Emmerdale Laurel’s exit ‘sealed’ after 23 years in heartbreaking m.u.r.d.e.r twist

Emmerdale fans are worried that Laurel Thomas, a beloved character who has been on the show for over two decades, may be heading for a heartbreaking departure.

Laurel, portrayed by Charlotte Bellamy, has been a constant presence in the soap since her introduction in 2002 and has become one of its most cherished characters.

She has been involved in numerous significant storylines, from battling addiction to dealing with her husband Ashley’s (John Middleton) vascular dementia and subsequent d.e.a.t.h, ensuring her time in the Dales has been anything but dull.

Currently, Laurel is developing a bond with newcomer Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), unaware that he is a devious and despicable drug dealer.

The villain, along with his adoptive mother Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), have been manipulating young April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle), drawing them into a perilous world of crime, child prostitution, and drugs, reports the Daily Star.

Despite his true nature being unknown to the other villagers, Ray has attracted Laurel’s attention – and she has caught his. In Thursday’s episode (6 November), Ray visited Laurel’s house and they got to know each other better.

Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) arrived later, turning the afternoon into a double date. While alone with Marlon, Ray even confessed that he likes Laurel, and it was evident that she was smitten.

As he bid farewell, his mother Celia called him, demanding to know his whereabouts. Unaware that Celia was watching, Ray lied, claiming he was out on a job. He then got into his car and drove away, leaving an irate Celia behind.

However, fans are now speculating that Celia might attempt to harm Laurel as she grows closer to her son Ray. On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, one viewer warned: “Oh no Laurel needs to be careful. Celia won’t approve of her and Ray.”

Another chimed in with: “I can see Celia trying (or even k.i.l.l.i.n.g) Laurel. No one is safe.” A third concurred: “Yeah Celia is going to do something to Laurel I’m sure.”

Meanwhile, discussing the relationship between Ray and Laurel, actor Joe previously stated: “I think when he meets Laurel, there’s something that brings a side out to him that he didn’t know he was going to have, but the writers did. I like it because it has a different side of it. It’s more human.

“I think he sees a family. Sees her with her kids and sees a family life that he never had because he was adopted very early on by Celia when he was eight.”

Joe continued: “So we see in episodes later, not flashbacks, but little hints of what his life has been like. So I think to me, Laurel is this kind of woman who has a business and a family and children are kind of, you know, interesting.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm