not to confirm or deny if Marlon is the actual killer, he revealed his character's reaction to the news of Ray's death. "He's stunned," Charnock said. "He doesn't have any human empathy towards Ray, but I think his reaction is one of, initially, disbelief. It can't be true. He can't be gone, because this man has lorded it over us in every single way somebody can, for so long."
Marlon is far from the only villager pushed to their limit. In the same episode:
- Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) is horrified when Ray tells him that Bear (Joshua Richards) is dead, with a threat against Dylan (Fred Kettle) to keep him quiet.
- Ross Barton (Mike Parr) is also prowling the area – and he is in possession of a gun. Ross has a history of protecting April, and the pair were seen making a pact of silence, making him a prime suspect.
The week promises to untangle the web of secrets and guilt surrounding Ray's death, leaving fans to question who finally ended the manipulator's reign of terror.
