ITV Share By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025 By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025 Everything you need to know about new villain Ray AKA actor Joe Absolom Joe's been on our television screens since the 1990s! Joe Absolom Share By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025 By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025 Emmerdale’s latest villain Ray Walters has been flexing his muscles round the village recently. Sinister Ray has his claws well and truly into Dylan, and he seems to be planning on using Emmerdale’s teens as part of his county lines drug dealing scheme. Not cool, Ray. While Ray is new to Emmerdale, his alter ego – actor Joe Absolom – is already a very familiar face to telly viewers, having been on our screens since the 1990s. Here’s everything you need to know about Joe. Joe’s a familiar face to telly viewers (Credit: ITV) ‘Murderous’ Matthew Rose In 1997, when he was just 19 years old, Joe joined the cast of EastEnders. He played Matthew Rose, who was the son of market inspector Michael Rose. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Joe’s casting was unusual at the time, because the EastEnders bosses created the role of Matthew especially for him. Matthew was a big hit among younger fans and Joe shot to fame, especially when his character was involved in a HUGE story that lasted a whole year. Matthew struck up a friendship with club owner Steve Owen, and on Valentine’s Day 1999, he witnessed a furious argument between Steve and his girlfriend that ended with Steve accidentally killing Saskia by hitting her on the head with an ashtray. Steve thought the police wouldn’t believe him that Saskia’s death was accidental. He roped Matthew in to help him cover his tracks and together they buried Saskia’s body in the woods. Matthew was framed by his former friend Steve (Credit: BBC) What happened to Matthew Rose? Eventually both men were arrested and charged with the murder, with Steve doing his best to frame his right-hand man for the crime. It worked! Steve was found not guilty, while Matthew went to jail. When the police found the ashtray, Matthew was released and he took terrible revenge on Steve, playing mind games on him and tormenting him. He eventually stole £10,000 from him and left Walford forever. When Steve died, two years later, Matthew sent flowers to the funeral with a card reading: “Dear Steve, rot in hell.” Dark stuff! Joe starred in two episodes of Silent Witness earlier this year (Credit: BBC) What else has Joe Absolom been in? Joe’s been in demand on television and radio ever since he waved goodbye to Walford. He had roles in Silent Witness, The Bill and Casualty and even appeared on Celebrity Wipeout! He was in Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders and Ashes to Ashes among many others. One of Joe’s best known roles is as Al Large in Doc Martin. Al is the son of entrepreneurial plumber and fan fave Bert Large. Joe appeared in an impressive 73 episodes of the show between 2004 and 2022. More recently Joe has appeared in the second series of ITV’s The Bay, playing Andy Warren. Andy was the ex-husband of the show’s lead character, DS Lisa Armstrong. He also starred in the tense thriller Code of Silence, starring former EastEnders star and Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis. Plus he’s been in radio dramas and on stage, most recently in 2:22 A Ghost Story. Joe also starred in Code of Silence (Credit: Mammoth Screen for ITV) Is Joe Absolom married? Joe married his long-term partner Liz Brown in 2019, after the couple had been together for 17 years. They have three children, Lyla, Casper and Daisy. With Joe spending so much time in Cornwall shooting Doc Martin, the family fell in love with the place. They made the decision to relocate there permanently. Just two weeks after Joe’s real-life Cornish wedding, his Doc Martin alter-ego Al tied the knot with Morwenna on-screen in Doc Martin. Joe’s real-life kids were extras in the wedding scene! Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025 By Kerry Barrett Aug 7 2025
