Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) is not in Emmerdale to make any friends.
She has already callously buried one body – Anya (Alia Al-Shabibi), a mum who escaped her country in the hopes of being able to provide for her family. Instead, Celia worked her to death as part of her modern slavery ring.
Celia is dangerously close to burying another when Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) also ends up injured, and she’s already well on her way to completely destroying the lives of teenagers April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) through forced sex work and drug dealing.
She eats new victims for breakfast, and there’s a new local on her radar.
Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) is breaking away from his mother’s tyrannical reign. It’s been evident for a while that he does not have the same sociopathic tendencies she does.
He’s found himself a nice little distraction to take away from the horror that goes on up at that farm – Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy).
The pair have been getting close and after a bit of a rocky start, have finally started dating – much to Celia’s chagrin. As far as she’s concerned, Ray’s mind should be on the job and the job only.
Given that she bears no resemblance to a doting mother who wants the best for her son, she has no time for his claptrap.
Celia decides she needs to get ahead of this and invites herself to dinner with him and Laurel. Celia is in the driving seat and Ray is powerless as he begs her to go easy on Laurel.
Celia’s has no ‘go easy’ mode and her fears for Ray’s split focus are piqued as she watches how close he and Laurel are. Celia does what she does best – manipulating the heck out of Laurel to get what she wants, and Laurel is such easy pickings it’s almost no fun for the drug queen.
She tells a tale of Ray’s playboy lifestyle, and Laurel is completely hooked, turning on Ray after the yarn spun by Celia.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.
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Ray is hurt and storms out, witnessed by Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) who thinks she sees an angry and unhinged side to Ray. She’s worried for Laurel, not realising his anger is directed at Celia.
He heads to the farm where he blasts her for her jealousy, but unaffected, she warns him that he must end it or else.
Celia is fast gaining another problem on her hands, and she knows how to make Laurel disappear once and for all. How far will Ray go to protect her?
