Title: “Dark Dealings in the Dales: Joe Absolom’s Villainous Ry Shakes Emmerdale to Its Core”

A storm is brewing in the quiet village of Emmerdale, and at its centre is the arrival of a seemingly charismatic newcomer—Ry, played by former EastEnders star Joe Absolom. But behind Ry’s affable smile and smooth-talking exterior lies a sinister agenda that threatens to tear through the fabric of the Dales, pulling the community’s most vulnerable residents into a chilling underworld of manipulation, deception, and danger.

Joe Absolom, best known for his gripping portrayal of Matthew Rose on EastEnders and more recently Braden Moore in Code of Silence, brings with him an air of unpredictability as he joins Emmerdale. His character Ry is no ordinary addition. Introduced as an old friend of Mackenzie Boyd, Ry first appears as a harmless agricultural machinery salesman—an everyman with a friendly face and a vague past. But this false front quickly begins to crack, revealing a much darker reality lurking beneath.

Speaking at the 2025 British Soap Awards, Absolom teased just how twisted Ry’s path will be. “He likes to sell the leaves—drugs—and it’s a bit of a county lines idea,” he revealed. But it’s not just the drugs that send shivers down viewers’ spines. It’s how Ry goes about recruiting the next generation of dealers: targeting April Windsor and Dylan Wilson, two of the village’s most innocent youngsters.

In a deeply unsettling twist, Ry draws April and Dylan into his schemes with the promise of easy cash and an escape from their teenage boredom. For April, still grieving the loss of her father Marlon’s stability, and Dylan, a troubled youth trying to rebuild his life after a brush with the law, the lure of fast money proves too tempting. Ry’s manipulation is chilling in its precision—he knows exactly how to exploit their weaknesses while cloaking his demands in charm.

The storyline mirrors real-world county lines operations, where criminals use children to move drugs between rural areas and cities. It’s a storyline producer Laura Shaw says will pack a powerful emotional punch. “We are thrilled to welcome Joe Absolom to the cast,” she said. “Charming, charismatic, and effortlessly likeable, Ry is an extremely complex character who quickly reveals his dark and villainous side to some of our most loved villagers, leaving them in no doubt as to what he’s capable of.”

As Ry’s influence spreads, the ripple effects are devastating. Mackenzie, initially thrilled to reconnect with an old friend, finds himself blindsided by Ry’s true motives. The betrayal cuts deep, forcing Mack to reckon with the danger he’s inadvertently brought to the village. Tensions with Charity soar, as she blames Mack for putting their family at risk once again. Old wounds between them threaten to rupture beyond repair—especially once April’s involvement becomes public knowledge.

For April’s family, the emotional stakes couldn’t be higher. Rhona, already stretched to the limit after recent trauma, becomes a fierce protector, determined to save her stepdaughter from Ry’s clutches. Marlon, torn between guilt and helplessness, struggles to support April while confronting his own sense of failure. The village’s close-knit community begins to fracture as blame is cast and alliances shift.

Dylan’s involvement adds another explosive layer. Having fought hard to clean up his act after previous run-ins with the law, his descent back into criminal activity sends shockwaves through his family—and puts Shawn in an impossible position. Shawn promises to protect his son, but Dylan, hardened by the streets, refuses to play the victim. He warns Brody, his former enemy, that Ry is the real threat—and that he’ll do whatever it takes to survive. When Dylan starts shadowing Ry’s operations in secret, is he playing double agent… or falling deeper under Ry’s influence?

Meanwhile, Ry’s polished façade begins to fray. While he plays the part of friendly businessman for villagers like Jimmy and Cain, those with sharper instincts—like Moira and Chas—begin to sense something’s off. Moira, in particular, notices inconsistencies in Ry’s stories and sets out to uncover the truth. But poking around in Ry’s affairs proves dangerous, and as she edges closer to the truth, she places herself and her family directly in harm’s way.

Ry’s true menace lies in his calculated coolness. He never needs to raise his voice or resort to open threats. His power lies in knowing how to get what he wants without ever appearing forceful—until it’s too late. That quiet menace begins to suffocate those around him, especially the teens he manipulates, who realise too late that they’re in over their heads.

As the villagers band together to take Ry down, loyalties will be tested like never before. April and Dylan may become unlikely heroes if they choose to expose Ry’s operations—but doing so would mean risking retaliation, public humiliation, and destroying their already fragile relationships with their families.

For Emmerdale, the introduction of Ry marks the beginning of a tense, high-stakes storyline that delves deep into the heart of rural drug crime and its impact on families, friendships, and the integrity of the community itself. It’s a bold move for the soap—and one that promises to keep fans glued to their screens in the coming months.

Joe Absolom’s chilling turn as Ry is a reminder of how villainy often hides behind a smile. As he weaves his way into the fabric of village life, it will take every ounce of courage, unity, and determination from the residents of Emmerdale to stop him. But by the time they do… will it already be too late?

Stay tuned. This storm is only just beginning.