Ray's future in the village is uncertain as Laurel remains smitten in Emmerdale

Will they spend Christmas together?

 20 DECEMBER - 2 JANUARY

With talk of Ray and Celia packing up to leave the area, Bear is worried he will be left behind, but Ray assures him this won’t be the case.

Noticing Ray’s pain about having to end his relationship with Laurel prematurely, Bear encourages him to make the most of his happiness while he can.

Meeting with Laurel, Ray is delighted to agree to meet for lunch.

Over Ray’s ‘fake Christmas lunch’, Laurel seems smitten, and Ray dares to hope that they may spend the real one together.

In the week after Christmas, there’s a threat to life in the village, and as 2025 closes and 2026 begins, danger looms large for more than one character.

As Ray dreams of securing a fresh start for himself, he's given a terrible job. What wil this mean for his fresh start?

Emmerdale continues Mondays to Fridays at 7.30pm on ITV1 with first look episodes available from 7am on ITVX