Coronation Street

Laurel’s new love interest confirmed in Emmerdale – and it’s someone very dangerous

Posted on by Jessica
FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 1st July 2025 Emmerdale - Ep 10335 Tuesday 8th July 2025 Forced to take Gabby's car to Kammy [SHEBZ MIAH] at the garage, Vinny Dingle [BRADLEY JOHNSON] faces unavoidable questions about his sexuality. When Gabby passes by while on the phone with Laurel Thomas [CHARLOTTE BELLAMY], a glitch on the call allows Laurel to overhear Vinny's private conversation with Kammy about relationships. Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com Photographer - Mark Bruce This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Laurel Thomas has a new love interest in upcoming Emmerdale scenes – and it’s not who you might expect (Picture: ITV)

Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) has been somewhat unlucky in love over the years, and her luck ain’t about to change in Emmerdale thanks to a dark character preying on the villagers.

Laurel lost husband Ashley (John Middleton) to Alzheimer’s, her marriage to Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) was short-lived, and her marriage to lying Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) was a total disaster.

Laurel then had a fling with the vicar, Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin) – until Jai and Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) found out and they had to call it a day to spare their feelings.

Laurel is now open to finding a new relationship, and there’s a new man in the village who’s caught her eye – Ray Walters (Joe Absolom).

Now this is very bad news indeed.

Kind-hearted and former vicar’s wife Laurel has no idea that dark and mysterious Ray is rotten to the core, having lured teenagers April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) into his lair by using faux niceties.

Ray offers April a burner phone in Emmerdale
Laurel has no idea that Ray is up to no good and targeting April and Dylan (Picture: ITV)

He’s then trapped them with fake drug drop robberies that has left them believing they are thousands in his debt.

Ray is painting himself as a reasonable man to the pair to draw them deeper into his clutches, leading them to believe he’s doing them a favour by working off the money they supposedly owe.